You may want to carry on studying because:
- You really enjoy your subject and want to dig deeper - consider whether you will still enjoy the subject for a further one to four years of study. Will a PhD with its focus on independent study be the right route? Make sure it fits into your overall career plans while developing relevant skills and experience.
- A further qualification will help you to achieve your career goal - a postgraduate course may be only one of several routes into a career eg marketing but could enhance your knowledge and experience when applying to employers. No course can guarantee you a job but research the work you are interested in and see what employers think.
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Doctoral programmes (PhD, MD)
A research degree involves carrying out an original detailed study of a topic usually related to your first degree. You present your results in a thesis or dissertation and will have to work independently, rather than having a structured programme of lectures and seminars. A PhD will take three to four years full-time to complete or you may be able to pursue your research through a part-time PhD.
Taught programmes
- MA/MSc/MSoc Sci - these involve a mixture of lectures, seminars, examinations, assessed coursework, and a final project or dissertation. The course will last for a full calendar year, and some include intermediate awards ie Postgraduate Certificate after one semester etc.
- MRes - this is a relatively new type of course intended as a year’s intensive training in research methodology as a possible preparation for taking a PhD, although it is a useful qualification in its own right.
- Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas - these are likely to last nine months (full-time) and are usually vocational, providing the necessary qualifications to get into a job eg Postgraduate Certificate of Education to get into school teaching.
- Professional qualifications - there are many of these, all relating to a particular profession and well recognised within that area of work such as accountancy, patent attorney work or law. Routes are set by the specific professional body and study can involve day or block release, distance learning or private study.
- Studying part-time - many but not all postgraduate courses are offered part-time as well as full-time. Studying part-time enables you to spread payments for a course over a longer period whilst working part-time.
- Open / distance learning - a wide range of courses are now being offered by distance learning which involves no or very limited attendance at lectures or seminars with students working at their own pace. You may have to consider whether this will suit your learning style. Visit Learn Direct or the Open University for some ideas.
- MBA - the MBA (Master of Business Administration) introduces students to a range of management disciplines and trains them for future middle and higher management roles. Most courses require graduates to have prior relevant experience so it is quite unusual to progress onto this course straight from a degree.
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- If you are following a research based course, resources in your specialist topic should be nearby to save your time and money travelling to specialist centres.
- Potential research students also need to find out something about their supervisor’s national / international reputation.
- If you are planning a vocational course you need to research where their graduates have gone onto (departments / careers services should be able to give you some information) and whether the lecturers are or have been practitioners in that area.
- Are there work placements available? It may be worth contacting a few employers to find out their view of certain vocational courses.
- Other general points to take into consideration, are whether it’s best to stay put or move away, where you can live cheaply (this might be near your parental home) and which mode of study would suit you. Always go for a visit to an open day.
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Higher Degrees by Research
You can apply to as many courses as you like. There is no set time by which you should apply for postgraduate research degrees although you are more likely to be allocated a funded place (studentship) if you apply earlier rather than later. You can start to research possibilities as early as your second year by talking to your lecturers to find out institutions they might recommend. You can contact possible supervisors whom your tutors or your research of university websites have identified and can visit potential departments. Aim to apply by the beginning of the New Year but also be aware that studentships are advertised until much nearer the next academic year.
Taught programmes
You can apply, usually to as many courses as you like, on the institution’s own application form. For some areas, though, you need to apply through a clearing house, most of which operate between September and December:
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This can be a confusing and complex area as there is a lot of variation between types of postgraduate study, different disciplines and institution. Roughly half of those starting postgraduate courses receive funding whilst the remainder are self-funded through personal loans or other means.
You will need to cover both tuition and living expenses (maintenance costs). Many graduates choose to live at their parents' home in order to reduce their living costs.
There are a number of funding options such as loans, grants, bursaries as well as charities, trusts and research councils. For more information and links visit our Postgraduate study & funding resources pages.
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It is essential to start planning as early as possible; up to 18 months before you start your course is recommended. You may have to sit additional tests and meet early closing dates for courses as well as meeting deadlines for applications to any funding bodies. See the
Prospects website for more information on studying abroad.
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