Postgraduate courses

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Find out more about applying for postgraduate courses

Postgraduate courses can take many different forms, and may result in the award of Master's degrees, doctorates, certificates, diplomas and various professional qualifications. They will usually require applicants to have had some previous study or experience in the chosen field, typically a previous undergraduate degree.

Taught postgraduate courses leading to a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) degree tend to consist of a one year full-time course following a similar routine as for most undergraduate courses, incorporating a series of lectures and some course work followed by an examination.

Research degrees such as the Master of Philosophy (MPhil), which usually takes one year full-time, or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which takes a minimum of 3 years full-time, involve an in-depth study of a specific subject or topic followed by a written dissertation or thesis. Most research degrees are undertaken under the supervision of an experienced researcher.

You can search and apply for postgraduate programmes through the UKPASS (UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service) website. You can also register with UKPASS to apply online to universities and colleges within the UKPASS scheme. If a university or college is not part of the scheme, you may need to apply direct to that institution. If you are applying for a subject listed below, please read through the following information.

• Music - with the exception of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music, whom you should approach directly, all applications for postgraduate courses in music performance at the seven other UK conservatoires should be made via the Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS).

• Social work - applications for all degree qualifications (postgraduate and undergraduate) in social work should be made via the UCAS application system.

• Teaching - if you wish to apply for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education or a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education, then you should apply via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). For further information on teaching in England and Wales look at the Teaching Development Agency website (www.tda.gov.uk) and for Scotland look at the Scottish Executive Education Department (www.teachinginscotland.com). Teaching courses at undergraduate level should be applied for via the UCAS application system.

What Do Graduates Do?
You may find the What Do Graduates Do? publication on the Graduate Prospects website useful. Find out the latest information about what happened to graduates six months after completing a higher education course. The information is based on the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, conducted for the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The publication is available to purchase from the UCAS bookstore.

If you are interested in the destinations of graduates from Scottish higher education institutions, please read the What Do Graduates Do? Scotland publication on the HESCU website.