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This page contains information about:
- the meaning of postgraduate courses in the UK
- taught courses and research programmes
- qualifications
Q
What does postgraduate study mean in the UK?
A
Postgraduate study means any type of academic study carried out upon conclusion of a first degree ('licentiate degree' or licenciatura).
Q
Which are the courses at postgraduate level?
A
There are 'taught courses', also known as 'courses', and 'research programmes'.
| Types of taught courses |
|
| Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas (PGCert; PGDip) |
Generally nine months |
| Master (MA; MSc) |
Generally twelve months |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) |
One to eight years |
| Types of research degrees |
|
| Master of Philosophy (MPhil) |
Two or more years |
| Master of Research (MRes) |
Generally one year |
| Professional / Taught Doctorates (DEng, DMus, DEd, DBA, DClinPsych) |
Variable |
| New Route Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) |
Three or more years |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil) |
Three or more years |
Find out more by consulting the British Council Education information sheet 'Choosing your postgraduate programme'.
Q
What qualifications do they lead to?
A
They award level five European qualifications.
Names of postgraduate courses: modular (taught or courses)
Upon conclusion of a taught course, you will be admitted to the degree of 'Master', or be awarded a 'Postgraduate Diploma' or a 'Postgraduate Certificate'.The courses that lead to the award of these qualifications include conferences, seminars and face-to-face classes.Evaluation is done through exams or assignments, or both.
Diplomas and Certificates may sometimes share the syllabus of a Master degree, but do not include the dissertation component.Upon completion, some courses offer the possibility of transferring the Diploma (Postgraduate Diploma – PGDip) to Master level and are called, for example, MSc/Diploma or MSc/PGDip.
| Names of Postgraduate qualifications: taught courses |
|
| Postgraduate Certificate |
PGCert |
| Postgraduate Diploma |
PGDip |
| Postgraduate Certificate in Education |
PGCE |
| Master of Arts (usually in Humanities and Arts) |
MA |
| Master of Science (usually in Science and Technology) |
MSc |
| Master of Laws |
LLM |
| Master of Education |
MEd |
| Master of Philosophy |
MPhil |
Find out more by consulting the British Council Education information sheet, 'Choosing your postgraduate programme'.
Names of postgraduate qualifications: research programmes
Research degrees are awarded to students who produce an original research assignment that is submitted for evaluation. A rising number of institutions are now offering Doctorate programmes (PhD) that are supervised jointly by an institution of the students' country of origin and by a British institution. This option allows students to carry out research in an area that is relevant for their countries and reduces the total cost of the programme, as only part of the academic year is spent in the UK.
The research programme 'New Route PhD' combines research and classes/seminars that may also include professional competences.
| Names of research programmes |
|
| Doctor of Philosophy |
PhD or DPhil |
| Doctor of Engineering |
DEng |
| Doctor of Music |
DMus |
| Doctor of Business Administration |
DBA |
Find out more by consulting British Council Education information sheets: 'Choosing your postgraduate programme' and UK Grad Programme.
Find out how to choose the best course and qualification for you.
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