A PhD course in the UK gives you the ultimate opportunity to pursue your own specialist interests. You'll be expected to initiate and develop original research under the supervision of academics at the top of their fields. You'll need to be hard working and demonstrate intellectual independence but there's no doubt that the qualifications and experience you'll gain will be worth every minute.

Courses last from three to four years, and you can choose from thousands of opportunities in the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities. The broad range and flexible approach of the UK higher education system means that you're free to choose exactly what you want to study.

Doctorate (PhD): A PhD, also know as a doctorate, will take you three to four years to complete, during which you'll be working on a single research project. In you final year, you'll be asked to present a dissertation of approximately 100,000 words. You can search for PhD programs here.

Matt Morton, British Council International Student of the Year 2009, talks about getting a PhD in the UK from an American perspective.