UK universities award two basic types of master’s degrees: the taught master’s and the research master’s.

The taught master’s consists of coursework and a dissertation. It typically takes one year to complete, unlike its US counterpart, which takes two years. Educators have determined the two systems to be roughly equivalent, as the UK system is more specialized and condensed than the US one.

Taught programs are usually divided into three terms. As a student, you will likely take courses for the first two terms and then spend the third (normally the summer months) researching and writing a dissertation of about 10,000 words. If you are on a technological or vocational program, a practical project may replace the dissertation.

In most cases, assessment in taught programs is made on the strength of the final project and other work submitted earlier in the year, though a number of programs also require a formal written examination.

The research master’s, as the name implies, is research-based. It contains much independent work and little – if any – taught coursework. This master’s normally takes two years to complete, but, again, is roughly equivalent to the US M.A.

While many research master’s students continue on to a doctoral program, the degree can stand alone and offers a compromise between the classroom emphasis of the taught master’s and research focus of the doctoral level.

To earn a research master’s, you will need to produce a thesis – usually between 30,000 and 40,000 words – under the supervision of a tutor.

If you want to pursue this degree, you should have a clear idea of the subject you want to study and the background knowledge to begin advanced research.