The UK has a wide range of postgraduate options of international renown. The best way to obtain detailed information about these study opportunities is through the individual universities, either by Internet or by visiting the self-access centre in our Caracas offices. The following notes will give you some general orientation.
Postgraduate studies – or “higher degrees” – can comprise “taught courses” or “research courses”.
Taught courses
Taught courses lead to postgraduate certificates or diplomas on the one hand, or to full Masters degrees on the other.
A certificate or diploma course lasts between 6 and 9 months, at the end of which one of the following qualifications is awarded:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship (DipLib)
- Diploma in Management Studies (DMS)
A Masters course usually lasts 12 months and leads to one of the following qualifications:
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Law (LLM)
Research courses
Research courses usually lead to the doctorate qualification, which is awarded on the presentation of a research thesis. However, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates are often asked to register first for a one-year Masters in Philosophy (MPhil) course which – if successfully completed – counts as the first year of the full PhD course. Thus the qualifications awarded for research courses are as follows:
- Master of Philosophy (Mphil)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD / DPhil)
PhD courses (with or without the initial MPhil year) usually last three years.
Doctorate students can usually opt for the "split" modality which permits them to carry out part of their research in their own countries. There is also a more flexible four-year PhD programme offered by a group of universities (Birmingham, Brighton, Brunel, Cranfield, Lancaster, Loughborough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and UMIST). For further information on this option, go to www.newroutephd.ac.uk
Selecting the institution for your research course
We suggest you start by consulting the following web sites:
You can also look through the Postgraduate Directory and read the prospectuses of the different universities in the self access centre of our Caracas offices.
Registration procedures
Once you have chosen an institution, you should get in contact with it at least 12 months before the starting date of the proposed course. The university will then send you an application form, which you should fill in as promptly as posible. Masters courses usually commence in October, while the starting dates for PhD programmes tend to be more flexible.
Entry requirements for British universities
For Masters courses, most institutions ask for a Venezuelan undergraduate degree (“licenciatura”), while to start a PhD you will probably need to have already done a Masters course. For all postgraduate programmes you will have to show proficiency in English, normally by means of the IELTS exam (which can be taken at the British Council in Caracas), though some universities also accept the TOEFL exam. In addition, each institution may have its own additional requirements, such as a legal translation of your degree certificate and other documents, your marks, academic references and so on.
How to find accommodation
Most higher education institutions offer accommodation to their students. Details of the types of accommodation and how to apply can be found in the prospectuses (some of which are available in our offices) or web sites of the different universities. You should ask for the respective application form as early as possible, and try to ensure that you receive some kind of confirmation of your accommodation arrangements before your arrival in the UK.
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