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Why
study a Postgraduate Course
in the UK
Specialise
in any subject and gain an internationally recognised qualification
 There
are over 20,000 postgraduate courses available at universities and
colleges in the UK, covering an enormous variety of subjects.
With such a
vast range of taught courses and research programmes on offer, it’s
fair to say you’ll find the specialist qualification you’re
looking for at whatever postgraduate level you intend to study.
You’ll
also be working towards a qualification acknowledged to be of the
highest academic standard the world over; as a postgraduate student
in the UK, the investment you’re making in your future will
be protected by rigorous internal quality assurance on the part
of your chosen university and by the Quality Assurance Agency which
oversees standards of UK higher education.
Postgraduate
study in the UK is intensive, so the courses are of relatively short
duration. This is a significant advantage for many students and
their employers, since it means that the maximum professional advantage
is coupled with the minimum time away from work.
 Independent
study, strong research base
Research study, whether at Masters or Doctoral level, involves individual
supervision by a faculty member who has an interest in the topic.
This emphasis
on personal guidance and independent study is a key characteristic
feature of research degrees in Britain-and one of the reasons postgraduates
from UK courses possess the kind of high-level skills suited to
careers in business, applied research and higher education.
Which
course?
Research degrees are awarded to students who have completed a period
of original research and submitted a thesis for examination.
A research degree
– and especially a PhD – is the ultimate opportunity for
students who want to pursue their own specialist interests.
Research is
extremely stimulating and exciting as it involves producing something
that is original. The student is the expert in that subject and
will gradually come to know as much as his or her supervisor!
The PhD is a research programme extending over three or more years,
usually culminating a dissertation or thesis of 70,000 – 100,000
words.
The thesis must present original findings that are, in principle,
publishable. In some subjects such as art, however, the thesis may
be replaced by an original major work. And in social sciences, several
published articles may be accepted in place of a single long thesis.
 The
British Ph.D. offers the following opportunities to international
students:
• to produce
an original piece of research, which may mean an important boost
to the student’s career
•
to become one of the world’s leading experts in a particular
field
• to receive a sound training in research methodology and practice
– especially important for those intending to pursue an academic
career
All of the above
are widely recognised as advantages of the British Ph.D., especially
in the higher education world.
New types of
doctoral programmes have been developed in recent years aimed at
experienced professionals in industry or professionals such as education,
engineering and clinical pyschology.
Other research
degrees commonly found in UK institutions include the Master of
Philosophy (M.Phil.), a research programme extending over two years.
The thesis must
present original findings. Some universities require students to
register first for an M.Phil. before transferring to the Ph.D. at
the end of the first year.
Research programmes can vary from one to three years or more, depending
on the nature of the programme.
Not only is
there a wide choice of courses, there is also a wide variety of
different ways in which they can be studied. For instance, you can
study your course in your home country by distance learning, or
study modular courses where you study one part of a course at a
time – and when you choose to study them.
What to
expect
Students undertaking a research degree initiate and develop their
topic under the supervision of one or two academics. To be successful,
research students must demonstrate intellectual independence. They
will be expected to work on their own to a large extent but will
meet their supervisor(s) at least every few weeks.
Learning costs less in the UK
Postgraduate degrees in the UK can be completed in a shorter time
than those in many other countries, as courses are more intensive.
This makes the
cost of achieving a postgraduate qualification in the UK considerably
less than elsewhere. You only have to pay fees for one year and
you only have to live away from home for one year.
So though annual
costs may look higher in the UK than elsewhere, the overall cost
is lower. This is even more true if you can find a course that is
based in one of the less expensive parts of the UK.
There are a number of scholarships available to students planning
to study a postgraduate course in the UK. These include British
Chevening Scholarships and those that are available through the
British Council Fellowship Programme and the Commonwealth Scholarship
and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). Details of these and other scholarship
schemes can be obtained from your local British Council office.
All international
students staying in the UK for more than six months are guaranteed
free hospital treatment plus reduced dentists’ and opticians’
fees through the UK National Health Service. Doing away with the
need to include health insurance in your budget.
How do
I find out more?
To find out more about postgraduate courses in the UK click your
mouse on www.educationuk.org
This will give
you access to information on the range of courses available in the
UK.
Another good
source of information is your local British Council office, where
you’ll find a wide range of brochures, guides, prospectuses
and CD-ROMs that you can use.
Contributed by:
The British Council
10 Spring Gardens, London UK
Tel: +44 (0)207 9308466
http://www.britishcouncil.org.
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