Need help standing out in the job market? Stuck on the career ladder with little prospects of career progression? Considering a career in academics to continue your research work and nurture future talents? You might want to consider a postgraduate degree!

Whether you have recently graduated, just started working or have a few years of experience under your belt, studying a postgraduate degree can help you learn more about a particular area in greater depth or gain industry-relevant skills to boost your job prospects.

There are a range of different postgraduate options that you can choose from to extend your academic knowledge, vocational skills and further research. Which one you choose will depend on a couple of questions you would will need to ask yourself, such as:

- Do I enjoy learning with someone to guide me or by my own research?

- What specialist skills or knowledge will I need to increase my employability in my field?

-Which will I enjoy more: a career in research and academics or a career in industry?

-What kind of master’s courses can give me the skills I need to advance my current career or break into a new area of industry?

In this article, we will be exploring the different types of postgraduate programmes offered by UK universities.

Read on to learn more!

Taught Masters

The taught Masters are one of the most common postgraduate programmes available among UK universities. To apply, applicants will typically need to hold a recognised undergraduate qualification which meets the academic requirements laid out by the institution.

Studying a UK Master’s degree has many advantages, one being its duration. As opposed to Master’s courses elsewhere which generally takes 2 years to complete, a UK Master’s only takes 1 year, saving you time and resources in getting your qualification.

What’s more, the UK government has recently introduced the ‘Post-Study Work Visa’ scheme, allowing graduates to look for jobs and gain work experience in the UK for up to 2 years. Students who complete a course at any recognised UK university and graduate from the summer of 2021 onwards will be eligible to apply.

What can You expect?

Much like your undergraduate (or bachelor’s) degree, the taught Masters will involve attending lectures, completing assignments, undertaking exams and usually finishes with a dissertation in a chosen research topic which must be approved by your supervisor.

However, a master’s course helps develop in-depth knowledge in a chosen area of study, thus equipping you to be a specialist in your chosen field of practice. The advanced knowledge that you gain in a taught Master’s degree will boost your employability and make you a more competent candidate in the job market.

What does the course structure look like?

The structure of a taught Master’s programme is split into 3 stages, with the first two stages usually comprising of exams and assignments and the final stage to write up a dissertation. Each academic stage is worth 60 credits each, with the dissertation or final project also worth 60 credits. This adds up to a total of 180 credits which students must achieve in order to be conferred a master’s degree.

However, depending on your career goals and resources, you also have the option to opt for a different qualification with a smaller number of course credits:

If you’re studying for a full Master’s degree but decide to leave the course early, you could still receive a PGDip or PGCert if you have the sufficient credits. (Be sure to check the respective university student handbook to find out if this is possible)

On the other hand, you can also choose to ‘top up’ your PGDip to a full master’s qualification by earning the additional required credits.

Take the Barrister Training Course (BTC) for example. The BTC is a PGDip qualification by itself, but students can choose to ‘top it up’ to a Master of Laws (LLM) by writing a dissertation, studying additional modules or completing pro-bono work experience.

Check out some of the institutions in the UK that offer Barrister training courses below:

To summarise, the taught Masters is a postgraduate pathway to learn more about a chosen subject area through a series of taught academic modules and lectures. The knowledge you gain in your studies will increase your employability, helping you qualify for more specific roles or gain skills to help you break into a new industry.

Want to apply for a taught Masters? Get in touch with us!

Masters of Research

While at the same level of study as a taught Masters, the Masters of Research (MRes) has a stronger emphasis on independent study as opposed to guided teaching. Essentially, it allows students to undertake research in an area of study they have interests in.

What can I expect?

As an MRes student, you will train to become a researcher in the area of your choosing. The research skills you build can be used in a career of professional or academic research.

Like the taught Masters, you will need to hold an undergraduate qualification to apply for an MRes programme. You may also need to submit a research proposal to inform tutors on the area of study you want to specialise in, as well as a personal statement on why you want to undertake the research programme.

What does the course structure look like?

All your course credits in an MRes programme comes from the research projects that you do.

You will select a particular topic to base your investigation on and an academic supervisor will be assigned to you for guidance.

In a sense, the structure of your research projects will be similar to the final dissertation you write in a taught Masters. However, you will need to go in depth with your investigation and you might be expected to work on multiple research projects concurrently.

In summary, the Masters of Research is a great option if you like independent study and want to build up knowledge in an area you are passionate about. It will develop your research skills and prepare you for a research-related job or an academic career.

Get in touch today to learn more about your options for a Masters of Research!

Integrated Masters

There are certain courses that combine both undergraduate and postgraduate study. This is known as an integrated Master’s programme and are usually associated with subjects in Engineering, Pharmacy, Physics, Biology & Chemistry.

What can I expect?

While most UK undergraduate courses run for 3 years, an integrated master’s programme runs for 4 years with the additional year of postgraduate study. In effect, you would be studying a single programme using your pre-U qualification and graduate with a master’s degree after 4 years, instead of completing an undergraduate degree and applying separately for a master’s degree.

What kind of Integrated Masters are there?

Typically, Integrated Masters are more common in STEM-related subject areas. They tend to focus on providing applied knowledge and practical training to prepare students for their role in a specific career pathway.

Some of the most common Integrated Masters programmes can include:

MEng – a Masters of Engineering. This refers to many different areas in the engineering field, including:

MBio – a Masters of Biology. There are different courses which offer this qualification that specialise in a particular area of biology, some including:

MPhys – a Masters of Physics. Some areas of physics that you could cover in more depth with an MPhys include:

MChem – a Masters of Chemistry. This qualification opens you up to a multidisciplinary area of study in the chemistry field, equipping you to take on both the research and practical applications of chemistry in the workplace.

MPharm – a Masters of Pharmacy. Usually 5 years in duration, the degree combines 4 years of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills required to be a pharmacist with a final year of pre-registration training.

What does the course structure look like?

As mentioned, the Integrated Masters begins with at least 3 years of undergraduate studies and ends with an additional Masters year. Each year of study is worth 120 credits, giving you a total of 480 credits in total on completing the full programme.

However, the flexibility of the Integrated Masters gives you the option to finish your studies with just an undergraduate degree, provided you meet the academic requirements. If you decide to leave the course for any reason, you can still obtain an undergraduate qualification in your subject of study.

To summarise, the Integrated Masters allows you to study a Master’s degree directly after your undergraduate studies. It will build up your knowledge in a particular subject and equip you with the vocational skills you will need to work in your chosen field upon graduation.

Interested in learning more about the integrated Masters?

Click here to speak to an education counsellor about your options today!