Postgraduate Education

Postgraduate study is the study of any course for which you normally need an undergraduate degree prior to entering a course. In some cases extensive work experience may be enough for entry in place of a degree. The subjects you can study as a postgraduate student are vast and often very specialised. There are also a large number of different types of course, varying in length from a few months to several years.

Why study a postgraduate course?

Postgraduate education is becoming an increasing popular option for both those just about to leave university and people who have already begun their careers.

There are three general categories of postgraduate qualification:

Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate

Typically postgraduate diplomas/certificates are awards given to students who have completed a conversion or vocation-specific course (e.g. a PGCE). They may also be awarded to those have completed part of a Masters course, this option is popular for those who are taking postgraduate courses part-time.

Masters (MSc, MA, MPhil, MSt etc.)

A Masters course typically requires 1-2 years' full time study and provides advanced training in a subject field beyond what is achieved at undergraduate level. The course structure can vary quite considerably but typically involve some combination of both taught and research elements. For some subject areas, a Masters degree is a prerequisite in order to gain funding from appropriate funding bodies for PhD study.

A postgraduate masters courses should not be confused with an undergraduate masters course leading to the degrees of, for example, MEng, MPhys, MChem etc. Postgraduate masters operate outside of the UK undergraduate funding framework. In terms of content, the differences between the fourth year of an undergraduate masters and a postgraduate masters course will vary depending on course and institution.

Doctorate (PhD, DPhil, EngD etc.)

Most doctorates are research-based degrees and lead to the award of the title of "Doctor of Philosophy" and the opportunity to wear the letters "Dr" in front of your name. Doctorates typically require 3-5 years' full time study during which one must complete a substantial body of work that demonstrates novelty and original thought in their chosen field of research. Obtaining a doctorate is a typical first step in a career in academia or industrial research.

Recently, new types of doctorates, such as the Doctorate in Nursing, have been introduced. Unlike traditional doctorates, these are very high level professional qualifications, which require the completion of both taught and research elements. These are usually undertaken by those with significant expertise in their field already.

List of Academic Institutions

The following is a list of academic institutions that offer postgraduate education (e.g. MBA's, MA's & MSc's):

• Ashridge Business School
• BPP
• Cass Business School
• College of Law
• ESCP Europe Business School
• University of Bath School of Management
• University of Coventry
• University of Birmingham
• University of St Andrews

For careers in education see Education.