Master's
Master's
Getting a Master’s Degree in the UK is:
- Only 1 year of study,
- Guarantees world academic standards education,
- Friendly and modern study system,
- High education level,
- Trust partner relations with lecturers,
- Individual and friendly approach to the student,
- Focus on practice.
A master’s degree is highly valued by employers, which is why many people decide to continue their education after their graduation. UK Master’s Degree is particularly worth considering – it lasts only 1 year, and thanks to it you have the possibility not only to improve your English but also gain knowledge and practical skills useful in the labor market, which is not always offered by Polish universities.
Master's in Great Britain in a nutshell
Master’s studies (postgraduate) at universities in Great Britain differ in many respects from studies in Poland. Below we present the most important information about it.
Shorter duration of master’s studies
Postgraduate studies in the UK in most cases last only 1 year, rarely 2 years.
Focus on acquiring practical knowledge
The study program usually includes only a few subjects, however, it requires a thorough exploration of the subject matter, both from theoretical and practical points of view. In Great Britain, studies are designed to prepare alumni primarily for professional work, which is why classes are not only about passing on mere theoretical knowledge. Classes are held in small groups, individual work is also crucial.
There are two types of master’s studies
At many UK universities, students can choose between two types of postgraduate courses:
- taught course– these are standard master’s studies, and the curriculum is based mainly on lectures; obtaining a master’s degree requires completing a course and writing a master’s thesis (note: in the UK, diploma theses are not defended, and the thesis itself is usually 20-30 pages long);
- research course – research-based courses, which are very often combined with doctoral studies.
Awarding after Master in Great Britain
There are several postgraduate degrees in the UK, and they mainly depend on the field of study.
After a taught course type of studies, you will obtain:
- MA – Master of Arts – is awarded in the fields of arts and humanities,
- MSc – Master of Science – is transmitted in strict directions.
After research course studies, you can get, for example, the title MSc by Research.
Masters in Great Britain - choice of university and field of study
Master’s studies are offered at basically all British universities, but each university offers a slightly different range of courses to choose from. Typically, the number of postgraduate courses is much smaller than the number of undergraduate courses. It is worth paying attention to this when choosing a university because not all of them have Master’s degree courses in the chosen field.
The choice of the field of study itself is also governed by certain rules – usually, it should be closely related to the field of study completed during first-cycle studies. However, it does not always have to be the same major, but only a related one. For example, people with a BA in history can go on to a UK MA in Political Science. Information in this regard should be found directly on the website of a given university in the description of recruitment requirements for a given field of study.
How much does a Masters in the UK cost?
Tuition fees for postgraduate studies range on average several thousand pounds for a full year of study, and its amount depends mainly on the field of study. Many universities allow you to pay in installments.
Scholarships and student loans are available for students from European Union countries, in the case of master’s studies, the amount of loans may go up to £10,609.
What does the application for studies look like?
Applications for postgraduate studies are not accepted through the UCAS system as in the case of undergraduate studies. They should be submitted directly to the given university and it is possible online – detailed information on the requirements and documents can be found on the website of the appropriate university.
At many universities, the application process takes several months or even a whole year. However, due to the limited number of places, it is better to submit documents as early as possible.
The most important application documents include:
- forms provided by the university – they should be carefully filled in English,
- language certificate – the most popular is IELTS,
- Personal Statement – it is a cover letter. The candidate must justify why he is applying for the selected field of study, what experience, skills, and knowledge he has that will be useful to him during his studies, and how the accomplishment of these studies may affect his future career,
- grades transcript – you can get it at the dean’s office of your university,
- diploma (translated by a Certified translator),
- two references – usually from a professor/lecturer from undergraduate studies, sometimes it can be also from an employer.
For some majors, it is necessary to present a portfolio – usually, it is required for art majors. Also, it is popular – Work Sample – in this case, you should provide works written during your undergraduate studies, e.g. essays or papers, translated into English.