The number of international students choosing the UK for their graduate programs has increased every year for the last five years. With an enviable reputation for quality programs delivering qualifications recognised the world over, it’s no surprise that the UK is the number one choice for students serious about their graduate study future.
Some 160,000 international students are currently making the most of their graduate opportunities in the United Kingdom. They come from over 200 countries with the largest national groups originating from the USA, Greece, China, France, Germany, Malaysia and India. There are more than 20,000 postgraduate courses available in the UK, covering a wide variety of subjects. Some are taught courses while others consist of a period of supervised research.
The most popular graduate topics for international students in the UK include economics and politics, business and management, mathematics and computing, sciences and engineering, education, law, media studies and art and design. For graduate research, clinical medicine, all engineering disciplines, and bio and physical sciences - as well as the previous topics - are very popular. Other special research areas that are attractive internationally include Islamic and other religious studies, international politics and history with special regional focus, English and linguistics. And because there is such a vast range of graduate programs offered by universities and colleges in the UK, you will certainly be able to find a qualification that is directly relevant to your own aspirations and background.
Recent international market research indicated that international students chose the UK as a top study destination first and foremost for the academic quality of study on offer and also the high international recognition of the qualifications obtained.
Recent international market research indicated that international students chose the UK as a top study destination first and foremost for the academic quality of study on offer and also the high international recognition of the qualifications obtained. This is not surprising given the efforts that are made to assure the quality of UK higher education: the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) oversees the quality of courses and academic standards. All higher education institutions are subject to a range of detailed checks, with quality ratings published for all to see.
During your graduate program, you will be able to take full advantage of the strong research base of British universities. These are designed to help you quickly build a formidable array of leading-edge knowledge and skills. You will also benefit from the strong links between institutions, the business world and the professions. The quality of UK research is also rigorously assured: the main government bodies, responsible for funding much of the research in UK universities, conduct a UK-wide review of research quality and full details of this are published and are available at www.hero.ac.uk/rae/index.htm.
Graduate study in the UK is intensive, so Masters degree programs can be relatively shorter than those offered in other countries.
Graduate study in the UK is intensive, so Masters degree programs can be relatively shorter than those offered in other countries. The good news is that this can make the cost of achieving a postgraduate qualification in the UK lower as you are paying fees and living away from home for a shorter period of time. If you are already working, you will be away from your employment for less time too. Annual fees for postgraduate programmes in the UK may initially look high but the total costs of your study may then be lower than in countries where the study period is longer.
Scholarships are available to students planning to take a graduate degree in the UK. The Chevening Scholarships, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and administered by the British Council, are prestigious awards available to international students. Chevening Scholarships are offered in over 150 countries and enable talented graduates and young professionals to become familiar with the UK and gain skills that will benefit their countries. The Chevening program currently provides around 2,500 new scholarships each year for UK graduate studies.
A graduate degree is awarded after the successful completion of either a taught course or a period of research or a combination of both. Taught courses are available at Masters, diploma and certificate level and may also be included in some doctoral level programmes. It is often possible to study in a variety of different and flexible ways, including studying in your home country by distance learning.
Taught Masters degrees can be categorised into one of three types:
· courses that give you a deeper knowledge in a specialised area of your chosen subject
· courses that deal with your chosen subject in a different context (for example, an interdisciplinary Masters programme such as women’s studies, which often has elements of history, literature, sociology, film etc
· courses specifically designed to help you transfer across disciplines (e.g. if you have a background in science or mathematics, you could move into computer science via a ‘conversion’ Masters).
Taught Masters courses normally consist of lectures, seminars and classes with students submitting a dissertation as the final part of their study program.
Depending on the program of study, the dissertation could be based on a practical project, such as designing software, or addressing a real problem in an organisation, or it could be a piece of research. Assessment may include formal written examinations, as well as essays, reports, individual or group projects and presentations.
To gain access to a postgraduate programme, you will usually need a first degree in a relevant subject that is assessed as equivalent to that from a British institution. In some cases you may be required to register initially for a postgraduate diploma as the first stage of a full Masters programme.
Whether at Masters or Doctoral level, research programmes involve individual supervision by a member of academic staff who has great expertise in your chosen subject area. This emphasis on personal guidance and independent study is a key feature of research degrees in the UK and it will give you high-level skills suited to careers in business, applied research and higher education.
A Research Masters programmculminates in a thesis or dissertation of 30,000 or more words. The thesis must present original findings. Programmes include the MPhil and the MA/MSc by research, and will normally take one to two years.
The PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is a research programme normally extending over three or four years, usually culminating in a thesis of 70,000 or more words. The thesis must present original findings that are, in principle, publishable. In some subjects such as art, the thesis may be replaced by an original major work. The UK PhD offers the following opportunities to international students:
· you will produce an original piece of research, which will mean an important boost to your career
· you will gain new competencies including enhanced analytical and critical thinking and presentational and communication skills
· you will receive a sound training in research methodology and practice
· you will become part of the prestigious global community of UK postgraduate alumni
Many PhD programs include some taught courses in the first year, to help you deepen your subject knowledge and develop new technical skills vital for successful research. In science and technology, research students are often members of a research team led by professors or research directors. New types of doctoral programs have also been developed, a particular example of which is the New Route PhD and details of this can be found at www.newroutephd.ac.uk.
To find out more about all postgraduate courses available in the UK check on www.educationuk.org or www.prospects.ac.uk or visit your local British Council office.