Choosing a Degree Program

There are over 50,000 graduate degree programs currently available in the UK. With so many programs on offer, narrowing your search to the 4-6 universities to which you will apply is no easy task. However, it can be an exciting and surprising process. Many students end up finding a great match at a university or town they'd not previously heard of! Further, the number and diversity of UK graduate programs will allow you to find a degree that fits your unique interests and skills.

 

Factors to Consider:

Before researching UK universities and degree programs, we suggest students do an honest assessment of their expectations for graduate study and priorities for selecting a degree program. The UK application process can be time-consuming; therefore, your goal should be to narrow down your list to 4-6 universities.

There are a wide variety of factors to consider in choosing a graduate degree program. You will want to investigate the type of degrees available, suitability of the department (including faculty specializations, department focus and academic programs), competitiveness of admission, cost of attendance and funding, geographic location and campus life. You will also want to ensure the university is accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

As you conduct your search, keep in mind that there are official ratings of both research and teaching quality at all UK universities and within each department based on a Quality Assessment Exercise conducted every four to five years.

Additionally, unofficial rankings, such as those published in the Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph are available and can give you a general idea of the academic reputation and relative prestige of a university. However, you should read the fine print on how these unofficial rankings are determined as the criteria used is often controversial.

 

Resources:

You may wish to use the graduate degree program search engines that are available from the British Council, HERO and Prospects.