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Overview

With over 50,000 graduate degree programs available at 106 universities, the UK offers a diverse range of graduate study opportunities for current students, recent graduates and those wishing to re-enter higher education after an extended period of employment.

Overview:

Generally speaking, graduate programs will be described as either ‘Taught’ or ‘Research’ degrees (often called ‘courses’ in the UK). Taught courses are similar to the structure of US graduate programs in that ‘taught’ graduate students attend classes regularly, take a number of courses (called ‘modules’ in the UK) each semester and have frequent contact with their professors. Research courses, on the other hand, place more emphasis on self-motivated and self-directed study with students undertaking an independent research project with periodical supervision by a faculty member. Master’s programs may be either taught or research degrees depending on the field of study or university; however, the majority of Ph.D. programs will be research focused.

UK degrees are based on a length of study, rather than a credit system as in the US.  Typically UK Master’s programs are between nine and twelve months in length, while a Ph.D. is completed over a three year period of study.

Terminology Differences:

As you research degree programs, you should note the following differences in terminology between the US and UK higher education systems:

• In the UK, graduate study is referred to as "postgraduate study."
• An undergraduate degree is often referred to as a "first-degree" in the UK.
• The US phrase "degree program" is the equivalent of a "course" in the UK.
• "Class" and "course" are the equivalent of ‘module’ in the UK.
• The majority of those holding teaching positions at a university will be referred to as a "tutor" or "lecturer" rather than "professor."

Postgraduate Degrees Available:

Graduate degrees awarded in the UK include:

• MA – Master of Arts
• MSc – Master of Science
• MPhil – Master of Philosophy
• MRes – Master of Research
• PhD – Doctorate of Philosophy

Curriculum and Assessment:

If you undertake a taught graduate program, you will be assessed by either written work or an exam at the end of each semester for each of the classes (modules) that you have taken. Additionally, you may receive a grade for other work completed throughout the semester, such as group or independent projects and presentations, as well as attendance. During your final semester, you will likely be required to sit comprehensive exams and/or complete a dissertation on a research topic of your choosing.

If you pursue a research degree, you will be assessed on your dissertation alone. While conducting your independent research, you will likely have periodic meetings with your supervisor during which time you may discuss any written work that you have produced to date. However, your official assessment will come only after submission of your entire dissertation and possibly an oral defence (sometimes called a "viva" in the UK), depending on your degree program.

For further general information about graduate study in the UK, consult the British Council website or those of other organizations listed on the study in the UK enquiries page.