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Overview

There are over 1,700 universities awarding postgraduate degrees in the US. With each offering its own areas of specialisation, reputation and curriculum, there is bound to be one that is a great fit for you. Below you will find an overview of postgraduate study in the US, including information on terminology differences, types of universities and postgraduate degrees on offer.

 

Terminology Differences:

As you begin your research of US postgraduate programmes, you should note the following differences in terminology between the US and UK:

Types of Universities:

In the US, there are both public (state-funded) and private universities.

Public universities are state-funded institutions and are usually large in size. Foreign students pay out-of-state tuition, which is often higher than that paid by in-state residents. However, tuition fees at public universities are generally less expense than private universities.
Private universities are supported by tuition fees, private donations and grants. They typically have a smaller student body and are more expensive to attend. However, private universities often have better facilities on offer and more funding set aside for students. (Please see the page on university funding for more information).

Please note there are also US universities abroad (including in the UK) at which you can complete a Bachelor's degree following a US curriculum, as well distance education opportunties.

Postgraduate Degrees on Offer:

There are several types of postgraduate degrees offered in the US. Unlike in the UK, there are no pure research degrees. Rather, degrees include a combination of research and taught components.

Please note this website also includes information on short term research and study at the postgraduate/postdoctoral levels in the US.

Academic Master’s degrees are generally completed in two academic years (though there are a few one-year programmes) and commonly lead to a career in academia or research. Students typically complete a thesis as part of their studies. In the humanities, these degrees may also involve meeting a minimum language requirement. Please note that some institutions will only offer admission for academic/research-based Doctoral degrees, although under circumstances they may award a Master’s degree to students who successfully complete the required coursework and Master's thesis, but do not go on to complete their Doctoral dissertation.

Professional Master’s degrees are designed to prepare you for a particular profession (e.g. business administration, architecture, social work, public policy/administration, etc.). Professional degrees generally require a set of mandatory core courses and electives, allowing students specialise or take courses outside the department. They usually emphasize coursework and are unlikely to require a thesis. Rather, students may complete an internship or capstone project at the end of their degree programme.

For more information on MBA degree, please see our forthcoming handout on MBA Study in the US available on the subject-specific information page.

Doctoral degrees typically require between 4 and 6 years of study, though this will vary by university, department, topic of study and student. In general, the degree consists of 2-3 years of coursework culminating in oral and written qualifying exams before the student is admitted to doctoral candidacy and embarks on 2-3 years of dissertation research. A dissertation of publishable quality work is then required, followed by an oral exam or 'defence' to complete the degree.

Depending on the department, students may apply for a two-year Master’s programme and then continue on working toward the Doctoral degree, or begin the Doctoral programme straightaway.

JD/LLM degrees in law: Law is a postgraduate degree in the US. Students may complete a 3-year JD degree following undergraduate study. Upon completion of the JD degree, students sit a bar exam to become qualified to practise law in a given state. The JD degree prepares individuals to practise law in the US.

More often international students do a 1 or 2-year LLM - Master’s in Law degree, if they have a first degree in law in the UK. LLM degrees offer specialised study in a particular area of law, such as international law or tax law.

For more information, please see our forthcoming handout on Legal Studies in the US available on the subject-specific information page.

MD degree in medicine: Medicine is also a postgraduate degree in the US. Students typically complete a first degree in a science-related field before completing a four-year medical school degree.