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Why take a Masters
degree?
How long does a Masters Degree take? Most Masters courses in the UK last a full calendar year, starting in September or October. Many are also available as part time courses and can take between 2 and 6 years to complete. What do the Masters degrees abbreviations stand for? In general a Masters degree is named after the broad subject area, but some universities or departments will use more specific titles. LLM – Master of Laws MA – Master of Arts MArch – Master of Architecture MBA – Master of Business Administration MEd – Master of Education MEng - Master of Engineering MFA – Master of Fine Art MLitt – Master of Letters MMus – Master of Music MPharm – Master of Pharmacy MPhil – Master of Philosophy MRes – Master of Research MSc – Master of Science MSt – Master of Studies MTh – Master of Theology What are the Entrance Requirements? All applicants should have a first degree (many courses require at least a 2(ii) and sometimes even a 2(i)). Other courses (e.g. most MBAs) also require some years of work experience. Specific requirements differ from institution to institution and from course to course. What Issues Do International Students Need to Consider? There are many decisions a student from outside the UK needs to consider before starting a degree here. The main thing to remember is to plan well in advance, particularly if you want to apply for funding. Information on living in the UK, immigration, scholarships, cost of living, etc can be found in the UKCISA Guidance Notes for Students. The funding section of this site also gives some guidance, as do the questions and answers below. Are my Qualifications Equivalent to a British 2(i) or 2(ii)? Because of the wide variety of qualifications from each country it can be difficult to find out what level of British degree your qualification is equivalent to. To give you a rough idea a British 2(i) degree (referred to as an 'Upper Second Class Honours Degree' or a 'Two-One') is the second highest mark available for a British Honours Degree (a 2(ii) is the third highest). The British Council in your home country will be able to help you. Before you apply you could try asking your former course tutors or alternatively you can visit The National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom. They will give informal advice free of charge. An official 'letter of comparability', which will be accepted by employers, costs £30 (+VAT), but should not be necessary for most universities, who will assess you themselves. We have not been able to find a web site that gives a guide for entrance to all UK universities, but the University of Sheffield web site summarises their own requirements, which will be similar for most UK universities. Do I need an English Language qualification? Candidates from non-English speaking nations will require an English language qualification for entry to a UK university. Many universities offer pre-Masters language training courses for students whose language skills need improvement. Our article English Language Qualifications for International Students has more details. Any of the following qualifications in English will be accepted by most UK universities (providing your grade is high enough) IELTS (International English Language Testing System) TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) CPE (Cambridge Proficiency in English) Further help and advice on English Language exams can be found at www.LearnEnglish.org.uk which is run by the British Council. |