Applying for a Masters – Your New Year Action Plan

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’ve been considering applying for a Masters, then the time has come to stop thinking and start doing.

The countdown may have started, but we're on hand to help!

We’ve compiled a handy list of pointers to get you into the swing of all things postgraduate in the New Year – starting with where to find the Masters for you.

It’s fair to say that unless you search for the right Masters degree, it isn’t necessarily going to find you on its own. So where can you start?

If you haven’t done so already, you might want to think about attending some postgraduate study fairs. They’re a great way of meeting representatives from lots of different universities in one place, and getting a feel for what’s on offer.

Not only will you have the opportunity to find the ideal course for you, you’ll also gain some valuable advice about what it’s like to be a postgraduate, and learn a little bit more about what you want from your Masters.

Our own Postgrad LIVE! fairs take place across the UK in the New Year. Why not take a look?

You can search thousands of Masters on our site. But you don’t want to apply for too many. That’s why it’s important to refine your choices.

Everyone that undertakes Masters study does so for different reasons. You may even find that the courses you've looked into are appealing to you because they offer you different paths for the future.

It’s best to narrow down your choices to a maximum of three. Applying for a Masters is time-consuming, and you want to be able to manage the workload.

Write a list of pros and cons for the courses that you like most, then go from there.

Don’t feel that you have to apply to more than one Masters course, though – if you know exactly what you want, then going for the all-or-nothing approach is no bad thing.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s time to really get into the nitty gritty of exactly what, how, and where you’ll be studying, how much it will cost, and how you will benefit from a Masters degree.

If there’s something in particular that you’d like to know about the course or where you’ll be studying, then contacting the university directly is a good idea.

Contact details are available for all the Masters we list. Most universities have specific staff dedicated to postgraduate enquiries, and should be able to help you easily.

It might also be worth contacting specific lecturers on the course you’re interested in. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss what you want to achieve during your Masters, and whether their interests and values match yours.

This is particularly helpful if you will be undertaking a research-based course which requires supervision – you want your supervisor to be on the same page, after all.

Speaking to current tutors and lecturers is a great way of receiving advice about postgraduate study in a certain subject.

After all, your tutors have been through the process themselves, and will likely have a good idea about the reputations and research achievements of the universities you're interested in.

Speaking to your lecturers is also a good way of understanding your chosen field more broadly, and ensuring that the options you’ve selected match your wider aims.

Careers services aren’t just for finding a job – they're also an excellent way of gaining valuable advice about choosing and applying for a Masters degree, including how to acquire funding.

Like your tutors, careers advisors have a good sense of which universities might be a good choice for the sector you eventually want to work in. They can also tell you how the reputation or ranking of certain universities may impact your future career.

Alongside this, careers advisors can assess whether the course you want to undertake is suited to the experience and qualifications you already have – and if not, how you might gain this experience in order to apply.

Arguably the most difficult part of the whole process is the actual application itself. This is something that cannot be rushed – you will need to allow yourself (and those helping you) plenty of time to complete the application fully and correctly.

The more time you allow for preparations, the better off you’ll be when tackling any hurdles along the way.

Do also keep in mind that the application process is slightly different for each university.

As noted above, your careers service is a good place to go to make sure your experience meets the criteria outlined in the entry requirements for your chosen Masters.

If attaining a particular grade is the main priority, speak to your tutors about what you are currently achieving, and how you might improve to guarantee you get the results you need.

If you are unsure about any of the criteria mentioned on an application, then contact the university directly.

Most applications will ask you to provide at least two references. Often these will both be academic, though one may be professional depending on the course and your background experience.

Your referees need to be individuals who know you well. The more they know about your academic achievements, the easier it will be for them to provide a good reference.

These individuals will also need plenty of time to be able to produce a statement for you, so give them plenty of notice – at least four weeks prior to the application deadline.

Always make sure you ask permission for somebody to be your referee – it’s polite, and also allows them to ask you a few questions if they need to about what you will be studying and why.

Another area which in which your lecturers can help. Although they won’t necessarily be on hand to analyse every aspect of your prose, they will be able to give you pointers on the general gist of the contents.

Careers advisors can also assess your capabilities and match them easily with any criteria outlined in the entry requirements, and how you may present these qualities in your personal statement.

Lastly, you may find that your university offers a service whereby you can contact current Masters students to receive advice about your personal statement, such as an e-buddy scheme.

The funding you will apply for will vary greatly depending on what you want to study and where.

It's also worth bearing in mind that you may need to have selected a course or submitted your Masters application before you can apply for some funding.

Introduced in the UK in 2016, postgraduate loans allow eligible students to borrow up to £10,609 for a Masters degree in 2018/19.

Erasmus also offers lots of funding for students wishing to undertake part or all of their Masters study abroad.

Finally, you can check out our guides for more funding advice, or visit out sister site: PostgraduateFunding.com.

Although we haven’t provided you with an extensive step-by-step application resource, we hope these pointers will send you on your merry way throughout the Christmas holidays.

If you’d like some more advice on finding and studying a Masters, we’ve got a guide for every postgrad need!

You can also chat to other students on our Masters Forum for informal help and advice.

We’ll still be keeping you up to date right through Christmas to the New Year, so have a good’un, and keep working hard – you can do it!

Editor's note: This blog was first published on 21/12/2016. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

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