How To Apply for a Masters

Most Masters degree applications are made directly to universities. You'll need to provide a personal statement and proof of your academic qualifications or relevant experience. International students may also need a language test score.

Applying for a Masters degree isn't as complicated as you might think. The main thing you'll need to do is prove that the course you're interested in is right for you and that your previous study or work experience has equipped you to complete it – this is a postgraduate application, after all.

Here I'm going to explain the Masters application process, step by step, highlighting key details (such as when to apply and what you'll need) and answering some common questions. I'll also share stories from successful Masters applicants.

One of the biggest differences between undergraduate and most postgraduate applications is that you apply directly to the university for a Masters.

These days you'll normally set up an online account with your prospective university, letting you upload key documents and save your application in progress.

How many Masters can you apply to?

There's no limit to the number of Masters applications you can make as each one is a separate process with a different university.

Data from our Postgraduate Pulse survey indicates the most popular option for domestic UK students is to apply for 3 Masters. International students are more likely to apply for 5 or more programmes.

Do you apply for a Masters through UCAS?

No. Postgraduate applications are made directly to universities and not through UCAS. A small number of universities previously used a UCAS Postgraduate service, but this has now closed.

How do you choose a Masters?

Before you can start your Masters application, you'll need to pick at least one course to apply to. You can easily search and compare Masters here on FindAMasters, but what should you be looking for? I'd suggest paying attention to the following:

• Course content and topic specialisms – Masters degrees can get very specialised and similar courses from different universities can vary a lot. Pay close attention to the module descriptions, think about the skills you want to acquire and perhaps even look ahead to dissertation topics. At the end of the day, you want to pick the right option for you (true story: my own Masters was in Gothic Literature).
• Delivery – How you'll study a Masters can be as varied as what you'll study. Consider timetable and teaching methods and don't forget that many courses also offer online or blended learning options.
• Assessment – Most Masters degrees are assessed through coursework (at the end of modules) and a longer dissertation (at the end of the degree). Some also include exams to test technical knowledge. Most of my assessment took place during 'holidays' so make sure your course works in a way that suits you.
• Accreditation – Degrees in professional fields like Architecture, Law and Social Work are often accredited by official bodies. The right accreditation could be essential for someone who wants to qualify for a specific career. If that's you, it's worth confirming which accreditations are commonly expected before you begin looking at Masters degrees.

There's more to say about choosing a Masters but the above should get you started.

Masters deadlines are quite relaxed and some courses will take applications almost up until they start. But that doesn't mean you should leave things until the last minute.

A good rule of thumb is to give yourself at least six months. So, if your course begins in Autumn (September or October) then you should start applying around March or April.

You should allow extra time to apply for a Masters as an international student. This will give you space to arrange a student visa and complete any language tests you need to take. Different destinations also have different application requirements for you to get your head around.

Universities set their own entry requirements and application processes for postgraduate study, but most will ask for some (or all) of the following:

Academic certificates & transcripts

You'll need confirmation of your undergraduate degree result (if applicable) and some universities may also want to see transcripts of individual modules and results. You can provide predicted grades or results so far for a Bachelors in progress.

You can still apply for a Masters without an undergraduate degree, but you'll need to explain how your experience has prepared you for this course.

Personal statement

Sometimes referred to as a motivational letter, this explains why you want to study this Masters, how your previous study and experience have prepared you for it and what you want to get out of it. It's especially important if you haven't been to university recently, or if your undergraduate degree is in a very different field to your Masters.

There's lots more to say about writing a personal statement for a Masters application and we've put together some examples to learn from.

References

Good references help support the case you make in your personal statement. They're normally best supplied by an undergraduate tutor or module lead, but they can be from anyone knows you in an academic or professional capacity. Sadly, your best friend probably isn't the best choice – unless they were also (somehow) your dissertation supervisor.

Remember to get permission from anyone you put down as a referee.

Portfolio

Creative or practical Masters may ask you to submit a portfolio. As a rule, you'll want to include some of your most recent work (particularly if it relates to your undergraduate degree) as well as some of the materials (such as notes, drafts, sketches, etc) that show how your creative process works. You can also select pieces that show how your work has evolved over time.

You probably won't be able to include all your work in a portfolio (or carry it to an interview!) so be selective. The ability to self-critique and choose the most appropriate work is a useful skill to demonstrate here.

Other items

Some universities might also want to see a CV (for very professional courses) or a research proposal (for research Masters like an MPhil or Mres).

Admissions tests like the GRE (Graduate Records Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) are more common in countries like the USA but they may be used for competitive courses elswhere.

What about international students?

If you're coming to study a Masters abroad then your university may also need to sponsor your visa application (this is how it works in the UK). If so, you may need to provide details of your passport as well as language test scores and proof of financial means. There's more information in our international application checklist.

Are there application fees?

Masters application fees aren't very common in the UK. Exceptions are for courses that are very popular or where entry is competitive (which is often the same thing). Business schools for MBA study are a good example of this.

If you do have to pay a fee in the UK, it will probably be between £25 and £75. This helps cover the cost of processing your application. Requirements vary in other countries.

The most common entry requirement for a Masters is a relevant Bachelors degree with a 2.1 grade or higher (or the equivalent GPA).

That doesn't mean you won't be accepted with a 2.2, a third or with no undergraduate degree at all – but you may need to work harder at explaining why you're suitable and ready for the course. It's always worth contacting the university to ask for advice if your grades are a little below the advertised level.

The only other typical requirements are language proficiency (for international students).

You should get acknowledgement of your application after you make it (check with the university if you don't), but the next steps will depend on how the university does things.

The decision you get will probably fall into one of the following categories:

• Unconditional offer – you meet the requirements, have been accepted and can enrol on the course when it opens
• Conditional offer – you've been accepted provided you meet some additional requirements (for example, achieving a certain undergraduate grade)
• Interview – you've been invited to discuss your application with the university (see below)
• Review – the university needs more information from you or needs to check some of the information you've supplied (for example, getting additional detail on your undergraduate degree)
• Unsuccessful – your application hasn't been accepted on this occasion (due to eligibility requirements or because available places have been taken by stronger candidates)

In each case, the university will explain why a decision has been made and what you can do next.

Will there be an interview?

Interview requirements for Masters degrees vary.

Your university might invite for an informal chat (perhaps with a course tutor) via Zoom or similar. The goal here is mostly to assess the suitability of the course for you.

True story: my own 'interview' for a Masters was basically just coffee with the programme leader. We talked about my undergraduate interests and took a look around the campus. At the end of it he shook my hand and said he looked forward to me joining the programme.

In some cases, more formal interviews will be scheduled with one or more panellists and probably follow a question and answer format (like a job interview). The goal here is to assess your suitability for the course.

How do I prepare for an interview?

The best – and simplest! – advice is to make sure you know what to expect. If you're being invited to a virtual coffee, then don't stress yourself out practicing interview technique. But, equally, if you're being invited to a more formal process, then think about the questions you're likely to be asked.

Good tips are to:

• Research the university – Learning a little about the university (and department) you're applying to is a great way to show your interest. And, if you're interested in the course, it should also be interesting.
• Re-read your personal statement – Make sure you remember what you said and how you said it (especially if you're applying to more than one course).
• Think about the questions you might be asked – These might include some classics, such as motivations or strengths and weaknesses. But you'll probably also be asked more specific questions about your Masters funding plans or next steps.

There's much more advice in our guide to Masters degree interviews.

How long will I wait for a decision?

Many universities make decisions on applications as they receive them, but some may now wait and review applications together (this is sometimes called a 'gathered field' approach). Either way, your university should let you know when it expects to make a decision.

I hope this guide helps explain how Masters degree applications work and clarifies what you'll need. I also hope it makes the process seem less intimidating! My own application was a fairly simple process of exchanging some emails, submitting some emails and chatting with a tutor. Yours won't necessarily be much more complex.

One final tip I would offer is to give yourself plenty of time.

If you're in the final year of your undergraduate degree you probably want to start thinking properly about the postgraduate application process after Christmas. This gives you plenty of time and also means it won't overburden you during final exam prep or dissertation work.

And there's no reason why you can't start searching for a Masters even earlier. There are thousands out there and narrowing down your options in advance will save time when you come to apply.

Good luck!