Types of course

Postgraduate courses can be either taught or research, although some courses may contain aspects of both.

Taught courses

• Similar structure to undergraduate degree.
• May also include a practical or research project, a dissertation or a placement.
• Usual duration 9-12 months full-time or 2-3 years part-time.

Postgraduate Diploma

• Generally 9 months full time (often September - June).
• Written dissertation not normally required.
• Can provide a professional qualification needed for a particular career.
• Sometimes forms the initial part of a taught Masters degree.
• Largely considered to be less academic than a Masters degree.

Taught Masters

• Entry: a good undergraduate degree (not always necessarily in the same subject).
• 1-2 years full time/2-3 years part time.
• Usually involves fixed curriculum of lectures/seminars/tutorials, oral and project work,
  some research, a dissertation/thesis (usually 10,000 - 20,000 words) and exam/s.
• Sometimes optional to omit dissertation/thesis and obtain a Postgraduate Diploma.

Research courses

• 1-3+ years (full-time).
• Undertaking original in-depth research in a specific chosen area with guidance from an academic.
• Usually university-based.
• May require attending certain undergraduate/taught postgraduate courses.
  

Research Masters

• 1-2 years full time/2-4 to years part time.
• Similar structure to doctorate, only shorter.
• Can be a conversion course to develop knowledge/skills in a new subject.
• Can lead to a professional qualification.
• Includes the production of a thesis (usually 30,000 - 40,000 words) and often an oral presentation.

Doctorate

• Can be undertaken after first degree or Masters.
• 3-4 years full time or 5-6 part time.
• Involves producing a thesis of around 100,000 words and often making an oral presentation.
• Considered very intellectually challenging.