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Postgraduate



	Diploma or certificate courses
	Taught Masters
	Research Masters
	Research Doctorates
	Course search

There are two main types of taught postgraduate course: Master's programmes, which normally consist of classes and seminars plus a dissertation; and diploma or certificate courses, which consist of classes and seminars (sometimes the same taught elements as a Master's course), but with no dissertation. Some diploma courses enable you to transfer to a Master's when you have successfully completed them.

A research degree is the ultimate opportunity if you want to pursue your own specialist interests. You'll be expected to initiate and develop your topic under the supervision of one or possibly two academics. To be successful, you will need to demonstrate intellectual independence.

Diploma or certificate courses

Qualifications offered	Entrance requirements	Teaching methods	Assessment methods	Duration
PG Cert. PG Dip.	British or recognised overseas undergraduate degree in a relevant subject plus English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS band six or above).	Programmes are intensive and you should be prepared for a heavy workload. Postgraduate students attend classes and lectures, do a great deal of independent reading and/or experimental work between classes, complete regular written assignments, and write a substantial dissertation.	Continuous assessment and/or final exams.	Nine months.

Taught Masters

Qualifications offered	Entrance requirements	Teaching methods	Assessment methods	Duration
MA MSc LLM MEd Others	As above.	As above.	Taught elements are assessed by continuous assessment and/or final exams. The dissertation forms a major part of the total assessment.	One year.

Research Masters

Qualifications offered	Entrance requirements	Teaching methods	Assessment methods	Duration
M.Phil. MA/M.Sc. by research M.Res.	British or recognised overseas undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, at 2.1 Honours or above plus English language proficiency (e.g. IELTS band six or above).	Students are expected to work on their own under the guidance of a supervisor. Roughly the first two-thirds of the programme are spent researching the topic and planning the dissertation. The remaining time is spent writing the dissertation, which describes in detail the research.	Dissertation - typically 30,000 to 40,000 words.	One to three years.

Research Doctorates

Qualifications offered	Entrance requirements	Teaching methods	Assessment methods	Duration
Ph.D D.Phil.	Taught or research Masters degree in a relevant subject plus English Language proficiency (e.g. IELTS band 6 or above). An outstanding academic record is expected.	Students will be expected to work on their own to a large extent, under the guidance of a supervisor. The research is usually written during the third year. The first two years are spent researching the topic and planning the dissertation.	Dissertation - typically of 70,000-100,000 words.	Three years minimum.

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