About postgraduate study
We offer two main types of postgraduate courses - taught courses and research degrees. Here we explain what you study - and how and what you'll learn.
Taught courses
We emphasise projects and assignments which are relevant to work, particularly if you work with an industrial or commercial partner.
Format - our taught postgraduate courses normally involve a formal structure of lectures, seminars, lab work (if relevant), projects and a dissertation. You cover more advanced aspects of subjects studied at undergraduate level. You receive credits for each module you pass.
Master's degrees often include intermediate awards such as a postgraduate certificate (60 credits) and a postgraduate diploma (120 credits). For a full master's degree award, you need to successfully complete 180 credits - this includes the core element of advanced independent work, such as a research project or dissertation.
Types of course - we offer a number of full- and part-time taught postgraduate courses including:
If you need more information about a course, call the relevant admissions enquiries number.
- postgraduate certificates (PgCert)
- postgraduate diplomas (PgDip)
- master of business administration (MBA)
- master of laws (LLM)
- doctor of clinical psychology (DClinPsy)
Course length - a full-time master's degree is normally completed within one year. You will also need to do private study throughout the course. A part-time master's degree is typically completed within two years - but can be extended. Please check the exact course dates with the relevant School or Student Learning & Academic Registry before applying.
Doctorates are usually completed within three years. You can find the length of each course within its entry. Courses usually start in September.
Assessment methods vary for each course. We place more emphasis on assignments, essays, case studies and project work and less on formal exams. The final part of a master's and doctorate is usually an advanced independent dissertation or project.
Research degrees
Your programme of supervised research can lead to a master of philosophy (MPhil) or doctor of philosophy (PhD) in a range of disciplines.
Research degrees involve supervised individual investigation of a subject area culminating in a thesis. Full-time study is about 35 hours a week on research, part-time around 12.
More about research degrees
Course length - full-time research degrees are usually completed within 24 or 48 months.
As a research student you are expected to spend about 35 hours a week on your studies which includes going to your induction and developing research skills.
Studying part time - you can study a wide range of postgraduate courses part time. Some are available full and part time - this is indicated within each course entry. Others are only run on a part-time basis.
| Award | Total credits needed |
|---|---|
| University Certificate in Postgraduate Continuing Education (UCPCE) | At least 20 postgraduate |
| University Certificate in Postgraduate Professional Development (UCPPD) | At least 30 postgraduate |
| Postgraduate certificate | 60 |
| Postgraduate diploma | At least 120 postgraduate |
| Master's degree | At least 180 postgraduate |
| Taught doctorates | At least 540 postgraduate |
| Professional Practitioner Qualification | At least 240 D level |
