Information for those studying in the UK
British degree nomenclature can be confusing for Americans. Do not be overly concerned with the names — just follow the terminology used by each university. The important distinction among masters degrees, the most likely level for your post-graduate study in the UK, is between a taught degree and a research degree. Taught masters programs usually have a thesis component as well as or in place of exams, but the research grows out of coursework and is usually limited to a 10–20,000-word dissertation.
You do not need to have a thesis topic established when applying to a taught program; whereas for a research degree you must have a very clear idea of your topic, as you will be working independently under a supervisor from the start. You may also want to determine whether a particular taught degree (diploma or masters) can count toward a research degree (masters or doctorate)—some do and some don’t. You also need to be sure of the duration of the particular program. A "one year" program can last for 9, 10, 11, or 12 months.
Because of the differences in educational systems, you may want to consider a second bachelor’s degree. In years past many Rhodes and Marshall Scholarship recipients studied at this level. Recently, however, a masters degree has become the usual choice, unless you are switching to a different field. Review the requirements and seek advice if in doubt.
Diplomas and Certificates are usually 9 month programs consisting of the taught components of a master’s degree, without dissertation.
Taught Masters degrees, depending on the university and subject, may be:
- One year (12 month) MA, MPhil, MSc, or Mlitt
- Two year MPhil or BPhil
- Professional degrees such as MBA, LLM, MFA, MMu
If you are interested in doctoral studies in the UK, find out if the taught masters degree you are considering can serve as a transition into the more advanced level of work.
Research Masters degrees, depending on the university and subject, may be:
- One year MA, MPhil, MSc, Mres
- Two year MPhil, MSc, Mlitt
- And others
Doctorate Degrees are usually 3+ years, and may be PhD or DPhil
You’ll find other differences in terminology, including: Faculty (we’d say Division, School or sometimes Department, e.g. Faculty of History = History Department, Faculty of Arts may include subjects we would term Humanities); Academic Staff (the people we call faculty); Course (a whole program of study leading to a degree or diploma); Module (a class, e.g. ID1); Tutorial (independent study or group independent study); Revising (reviewing, as in “We stayed up all night revising for our exam”). You’ll catch on as you read each university's prospectus (catalog with general information about degree courses) and see unfamiliar terms used in context.
Internet and Print Resources from Official Sources
UK Graduate Careers and Study
Use Further Study in the navigation bar to search this data base of all taught and research courses at UK universities by type of degree course, subject, key words, and/or institution. Brief descriptions include helpful details such as number of students admitted annually, and teaching methods. Site also includes information for international students.
The British Council’s Education site
Use Course Browse to search by subject ,or Advanced Search for more specialized inquiries.
Map of UK universities, plus links
Before selecting an institution use the bar at left of screen to select the graduate or undergraduate prospectus, results from teaching or research assessment, university directory, etc. The default link is the institution’s website. At the bottom of the map page you'll find links to other useful sites including the Times Good University Guide, described below.
Institutions of Higher Education in Ireland
Especially useful for Mitchell Scholarship applicants, as UK sites do not include the Irish Republic. See also http://bubl.ac.uk/link/u/universitiesandcollegesinireland.htm
Teaching Quality Assessment
Results from the national program of periodic independent evaluations of teaching quality, searchable by subject or institution. Ratings take into account curriculum design, classroom practices, resources outside the classroom, and how students are evaluated, among other measures. Start with the Subject Overview Reports to compare similar courses of study at different institutions, and proceed to separate reports on programs at various institutions. Note that some reports are 5-6 years old, and may not reflect current conditions.
Research Assessment Exercise
Carried out every five years by the funding councils for England, Scotland, and Wales, the RAE evaluates research by academic staff in UK universities. Each department decides how many of its members will participate and submits a limited number of publications. The 7 point rating scale for departments ranges from 5* (“… attainable levels of international excellence in more than half of the research activity submitted and attainable levels of national excellence in the remainder”) to 1 (… attainable levels of national excellence in none, or virtually none, of the research activity submitted.) Results can be viewed by Unit of Assessment (subject or department) or Institution. A, B, C on the tables represents number of academic staff submitting work: A = 95-100%, B = 80- 94.9%, C = 60- 79.9% and etc. Remember that ‘C’ for large departments may represent more individuals than ‘A’ in small departments. Most important: if you aspire to a research degree you must connect with someone who wants to supervise your project. Do not assume that all 5* departments will include your specialty or offer a degree for which you are qualified, so use the RAE as a first step and proceed from there to detailed information on university websites.
League Tables
Published in the popular press, but not exactly the equivalent of U.S. News and World Report, these ratings are based on measures that include entry standards, student: faculty ratios, library and facilities expenditure, completion rates, and salaries two years out. The Teaching Quality and Research Assessment reports also figure in. Emphasis is on undergraduate programs but the information can also be helpful for exploring postgraduate degree courses.
The Times Good University Guide
The Graduate Fellowships Office has a print copy of the 2003 edition.