If you want to continue your studies after a bachelor's degree, or learn more about a particular subject, there are a range of postgraduate qualifications available. Some are linked to a specific profession, while others allow you to complete an original piece of research.
What a postgraduate qualification is
There are four main types of postgraduate qualifications:
- postgraduate certificates
- postgraduate diplomas
- master's degrees
- doctorates
Most types of postgraduate qualification will include taught and research elements. Normally, to study for a postgraduate qualification, you will need to have a bachelor's degree at 2:2 level or above. To find out the entrance requirements for a particular postgraduate course, visit the UCAS website.
Postgraduate diplomas and certificates
Postgraduate diplomas and certificates can be academic or vocational qualifications. They normally take nine to 12 months to complete full-time. The number of lectures and seminars you go to and projects and research papers you produce will vary depending on the type of course and the college or university you are at.
Subjects available
There are a wide variety of subjects to choose from. These are often linked to a specific profession. You can study a subject that's new to you, or choose a subject that builds on the knowledge and skills you gained during your bachelor's degree.
Grades
Grades are normally awarded as:
Postgraduate certificates can lead on to postgraduate diplomas. You can also use a postgraduate certificate or diploma as a route into a specific career or onto further study, such as a master's degree.
Masters degrees
A master's degree is a qualification of academic study. It can be research based, a taught course, or a mixture of both and will take at least 12 months of full-time study to complete.
The number of lectures, seminars, projects and research papers will vary depending on the type of course and the institution. You may also have to send a dissertation at the end of your course.
Masters degrees available
The types of master's degrees available include:
- MA: master of arts
- MSc: master of science
- MBA: master of business administration
- LLM: master of law
- MEd: master of education
- MPhil: master of philosophy
- MRes: master of research
Most master's degrees are normally awarded as:
Some master's degrees, such as in business administration and law, prepare you for a career in a particular field. Others, like the master of research can prepare you for a doctorate qualification.
Doctorates
A doctorate qualification gives you the opportunity to do an original piece of research. It will usually take at least three years of full-time study to complete. Doctorate qualifications are offered by universities that have research opportunities.
Throughout the course, you will be expected to work independently with guidance from a supervisor.
During the first one to three years of your doctorate, you will research your chosen topic and plan your dissertation and in your final year, you will normally write up your dissertation.
Doctorates are usually awarded as either a pass or fail; in rare cases with a distinction.
Many doctorate courses lead to a qualification such as a doctor of philosophy - a PhD or Dphil.
Find out more
To find out more about getting a postgraduate qualification, contact individual universities and colleges, or visit their websites.
Some colleges have a postgraduate open day, which is a chance for you to meet prospective tutors or supervisors.
More useful links
FAQs
A postgraduate degree is one that you may study upon completion of an undergraduate degree, or, in special circ*mstances, significant industry experience. There are two types of postgraduate study; coursework or research. Postgraduate study by coursework typically has different levels, such as: Graduate Certificate.
Is a postgraduate the same as a master's degree? ›
Most postgraduate courses are advertised as a master's degree (MSc, MA, MBA) and other routes are available. A postgraduate certificate takes about four months while a diploma lasts nine months. These two qualifications can provide a route to particular careers or can serve as stepping stones towards a master's degree.
What is the qualification of a masters degree? ›
A master's degree is a qualification of academic study. It can be research based, a taught course, or a mixture of both and will take at least 12 months of full-time study to complete. The number of lectures, seminars, projects and research papers will vary depending on the type of course and the institution.
What level is postgraduate? ›
A postgraduate degree takes place after you've received your bachelor's degree and is considered a Level 7 qualification in the UK, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a Level 11 qualification in Scotland.
What are postgraduate professional qualifications? ›
Professional qualifications are usually Masters degrees, such as the MBA (business), LLM (law), and MEng (engineering), or postgraduate diplomas, such as the PGDE (teaching) and GDL (law). Professional qualifications may involve elements of both teaching and research.
What is a postgraduate certificate qualification? ›
The Postgraduate Certificate involves credits from a specified subject and cognate areas. It recognises continuing professional development or academic achievement in advance of a Bachelor's Degree in the same area as the individual's original degree or Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.
Is a Bachelor degree a postgraduate? ›
A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate qualification, it's typically the first degree you study after high school. A master's degree, on the other hand, is a postgraduate degree, meaning you typically would have studied some level of higher education to be eligible.
Does postgraduate mean masters or PhD? ›
The term “postgraduate degree” covers everything from postgraduate diplomas to master's degrees to doctoral degrees. Essentially, any degree that requires an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree as an admissions prerequisite can be considered a postgraduate degree.
Is postgraduate equivalent to degree? ›
The term 'undergraduate' refers to a Bachelors degree, while 'postgraduate' is used to describe graduate students studying for a second qualification, typically a masters, postgraduate certificate (PGCert) or postgraduate diploma (PGDip).
What is the meaning of postgraduate? ›
A postgraduate is a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree level course at a college or university and is undertaking further study at a more advanced level.
Because doctorate degrees are one of the highest academic achievements you can earn, they are generally considered superior to master's degrees.
What are the three types of masters degrees? ›
Three types of matter are solids, liquids, and gases. Comprehending the particle nature of matter is significant. Particles that makeup matter are not ' small solid bits ' or ' small liquid drops, ' but atoms and molecules. Such atoms and molecules ' physical characteristics determine their state.
What is a post graduate qualification? ›
A postgraduate degree, also known as a graduate degree, is a higher level of education pursued after completing an undergraduate or bachelor's degree.
Is postgraduate a Masters? ›
Postgraduate courses cover higher-level study, including master's degrees, doctorates (PhDs) and postgraduate diplomas. These typically require you to have completed an undergraduate degree, often with 2:2 honours or higher, before you can study them.
Is postgraduate a masters or PhD? ›
In short, a Masters degree involves a year of study, primarily through taught lectures and a final dissertation research project, whilst a PhD (also referred to as a doctorate degree) is a three-year commitment of independent research on a specific subject.
Is a postgraduate certificate a master's? ›
A PGCert is a shorter taught postgraduate award which provides Masters level training in a specific area of medicine or life sciences but takes less time for a student to complete.
Who is considered a postgraduate student? ›
In simple terms, a postgraduate student is anyone who is studying a postgraduate course, including a masters degree, an MPhil and a PhD, and usually these courses require the student to have an undergraduate degree as part of the entry requirements.
Does postgraduate mean diploma? ›
A postgraduate diploma is commonly awarded to students who have completed the master's programme and continuing a one-year advanced course similar to the first year of a PhD program. A postgraduate diploma typically represents 120 credits of postgraduate courses (whereas a full master's degree is usually 180 credits).
