Postgraduate Study in the UK

1
Postgraduate Study in the UK?

• Some guidance

Press space to advance and backspace to retreat
2
Introduction

• Purpose Propose a course of action when in
  search of a Postgraduate course in the UK
• Sources Conclusions are drawn on others
  experience and research

3
Topics of Discussion

• Deciding on a general route
• Sources of information Available help
• Cost Funding
• Prerequisites
• Procedures Timing

4
Deciding on a general route

• What do we mean by route?
• The way you go about planning your postgraduate
  study depends on 2 key factors
• Resulting Qualification (e.g. MSc)
• Academic discipline (e.g. Engineering)

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Resulting Qualification

• Qualifications are achieved through taught
  courses or through research or both.
• The most common postgraduate qualifications are
• Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MSc) In
  the case of unsuccessful completion of an MA/MSc,
  exit qualifications like Post Graduate Diplomas
  (PGD) and Postgraduate Certificates (PGC) are
  usually available
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) MBAs may
  have a particular focus e.g. Hospitality
  Management or not
• PhD PhDs always involve research and serious
  contribution to Art/Science

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Academic discipline

• e.g. Marketing, Finance, Tourism, Physics,
  Information Technology
• There are usually two directions to follow
• Broaden undergraduate study
• Narrow undergraduate study

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Sources of information Available help

• Word of mouth (i.e. what fellow
  students/tutors/professionals think)
• The Internet search engines (e.g.
  www.google.com) ? individual University
  websiteson-line University catalogues (e.g.
  http//www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/ukinfo/uk.map.html) ?
  individual University websiteslocal government
  websites (e.g. www.eastbourne.gov.uk) ? local
  info, lifestyle, crime rate etc.
• The British Council (also on-line)
• Private educational organisations (e.g. Network
  Studies) running foundation courses for UK
  Universities, and other related courses (e.g.
  TOEFL) in Greece
• ?????S? (once you have decided on your route)

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Cost Funding

• Costs
• Tuition fees (about)
• (MA 3500, MBA 8000, PHD 3000/year)
• Cost of living (about)
• ( 13000)
• Information is available in almost every
  University prospectus.
• Funding for postgraduate study in the UK is
  almost non existent. However, look for info in
• ?d???? ?p?t??f??? ?p???????se?? ap? ?????fe??
  ?d??µata ?????d?t?µata (?p. ??????µ????)
  published yearly
• The British Council
• http//www.ousu.org/current/news/campaigns/graduat
  es/funding.html
• http//www.prospects.ac.uk/student/pgdir/funding/m
  ain.stm

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Prerequisites (I)

• Entry requirements may differ depending on the
  academic discipline or the resulting
  qualification.
• Here are some examples
• MA / MSc First degree equivalent to a UK Honours
  Degree (i.e. Ptychion AEI). Other qualifications
  (e.g. Ptychion TEI) may also be accepted when
  professional experience is also present.
• MBA as above Professional experience (usually
  in managerial position) or other professional
  qualification.
• PHD MA/MSc/MBA managerial experience access
  to some organisation relevant to the proposed
  research topic. In some cases an MA/MSc/MBA may
  be directly extended to PHD.
• NOTE These are only examples. ALWAYS check with
  individual Universities for entry requirements to
  specific courses!

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Prerequisites (II)

• Non native English speakers must have one of the
  following qualifications in English
• IELTS 6 6.5
• TOEFL 213 250
• Cambridge or Oxford CPE Pass (2 years old or
  less)
• 3 reference letters are required by most
  Universities
• 2 Academic (from your tutors, printed in English,
  on special forms provided by Universities)
• 1 Professional (from employer or a person of
  great influence and status e.g. Minister of
  Foreign Affairs, printed in English).

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Prerequisites (III)

• All other qualifications must be mentioned in
  your application and certified copies of them
  must be posted with it (e.g. language
  qualifications, certificates of attendance to
  seminars etc). Mention everything you have
  accomplished (e.g. class president, military
  service etc). Think of the process as an
  extended CV.
• NOTE All qualifications must be translated into
  English either by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  or the British Council.

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Procedures Timing (I)

• Preliminary stage
• Language-Translation
• Contact Universities

• Discuss your options on the general route to
  follow with fellow students/tutors/professionals.
• Get on the internet see what your options are
  (cost-wise as well). Prepare a folder and
  classify information about different courses and
  Universities.
• Start making arrangements for language tests
  early.
• Translating documents can be time-consuming and
  there is always something you may forget. Start
  early!
• Write or call Universities asking for
  prospectuses. Read through them.
• If unsure about anything, contact Universities
  again and ask for clarification.
• Take your language test some time before you deal
  with your applications if possible. This will
  make the inclusion of the results in your
  applications possible or, alternatively, will
  give you enough time to repeat the test if
  necessary.

Sep - Dec
Jan- Feb
Jan - April
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Procedures Timing (II)

• Paperwork

• Initiate contact with tutors and professionals
  for reference. Be definitive and quick in your
  arrangements but also helpful. Provide specific
  information about what you want and facilitate
  the realisation of your request (e.g. Provide
  stamps and envelopes or -where possible- offer to
  deal with postal arrangements yourself).
• Photocopy application forms and first complete
  the copies using a pencil.
• Complete original application forms in black ink,
  only when you are certain of what you will write.
• Post references either separately or with your
  application and all other relevant papers, but
  ALWAYS in separate sealed and stamped (by the
  appropriate academic institution or employer)
  envelopes.

Feb - Mar
Apr- May
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Procedures Timing (III)

• Final choice

• As you start receiving replies to your
  applications, review, compare and weigh the
  information you have about each University in
  light of their reply to your application. (e.g.
  You might consider accepting offers only from
  Universities that do not require any down payment
  or that have made you an unconditional offer.)
• Do not hurry your decision! Allow time for all
  Universities to reply and then decide which offer
  to accept
• Reply positively to the University of your
  choice, but do NOT reply negatively to any other
  Universities. Keep your options open you might
  reconsider your choice
• Show interest in participating in any
  international students orientation programs
  offered by the University, especially if they
  are free of charge. They will give you time to
  adjust and you will make useful and pleasant
  acquaintances

May - Jun
15
Concluding

• Plan and stick to your timeline.
• Keep 4 Ps in mind Preparation Prevents Poor P
  erformance
• Remember Prerequisites are NOT negotiable, but
  professional experience can make up for the lack
  of some academic qualifications.
• Decide wisely. You will have to live with your
  decision for at least a year!

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Warning

• All material presented here are meant for general
  guidance only. You are strongly recommended to
  check with individual institutions and
  organisations to ensure your efforts comply with
  up-to-date existing regulations for each
  individual case, qualification and institution.