In the UK, ‘postgraduate’ refers to the level of higher education that sits above first degrees such as the BA and the BSc. Sometimes, the term ‘postgraduate study’ means the same thing as ‘Masters study’ or ‘graduate study’. This can be confusing for students from some countries. In Bangladesh, for instance, graduate study refers to first degree-level study. For the purpose of this publication, postgraduate means a degree for which the normal entry requirement is a first degree from a UK university or an equivalent degree in your own country, or experience. Before you start your qualification, it is important you understand whether your course is taught or research, as this will define the relationship you have with your tutor, and the university. Taught courses are far more integrated into the structure of campus life, with a minimum number of contact hours a week. For postgraduate qualifications, these contact hours will be less than undergraduate level, but will nevertheless see you regularly attend classes and possibly lectures. For science qualifications, you’ll also be spending a certain number of hours in the lab. Taught courses are usually divided into a number of modules every term. Students pick several which interest them (usually three from a wider selection), which determine which class they are placed in and with which tutor. For each module, students attend a seminar group of between three and ten students. The emphasis in seminar is very much on the students to provide their own learning and discussion forum. The tutor acts in a facilitating role but doesn’t directly conduct the class. Because of this format, students are often asked to prepare short presentations to aid discussion in seminars. At this level, it’s really up to you what you get out of the experience. Your tutor will arrange one-on-one sessions to discuss the direction your work is taking and will recommend books, but you will benefit most from actively engaging with the other students. You may also attend several lecture sessions per term of around an hour in length. For taught courses, the end of each term signifies an assessment of the module you chose at the beginning, either through exam or assessed essay. During the final term you will be expected to complete a dissertation, with a few guidance sessions from an assigned tutor. Research courses place a great deal more expectation on the student to track their own study route, although there is still support available. Broadly speaking, a research student has access to the facilities of the university campus to aid their studies, and is also appointed a tutor for periodic guidance and assistance. However, some research courses involve a taught element in the first year. Postgraduate research courses tend to take much longer than taught courses at postgraduate level (three to four years as opposed to one), and carry a higher level qualification. At the end of the course, the student will be expected to submit a dissertation of a much greater length than most taught course students and demonstrate research of an original or groundbreaking nature. The most common research course is a PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, but other titles include LLD (Doctor of Law), DSc (Doctor of Science), and DMus (Doctor of Music). As is the case internationally, in the UK there are three terms a year, varying slightly in length and date across different universities. British universities start their year in September, although as a student on a research course, you can start at any time during an academic term. You may want to consider arranging to start in September if possible, however, even if you have the flexibility of a research course. Even as a research student, you will have access to resources designed to help international students cope with the different tuition styles here in the UK. Primarily, most universities run orientation programmes to get international students acquainted with the term format, and the campus facilities. In addition you may also be entitled to free tuition and study skills classes aimed specifically at students from abroad. These may be conducted for all students from the centralised International Office, or by individual departments, so find out what’s on offer. Many students find extra classes to be extremely helpful. The learning culture at British universities may be somewhat different to what you have been used to in your own country, and many international students are often surprised by the informal relationships that they enjoy with their tutors. The tutorial system, upon which so much of postgraduate education is based, encourages free and open debate, and you will be able to enjoy the opportunity to develop ideas and will be expected to manage your own workload. Term times are different in Britain. Most UK universities operate according to term times with academic sessions starting in September/October, January and May. Some universities, however, have moved towards the American model, with two semesters a year from September and January. Virtually all taught course postgraduate programmes start in September or October.
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