About postgrad study: Where should I study?

search for: postgraduate courses

There are often differences of opinion about the best place to study. You will have to decide for yourself what the best choice is for you, taking into account both the short-term and long-term issues.

To identify institutions that offer your course or specialise in your field of study:

• find courses and research
• talk to lecturers, tutors and other researchers in your department;
• read research journals and other specialist publications;
• contact departments directly to gain detailed information about research opportunities. Most UK departments now have information online. You should also consider contacting potential supervisors for initial discussions.

Your choice of institution will be determined by a number of factors including:

• the availability of courses;
• the academic entry requirements;
• the modes of study available;
• the possibilities of funding;
• the reputation of the course/institution;
• the national/international profile of the course;
• the relative merits (or otherwise) of changing institution;
• personal considerations, e.g. where you can live cheaply;
• the range and number of other postgraduate students.

Research programmes

When making your selection you should also consider:

• Who would your supervisors be and how well would you work with them?
• Will you be working alone or as part of a research group?
• Is funding available from the Research Councils or from the institution?
• Will you be able to earn extra money by teaching undergraduates?
• What is the department’s submission rate for research degrees?
• What research rating does the department have? These are awarded through the Research Assessment Exercise, a four or five yearly assessment.

Stephen, currently doing a PhD in Development Studies, advises you to make sure that your choice of institution and course will help you achieve your long-term aims:

I was working in customer relationship management when I decided I wanted to change careers and move into development work. I needed postgraduate qualifications to get into this field and spent over three months researching MA programmes and meeting tutors. I was invited to apply to Harvard, but I was really inspired by the enthusiasm of the admissions tutor at Manchester. I wanted to make sure that employers would value the course I studied, and as I eventually want to work for an organisation like the World Bank I looked at their website and discovered that they had recently recruited Manchester graduates. I applied to Manchester, and the MA I did there enabled me to enroll on a PhD which I hope to finish in 2008.

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	Written by higher education careers professionals	Date:  Spring 2008
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