About postgrad study : Applying

What does a typical application involve?

There is no central admissions system that covers all postgraduate courses. Most applications are made online direct to a college or university. However you can apply to a number of institutions through apply online. This online postgraduate application process will link you directly to individual universities or to the UKPASS  clearing house. In Northern Ireland applications are made through the Postgraduate Applicatons Centre (PAC). For postgraduate courses in teaching, law, music performance and social work, applications are made to specific clearing houses. See types of jobs for details.

The style of application depends on the institution and course but most usually include questions about your source of funding, require a personal statement and ask you to name your referees or send a reference.

Timetable for applications

Most postgraduate level courses do not have official closing dates. Exceptions include courses in medicine, law and teacher training.

24-18 months in advance - Research your options and plan a timetable of action

• It is never too early to consider your options and some research done now could pay dividends later.
• Acquire relevant work experience. This is particularly important if you are interested in very popular courses, such as law, journalism and professions related to medicine.
• If you are interested in research, consider potential supervisors and make initial enquiries, they may also be able to help with funding opportunities.

18-12 months in advance - Continue research and firm-up plans

• Some courses may have early closing dates for applications so check what they are in plenty of time.
• Speak to members of staff at your own institution who are experts in your chosen field. They may be able to suggest related areas of study and institutions worth investigation.
• Check the dates of Postgraduate fairs and university open days.
• If you have a specific research interest, consider writing your own research proposal in conjunction with your potential supervisor, for submission to funding bodies.
• Consider how you will fund your course.

12-6 months in advance - Apply for places and funding

• This is the time when most people start to plan and take action with regard to postgraduate study in the UK.
• If you have not already done so, make initial enquiries about postgraduate courses. Prospectuses are often available online. Make contact with course tutors and check course details, specific entry requirements and the possibility of nomination by the department for a funding award (where relevant).
• Attend department open days or arrange a visit to the target department.
• Good academic references to support your application are critical to the selection and award seeking processes. Choose your referees with care and discuss your plans with them. Check that they will be available to respond quickly to a request for a reference.
• Write personal statements. You can use Postgraduate Studentships for examples of personal statements used by real students to enter postgraduate study.
• Make applications as soon as you are clear about the courses or research programmes you prefer, possibly before Christmas or soon after New Year.
• Look into any available funding and make applications.

Last 6 months - Continue with applications, attend interviews

• It is at this time that course providers start to call in candidates for interviews and it is important that you are prepared.
• By now you will probably know to what extent you have been successful in obtaining offers, and whether or not there is funding attached. The offers are usually conditional upon your final degree results, so give priority to your academic work.
• By the end of the academic year, departments are much clearer about the level of funding available and, subject to candidates’ satisfactory degree performance, can confirm or clarify their offers.
  If you have made a late decision to consider postgraduate study
• Keep looking for courses and research posts because it is still possible to pick up late offers, particularly if you have your degree results rather than a predicted grade.
• You might see openings for research assistants/teaching assistants in higher education institutions that involve salaried contract research or teaching and might offer the opportunity to register for a research degree.