Support with considering postgraduate study

Benefits of choosing postgraduate study

As you approach final year and are starting to consider your next steps, you may be looking into postgraduate study.

Whether you love your subject and wish to specialise further or you require a masters course for your desired career path or PhD, it’s important to weigh up your options.

When deciding whether a postgraduate course is right for you, you may wish to ask yourself some of the following questions:

Is the postgraduate course required for your chosen career path or graduate role?
Would it be more beneficial using your time to find relevant work experience instead?
Would you like to work in academia in the future, or complete a PhD?
How will you fund a master’s course?
Could you access further training in the workplace instead, if you wish to carry on learning?

Types of Postgraduate Courses

Taught Courses (PGT)

These are typically master’s degrees and the course is structured and delivered similarly to an undergraduate degree.
This will include lectures, seminars (and labs or workshops if relevant) culminating in coursework, exams and a dissertation project.
Master’s degree courses are typically one additional year, following undergraduate study.

Research Courses (PGR)

These are self-guided research projects which involve minimal formal teaching.
Typically, this will be a PhD however it is also possible to complete an MRes (a master of research) which is a master’s degree focused on independent research rather than taught modules.
These are designed to help you gain experience in research methods and academic research skills.

Conversion Courses

If you are looking to change direction and pursue a different area of study, some subject areas such as law or psychology offer conversion courses.
This allows you to study a master’s level course without having done a related undergraduate degree.
See Prospects - Conversion courses for further information.

Finding postgraduate courses

Here are some websites that you may find useful for your postgraduate course search:

FindAMasters Degree Worldwide

mastersportal.com - International Masters Courses

Postgraduate study in the USA | Fulbright- Masters Courses in the USA

Prospects

University of Surrey - explore courses here at the University

Not sure where to go? Why not Stay Surrey

We have more than 100 postgraduate taught and research courses to choose from.

To support you in deciding whether to continue your studies at the University of Surrey, explore these helpful resources:

Take a look at the postgraduate researcher resources you’d have available to you.
Explore all the benefits to staying Surrey for your masters including a 20% discount on your tuition fees with guaranteed accommodation if you stay at Surrey.
Find out more about the journey and support available as a Surrey postgraduate researcher.

Making an application for further study

For the majority of postgraduate programmes, you apply via the university website rather than through UCAS.

In most cases, there are no official closing dates, however there are some exceptions, and popular courses are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so make sure to check individual deadlines.

You can use your personal tutor or another lecturer that you’ve worked closely with as a referee for your first reference.

Personal Statements for Postgraduate Applications

The purpose of a personal statement is to demonstrate to the admissions officer your motivation for applying for a masters, alongside the skills and experience you’ve gained that will help you take the next step in your academic journey.

Each personal statement should be tailored to the course you’re applying for. You'll need to:

Explain your reason for applying
Demonstrate your interest and passion for your subject area
Clearly convey the academic achievements and experience(s) that make you well-equipped to take on graduate-level study
Include evidence and examples to back up your statements
Mention your longer-term academic or career goals, and how a master’s course fits into this.

Visit the Prospects website for great guidance on how to write a personal statement for a postgraduate course

Prospects Top Tips

Funding for Postgraduate Study

Reflect on your finances and think about funding

Before you make an application for graduate study, it is important to consider how you are going to fund your postgraduate course.

This may be through a mixture of student loans, scholarships and other sources of postgraduate funding.

Further detailed guidance on funding support can be found on FindAMasters or on the Prospects website.

Browse the Blackbullion funding hub and resources

Blackbullion | Funding and Finance

Explore available scholarships and bursaries for postgraduate study at the University of Surrey

University of Surrey | Funding Support

Still not sure if postgraduate study is right for you? Come and talk to us!

It's not always easy knowing if further study is right for you and deciding what to do after university, so don't worry if you're still not sure. Book a 30-minute guidance appointment with one of our Career Development Advisers to discuss your next steps. Speaking to a careers adviser is a great way to talk through your options and future career aspirations to decide what's right for you.

Finally

Don’t forget we are always happy to help you with every aspect of your career planning and development, wherever you are in your journey. If you're unclear about where to start or what to focus on first, book an appointment with our Career Development Advisers via the Surrey Employability Hub and we'll help you develop a plan to move forward.

Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion careers resources to find out more about diversity initiatives, employer perspectives and support at Surrey.

If you would like more information, visit MySurrey Help to find answers to the most common questions and details on how to ask us a question if you require more support.