Postgraduate studies in the UK

Michael SewellRecruitment and AdmissionsUniversity of Kent, Brussels

Contents

• Why the UK?• Types of postgraduate

courses available in the UK• Choosing your university• Entry requirements: What do

UK universities look for?• Application procedure• Fees and funding• About the University of Kent• Useful websites

Why study in the UK?

Prestigious • Excellent reputation • Well respected qualifications recognised

around the world• 31 UK institutions in the 2012/13 Top 200

World University rankings• World leading research—the UK has

produced more than 44 Nobel prize winners in the last 50 years

Why study in the UK?

Quality • High quality teaching, small seminar groups –

excellent contact time with experts in their field

• Teaching quality assessed by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)

• Research output measured via the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and new Research Assessment Framework (REF)

Why study in the UK?

Employability• Better graduate starting salaries• Excellent graduate employment rates -

over 90% of postgraduates graduating from Kent in 2012 found a job or further study opportunity within 6 months

For example at Kent:• Transferable Skills Training Programme• Global Skills Award training programme

Why study in the UK?

Superb facilities• Fantastic resources• Free access to ultra-modern

information services/facilities• Excellent laboratories• Well-equipped libraries• Free Wi-Fi available over most

campuses

Why study in the UK?

Perfect your English • Experience life in the UK• Improve your language skills every day• Gain confidence in seminar discussions• Become competent in ‘academic English’• Learn the language of business• Take advantage of extra English

language support if needed• Support often provided to develop other

(non-English) language skills

Why study in the UK?

A multicultural experience• Mix with students from all around the world;

large percentage of student body from overseas

• In the UK 25% of postgraduate students are international

• At Kent, 53% of Kent’s postgraduates are from outside the UK

• International partnerships/exchange agreements bring more international students to the UK

Why study in the UK?

Gain the skills employers want • Independence• Initiative• Research skills• Project management experience • Skills for an international environment• Compete better in the international job

market

Why study in the UK

Choice and flexibility• Over 50,000 postgraduate courses to

choose from• Postgraduate diploma• Taught Master’s• Master’s by research• Doctorate

Timely• Complete a Master’s degree in just

12 months

Type of Postgraduate qualifications

Taught courses• Assessed by mixture of coursework

and exams• Set number of contact hours per

week• Taught in lectures and seminars• Final project or dissertation

Research courses• In depth study in a specific field• Students assigned a research

supervisor• More independence• Teaching opportunities

Postgraduate qualifications• Postgraduate certificate/diploma

• 1 year full time, 2 years part-time• Taught Masters (MA, LLM, MSc)

• 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time• Some 2 years full-time

• Research Masters (MA, LLM MSc)• 1 year full time, 2 years part-time

• MPhil• 2 years full-time, can convert to a doctorate

• Doctorate (PhD)• 3 years full-time

• MBA (Master of Business Administration)• 1 or 2 years, work experience required

• Study abroad opportunity/double degrees

Choosing your university• Choose the right course for you

• Search for courses at www.educationuk.org www.prospects.ac.uk and www.postgrad.com

• Postgraduate qualification for your career?

• Academic quality• Quality Assurance Agency• Visit www.qaa.ac.uk

• University rankings• No official ranking lists but for a general guide look at

www.timesonline.co.uk,www.independent.co.uk/education and www.guardian.co.uk/education

Choosing your university

• Location

• Campus vs non campus

• Transport links

• Facilities – Library, laboratories, sports centre etc

• Accommodation

• Off-campus housing advice• www.accommodationforstudents.com• www.landlordlaw.co.uk

Choosing your universityWhat support services are available? • At Kent we have:

• Personal Academic Support System (PASS)• Centre for European and World Languages: free English language classes

for all international students• Study Skills Centre: advice on essay writing, time management, exams• University Jobshop for part-time work• Careers Advisory Service• Disability and Dyslexia Support Service• Medical Centre and Pharmacy • Campus Watch - 24 hour security• Students’ Union (including the Student Advice and Information Service)• Campus nursery

Entry requirements

• University qualifications• Bachelor’s degree/ Licenciaat met grote (grotste)

onderscheiding in an appropriate subject• English language qualifications

• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in reading and writing)• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: grade C• Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English: grade B• TOEFL internet: 90 (22 reading, 21 writing)

• Other requirements• Academic references• Transcripts• Research proposal (if research application)• Academic ability, commitment, enthusiasm, dedication!

ApplicationCheck deadline dates, best to apply by February/March There may be deadlines for accommodation or scholarships

• If research, contact the appropriate academic first• Online application form • Supporting statement• Research proposal (research degrees only)• Academic references, normally two• English test (TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge)• Translated and verified transcripts (summary of marks)

A ‘conditional’ offer will be made subject to degree result, when theconditions are met, you will get an unconditional offer (formalacceptance).

Fees, living costs and funding • Universities set their fees• Can range from £4,500 to £20,000• Living costs are likely to vary• Financial support for research students

includes:• University awards• Research Council funding (open to EU

students, fees only)• Sponsored studentships• Charities / foundations

• Financial support for taught postgraduate students more difficult

• Check websites for extra information

Possible fees and monthly living costs

Fees at Kent for UK and EU students (2013/14): • £3,900 – Research courses • £4,950 – Taught courses

Kent’s Brussels centre:• €16,500 (full-time)• €8,250 (part-time)

Weekly living costsWeekly estimated costs From ToAccommodation (self catered)

- Woolf College (51 week contract, Canterbury campus) £104.00 £154.00

- Hothe Court (51 week contract, Canterbury campus) £98.00 £116.00

- Liberty Quays (39 week contract, Medway campus) £125.50 £125.50

Additional study costs £43.00 £108.00

Food £30.00 £60.00

Clothing and laundry £15.00 £45.00

Socialising £25.00 £65.00

Mobile phone £5.00 £15.00

Television licence (required by law) £2.80 £2.80

Unexpected costs £5.00 £15.00

FundingScholarships• Research council scholarships cover tuition fees (www.educationuk.org) • Up to £13,290 University postgraduate research scholarships• Departmental research or teaching scholarships• Graduate Teaching Assistantships • Sports scholarships (Kent: £250-£5000 p.a.)• Music scholarships (Kent: £350-£5000 p.a.)• Overseas fee paying scholarships (non-EU) (Kent: £5000)

Other funding options• Funding within your country - check with the British Council• Royal Belgian Benevolent Society (RBBS)• 75% of students have a part-time job at some point – use the University

Jobshop to find the latest vacancies

University of Kent, the UK’s European University

• South East England• Closest UK university to

mainland Europe• Canterbury, Medway,

Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens

• Excellent train/Eurostar links:

• 60 mins from London• 60 mins from Lille• 90 mins from Brussels• 110 mins from Paris

• Nearest airport : Gatwick

University top selling points

• World-leading research• Strong academic community

• Strong academic community• Graduate School• External lectures

• Global outlook• Strong focus on internationalisation• Partnerships with prestigious European

universities

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The Canterbury campus…

Summary of useful websites• Education UK (British Council) www.education.org • Prospects (lists postgraduate courses) www.prospects.ac.uk• Department for Children, Families and Schools (DCSF)

www.dcsf.gov.uk or www.direct.gov.uk • Research Assessment Exercise 2008 www.rae.ac.uk • The Times world rankings www.thes.co.uk • The Times Good University Guide

www.timesonline.co.uk • National Student Survey www.unistats.com • The Guardian University Guide www.guardian.co.uk/education

Questions?

For further information contact:Recruitment and Admissions OfficeThe Registry, University of KentCanterburyKent CT2 7NZ

E: eurec@kent.ac.ukT: + 44 1227 827272