Master’s Degree

All universities in the United Kingdom provide courses beyond first degree level leading to postgraduate awards. They lead to a degree at master’s or doctoral level, or to diploma or certificate.

Applications for postgraduate courses are welcome from stu­dents with a first degree in an appropriate subject. The type and quality of Master’s courses available vary considerably. The title of the Mas­ter’s degree is usually determined by the subject studied.

MA – Master of Arts

MSc – Master of Science

MEng – Master of Engineering

MTech – Master of Technology

MBA – Master of Business Administration

There are no grades of master’s degrees although some universi­ties may award a distinction for outstanding performance.

Academic year

Traditionally, the UK academic year runs from September or October to June, divided into 3 terms of eight to ten weeks, with four weeks’ vacation at Christmas and Easter and three months’ vacation in the summer. Postgraduate students, however are frequently expected to work through vacations – indeed, the bulk of the project for a taught master’s course will take place in the summer vacation.

Lectures and seminars

For taught courses, lectures and seminars provide the basis of study at various classes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Although lecture au­diences can be very large – (perhaps over a hundred students) – there is usually an opportunity to ask questions. Seminars and tutorials provide more opportunity for discussion in smaller groups. The size of a seminar group may vary considerably. Some universities retain a tradition of one-to-one work, while others rarely have groups smaller than 20.

Coursework and exams

Students are sometimes asked to write essays which are then dis­cussed in the group – this is a good opportunity to develop your skills in presentation and discussion. This work is supported by reading and individual study. Thus, the graduate takes 6 months to become expert in a subject before sitting examinations. His work is evaluated by con­tinuous assessment or through several written examinations, or a mix­ture of the two. Coursework assessment may merely monitor your pro­gress or may form an important part of the final test, as in the case of a taught master’s project where students are required to produce a sub­stantial dissertation. Written examinations usually form an important part of the assessment of taught courses.

The ‘taught part’ of the course is then followed by four to six month’s private research or project work on a special topic, that has to be written up as an extended essay, short thesis or dissertation.

The candidate (that is, the person, applying for the degree) sub­mits his thesis to an examining board, appointed by the board of studies (a committee of professors and lecturers, of which there is one for each subject). The examining board usually consists of 2 or 3 specialists in the candidate’s field. They read the thesis and then summon the candi­date to an oral examination, sometimes called a viva (from Latin viva voce). At the oral viva the candidate is questioned on his/her thesis and sometimes on related topics. After the oral examination the examiners come to a joint decision and either accept or reject the thesis.

The place of the traditional MA, awarded on acceptance of a the­sis, has been taken over in some universities by a new Master’s degree (the Master of Philosophy, or the MPhil), obtained by research. The MPhil may be in science, engineering, medicine, art or social studies. MPhil is a qualification in its own right; if a student proves he/she has the ability and motivation to do research, it can lead to a doctorate.

The UK office of Science and Technology is currently piloting a new research master’s degree, an MRes (Master of Research). This is designed to prepare students for a doctorate. It may eventually become the normal starting point for a PhD but it is not mandatory.