Postgraduate Studyin Humanities and Social
Sciences
University of Kent at CanterburyCareers and Employability Service
The slides from this talk are at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
This talk will cover …
• Types of postgraduate study• Questions to ask• Choosing where to study• How to apply• Funding issues
TYPES OF POSTGRADUATE STUDY
• Research degrees• Taught Masters
degrees• Postgraduate
diplomas and certificates
• Professional training
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREES
• M.Phil or PhD• Length: from one year for Masters to
at least three for PhD• Work independently to prepare a
thesis• Your supervisor will advise and guide
- who you choose is very important• Original research expected
TAUGHT MASTERS DEGREES
• Higher degrees by taught course & dissertation• MA, MSc, LLM, etc• Usually academic, but may be vocational ...• ... eg MA in Human Resource Management or
Librarianship• Length: one calendar year (September - September)• Seminars, coursework and exams over the academic
year• Followed by a dissertation prepared over the summer
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMAS & CERTIFICATES
Normally vocational, such as:• PGCE (teaching)• GDL/CPE (law conversion course)• Length: up to one calendar year• Seminars, coursework and exams • You may have the option to "upgrade" to a
Masters by producing a dissertation
PROFESSIONAL ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
• Professional qualifications essential or useful to employers
• ACA (chartered accountancy)• ACIB (banking)• Normally taken while working full-time and
studying part-time • May be day release, block release or evening
study• Employers will often pay your fees and give
time off for study and exams
QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Why do you want to do a postgraduate degree?
• Do you know what you want to do after it?
• Are you good enough?• What type of postgraduate study is most
appropriate for you?• Where will you study?• How will you fund your study?
WHY DO A POSTGRADUATE DEGREE?
• For interest in the subject? • As a career move?• To add something extra to your CV?• Because your tutor has
recommended it?• To keep on being a student? • To put off making a career decision?• To avoid unemployment?
ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH?
• You do not have to have a First to get into postgraduate study or research …
• … but it does help when it comes to getting funding …..
• … even though funding cannot be guaranteed, however good your degree
• A “good” 2.1 is usually expected
WHERE WILL YOU STUDY?
• Continue at Kent?• Study elsewhere in the UK?• Study abroad?
CHOOSING WHERE TO STUDY
• Use league tables and research assessments - but with caution!
• Ask your tutors• Visit other universities and talk to
current postgraduates• Useful websites linked from
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#Info
HOW TO APPLY
• No UCAS equivalent for postgraduate academic study
• Each university will have its own application form
• Academic reference is important• No overall closing date, but you may need to
apply early - in the first term of your final year• Early application especially important to be
eligible for funding
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#How2apply
APPLICATION FORMS
Usually quite straightforward!• Personal details• Programme of study• Personal statement• Research proposal (for research
degrees)
You may also be asked to enclose a CV
PERSONAL STATEMENTS
• Why this programme of study?• Why this university?• Relevant undergraduate studies • Other relevant experience • Skills• Career aims/future plans
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#AppsInts
RESEARCH PROPOSALS
• Outline your proposed area of research• Why is it relevant/worthwhile?• What previous research has been carried
out on this topic (if any)? What can you add to this?
• How will you approach the research? What methods will you use?
Consult with academic staff in your area of study
WHAT DO SELECTORS LOOK FOR?
Apart from your current degree, they will look at:
• Your motivation. Why this course? this university?
• Your skills: critical analysis, time management, written communication
• Your referee’s report
FUNDING!or, Where Will the Money Come From?
"The types and sources of funding for postgraduate study are many and varied. They are, however, rarely sufficient, either in number or in the level of support awarded"
FUNDING CAN BE DIFFICULT ...
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
• Postgraduate fees are set by universities, not the Government
• Currently:– postgraduate fees start at approx. £3500
a year for UK/EU students on full-time academic courses
– But can be more - £30,000+ for some MBA courses
– International student fees start at around £10,000
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?• The Browne review’s recommendations on
university fees and funding did not include any changes to PG funding …
• Universities may only set fees for 2013 entry next year
• As well as fees, you need to consider the costs of maintenance and study expenses - travel to libraries or to carry out interviews, cost of producing thesis, etc
WHERE THE MONEY WILL NOT COME FROM
• Your local education authority• The Student Loans Company• Funding will not come from
anywhere automatically
WHERE THE MONEY MIGHT COME FROM
• Research Council Studentship
• University Studentship• Loan• Savings• Earnings• Charity• Sponsorship
THE RESEARCH COUNCILS (and similar bodies)
• Arts & Humanities Research Council www.ahrc.ac.uk• Economic & Social Research Council www.esrc.ac.uk
These fund students resident in England & Wales (there are separate funding bodies for students from Scotland and Northern Ireland)Awards pay fees + maintenance (£8845 - £15590)Students resident in other EU countries may receive a fees-only award
Funding applications and deadlines
For both AHRC and ESRC:• Awards are made to universities, not individuals• Universities submit applications on students’
behalf: you apply to the university and they apply to the appropriate Research Council
• Nominations for awards are submitted between February and May
• Need to apply to universities by the end of January
UNIVERSITY STUDENTSHIPS
• Aimed at encouraging research – not usually available for taught courses
• Sums vary but often similar level to Research Council studentships
• May include a requirement to teach part-time
• Eligibility varies• Check with the universities you are
applying to• www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/
index.html
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Earnings• Undergraduate teaching -
sometimes a requirement of university studentships
• Research Assistant - posts are relatively rare and do not occur regularly
• Other jobs, unrelated to your studies, full or part-time (Over half of postgraduates are part-time students)
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Charities
• Can rarely fund all your postgraduate expenses• Many do not make grants directly to individuals• Use resources such as “The Directory of Grant-
Making Trusts” (Templeman Library- per LB 2338.D4), and “Student Money”
• The Educational Grants Advisory Service can help shortcut the search process
Links from www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#Funding
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Loans• Professional & Career Development
Loans www.direct.gov.uk/pcdl
• Bank loans
Sponsorship• not common, and only likely if your
degree can be shown to be relevant to an employer sponsor
STUDY ABROAD
• Why study abroad?– To study at a world-renowned
university?– To specialise in a particular area?– To improve your language skills?– To prepare for an international career?– For financial reasons?
www.prospects.ac.uk/studying_abroad.htm
FINANCIAL REASONS!
• ENGLAND from £3500• USA up to $50,000• CANADA up to $17,000• AUSTRALIA A$15,000 to
36,000
• BELGIUM €835* • DENMARK FREE
• FINLAND FREE• FRANCE €245• GERMANY c€500 per semester
• GREECE FREE• SPAIN up to €3600• SWEDEN FREE
*may be additional feesFor other EU countries, seewww.studyineurope.eu/
FINDING OUT MOREDirectories and websites such as:
• Prospects Postgrad www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PGstudy
• www.postgrad.com• Guardian
www.guardian.co.uk/education/postgraduates
• Find a Masters www.findamasters.com• Careers and Employability Service website
www.kent.ac.uk/ces/postgrad-study.html
TO CONCLUDE ….
• Start planning early!• Think about your
answers to those questions
• Think about the funding possibilities
• Seek advice from current postgraduates, academics and careers advisers
THE END …. …. of this presentation
-the beginning of your postgraduate career?
If so, “more research is needed”
The Careers and Employability Service
At the end of Keynes driveway
Open 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, Monday - Friday
http://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/postgrad-study.html www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm