Applying for courses

How to apply

There is no central admission system for most taught and research masters courses in the UK except for teaching, law, nursing and midwifery, and social work. Apart from these courses, you will apply directly to the higher education institution.

You will need to prepare and submit a personal statement as part of the application process. Follow the guidance below to make an impactful personal statement.

When to apply

While some courses have deadlines, for example graduate medical programmes, others will close once all the places are filled. Popular courses can be full as early as the Christmas prior to starting. For other courses places may still be available right up until they start.

All universities produce prospectuses and often have open days. Always visit the campus and talk to staff and students before accepting an offer.

You need to think about funding before you have secured a place as some forms of funding may require you to apply before the course application deadline.

What is a personal statement?

It is one of the ways in which those offering the course will begin to judge your commitment to your chosen area of study. For some courses it will be one of the main methods used, while others may use it as a preliminary assessment and will then ask you to attend an interview or other assessment activity.

Most application forms will indicate what they would like you to concentrate on, for example, the University of Nottingham postgraduate application states:

Please use this space to summarise your academic interests and reasons for choosing your intended course of study.

Preparing your personal statement

Before writing your personal statement, research and consider the following:

• why do you want to undertake postgraduate study
• your reasons for wanting to study at a particular university
• why the course interests you
• the elements of the course which are of particular interest to you, for example, a placement opportunity offering employment-related or practical experience, specialist modules or a specific research opportunity
• the previous practical or academic experience you may have already undertaken which either indicates your interest in the area of study and/or the career it may lead to
• the differences there will be between undergraduate and postgraduate study. This is particularly important if you are considering a professional training course or research masters 
• what skills you have that will enable you to make this transition and be successful in your chosen course or research area
• who would be the best people to provide a reference for you (see below)

References

You’ll usually need to provide the contact details of at least two ‘referees’ who can vouch for your academic skills and motivation. If you’re applying for a masters straight after your undergraduate degree, you typically choose two university tutors who know you well.

Here are some tips to bear in mind.

• Make sure they know you well - perhaps a personal tutor or your dissertation supervisor
• Ask for permission first before including their name on the form - politeness can go a long way
• Give your referees plenty of notice – don’t leave it until the last minute, give them enough time to provide an insightful reference
• Send your personal statement and CV – this will help them put your reference in context
• Check the instructions given by the university you are applying to. References are usually standard practice but it's always best to check the guidance. 

Other useful points to remember

Length

This may vary from one page of A4 to a text box in an application form with an instruction which allows you to continue on a separate sheet or a word limit, which might vary depending on the course and institution. For teacher training applications you may be limited to a specific number of characters.

Audience

A course or admissions tutor will probably read your statement to check that you meet any eligibility criteria and also to assess whether or not you will be awarded a place or called for an interview, if there are more applicants than places available. Make sure the vocabulary and language style you use are appropriate for this audience.

Rules and guidelines

Some courses will set out areas they wish you to address in the statement. They may also state whether or not you can include other supporting documents, for example, a CV. Make sure you clearly address all the areas they want you to cover. 

Stick to any rules on length and word limits, as well as supporting documents. Your application may be rejected because of your inability to follow the limits set or the assessors may discard the additional text or documents you have included.

Time

Preparing and writing a good personal statement takes time. You will probably need to allow time to prepare a first draft, ideally receive some feedback on it and then finalise your statement. A rushed statement stands less chance of being successful. If you are applying for several different courses, then you will need to prepare a separate statement for each course, except where your application is made via a central portal such as for teaching or law.

Book an appointment with adviser to review your personal statement

Written style

Be factual, concise and positive. Make sure your grammar and spelling are accurate. Remember to focus on the experiences and interests that you bring to the course and how they will help you to study successfully. Avoid a simple repetition of statements made in the course publicity as this gives no indication of your capacity to think critically; a skill you will need to use in any postgraduate programme.

FIndAMasters - for more advice on personal statements

Application for a marketing course

Application for an engineering course

Many employers use standard application forms, which often do not cater for the variety of qualifications that international students apply with.

You can get a statement about how your qualifications compare to UK equivalents from UK ENIC - UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills.

Go to UK ENIC

If you are making an application to study outside the UK, make sure you take time to understand the application process. The documents and forms you may need to supply will vary. 

For example, a student applying for a course in France needs to prepare a three-page statement addressing a series of questions relating to academic and intellectual ability as well as personal reasons and understanding of the nature of the course.

If you are applying to study in the USA, you should ideally begin the process at least 18 months prior to the course starting. A good place for information is the Fulbright Commission

Course providers will always follow the same underlying principles with applications by reviewing what you have written to see if you are suitable for the programme of study you have chosen.

Prospects - applying for courses overseas