Finding courses

Before you start looking for courses, it's advisable to find out the types of courses that are on offer.

Postgraduate taught programmes

• Usually delivered via lectures and seminars. Sometimes you will still have to complete a dissertation or project 
• Programmes include masters courses (MA or MSc), postgraduate diplomas or certificates, professional qualifications and other specialist courses

Research degree

• Involves the in-depth study of a specific subject area and is usually related to your first-degree subject. Research is largely self-directed, and consists of writing a thesis or dissertation, with support from a supervisor
• Typically these are doctoral degrees (PhD or DPhil) which last three years or longer and masters degrees by research (MA, MSc, MPhil or MRes) which last 12 months full-time