Master's degree in the UK: personal experience. Master (English) in the UK for schoolchildren and students, prices, rating

18.03.2015

It's no secret that Masters in the UK one of the most sought-after areas for students. Today we will talk not only about the admission process, requirements, tuition fees, but also about grants and scholarships.

Master's in the UK is a unique educational base. Students from all over the world come here to get a diploma that can be the key to a successful career.

The master's degree provides for a deeper, in contrast to the bachelor's degree, mastering the theory in the chosen specialty and, depending on the profile, preparing the student for research or professional activities.

Master's programs usually last one year. Individual programs sometimes take two years.

The uniqueness of the master's degree in the UK is that it provides an opportunity to master a new specialty, which is not related to the undergraduate program. The master's program involves the study of 15-20 subjects that are directly related to the direction of the diploma. Thus, in 1 year you get a fairly intensive program, which will save time and money. However, such a rapid pace of study may come as a surprise to foreign students and requires the passage of the Pre-Master's course, which is available at almost any university in England.

Foreign students have the right to work while studying in the UK no more than 15 hours a week. On average, the hourly salary of students is 5-7 pounds. Any university in the UK has sufficient connections with companies that offer students part-time work during their studies.

At the end of the Master's degree, students are awarded a degree depending on the chosen specialization:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education, PC CE (post-graduate certificate giving the right to teach);
• Diploma in Management Studies, DMS (diploma in management);
• Master of Arts, MA (Master of Arts degree);
• Master of Science, MSc (Master of Science degree);
• Master of Business Administration, MBA (Master of Business Administration);
• Master of Law, LLM (Master of Laws degree).

Entry requirements

Admission requirements may vary depending on the university. Of course, the higher the university in the ranking, the higher the competition awaits you.

So, the selection committee expects from you:

• certificate of English proficiency - IELTS (please note that TOEFL is not accepted since 2014);
• GMAT or GRE certificate (usually for technical, financial and economic specialties);
• essay (answers to questions proposed in the application form);
• resume (CV);
• 2 letters of recommendation (academic references);
• diploma of higher education equivalent to an English baccalaureate (transcript).

More information about the entry requirements in the article.

Preparation for admission

Preparation for admission must begin a year before the end of the bachelor's degree (that is, in the third year), so that after graduation, immediately start studying at the master's program. In addition, preparation for tests takes quite a long time and it is desirable to plan this process correctly.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an exam to determine the level of English proficiency in people for whom it is not native. Depending on the objectives of the candidate, there are two modules of the exam: General and Academic. They differ in the tasks in the Reading and Writing sections. For admission to the master's program, you will need to pass Academic IELTS. The required score for enrolling in a master's program in England is 6.5 or higher. You can read more about the test format and preparation in.

You can prepare for the tests on the courses, individually with a tutor and on your own. The latter option is only suitable for those who have a high level of language and good self-discipline. In the other two, we recommend contacting teachers with at least 3-5 years of experience in passing and working with tests.

All documents, including test results, are attached to the application form on the university website and submitted by the deadline.

Cost of education

The highest tuition fees for master's programs in England are at the universities with the highest rankings. As a rule, the cost of a master's degree in English universities for programs that do not require study of laboratory equipment, in universities that are below the 50th position in the ranking, does not exceed £11,000.

Oxford Unisersity will cost £18,550, LSE £24,456, Lancaster £17,000. Don't forget living expenses, that's about £10,000 more.

Grants and scholarships

We have talked more than once about grants and scholarships for studying abroad, so let us recall once again exactly those that are suitable for paying for education in England.

So, pay attention to the following programs.

A diploma from a British university is a sign of the highest quality of your education, recognized all over the world. So if the question arose of where to complete a master's program, then it is worth enrolling in English universities. And through the Pre-Masters preparatory program, it is quite simple to enter a master's program in England.

The duration of the program is from 3 to 9 months. During this time, you will raise your English to the required level and get a good base in subjects for the master's program. This is the main thing, but there are 7 more reasons to enter the Pre-Masters:

1. Direct way to enroll in a British university

Studying at Pre-Masters allows you to be guaranteed to enter one of the best universities in the UK. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a certificate of conditional admission to one of the partner universities.

2. Strong list of partner universities

Partner Universities go through a rigorous selection process before being placed on the Pre-Masters list. The rating, location, infrastructure and quality of teaching are taken into account. For example, through the program you can enter:

• Aston University
• Bournemouth University
• Durham University
• Oxford Brookes University
• SOAS, University of London
• The University of York
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Kent
• University of Leeds
• University of Southampton
• University of the Arts London
• University of West London

3. A wide choice of specialties

The academic component of the program is very diverse, and lectures and seminars are taught by professors from universities. You pre-select the required specialty:

• Engineering
• Right
• Business and management
• The medicine
• IT and mathematics
• Economics and finance
• Philosophy
• Social sciencies
• Tourism
• Architecture
• Politics
• Art and design

4. Advice and assistance in choosing a university

As part of the training, you will have the opportunity to receive qualified assistance from a career specialist, communicate with representatives of partner universities, visit them at an open day and get comprehensive information about future education.

So you can make an informed choice of university at the end of the program and will study in the master's program with interest and pleasure.

5. Flexible training program

Upon admission to the Pre-Masters, your knowledge will be assessed and a program suitable for your goals will be offered. The better prepared you are, the shorter the program will be. For a student with English at the upper-intermediate level, only 3 months of preparation will be required. Moreover, it can be focused both on improving the language and on studying subjects.

6. Practice learning skills

In the British master's program, students are required to have a lot of independence and serious personal skills. You need to be a researcher, be able to present yourself, select the right arguments in a dispute and use time management techniques. Therefore, in the preparatory program, along with English and subjects, these skills are also trained.

7. Simplified requirements for enrollment

Depending on your goals for the master's program, the list of documents for admission to the Pre-Masters program may be slightly different. The general requirements look like this:

• Age: from 21 years old
• Diploma of Higher Education
• Certificate IELTS 6.5+

Please note that admission to Pre-Masters usually requires a lower level of English proficiency than admission directly to a master's program. Moreover, if at the moment the level of your knowledge is lower, you can take an intensive language course before the program. Language proficiency also affects the length of the Pre-Masters program.

• An introductory "resume", where you indicate your education, language level and plans for a master's degree.
• If you plan to enroll in top universities, you will also need a motivational and recommendation letter.

Pre-Masters programs usually start several times a year and may start in January, April or September. The cost of the program is from £4000.

Foreign education trains truly "advanced" specialists, who are not yet in Russia, but in 5 years the demand for them will exceed the supply. That is why Russian students who have received a diploma abroad receive great prospects and start their careers from higher positions than graduates of Russian universities. A master's degree abroad forms the qualities that any employer wants to see: international experience, the ability to work with large amounts of information, creativity, dedication and expertise in a particular field. One of the leading destinations for the passage of the magistrate remains the UK.

Master's in the UK has its own characteristics. It usually lasts one year, which allows the student to save time and money, because the cost of a one-year program is lower than the total cost of a two-year study. The bulk of universities where you can take a British master's program is concentrated in England.

Master's in England is represented by more than a hundred universities. Everyone knows Oxford and Cambridge, but at least a dozen top-class universities shape the image of English higher education. Four of the top six universities in the world ranking are English. England is famous for its business schools and diplomatic programs, such as the London School of Economics and Political Science. King's College London offers a strong program in law and international relations. One of the most sought-after universities in the UK, the University of Exeter, trains quality specialists in the field of management and marketing. A large number of universities are located in cities with a rich research infrastructure: University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Sussex, University of East Anglia.Masters in England are also strong in their art direction.Here they train specialists in the field of fine arts, fashion, design, photography, journalism, art management, gallery business.Students can not only take an internship , for example, in a design studio, but also to receive an order from a company, participate in exhibitions and show their work at private shows.Thanks to such universities as Goldsmiths University London, University for The Creative Arts, The Arts University at Bournemouth, Brighton University a whole school of british d design and young British artists.

Regardless of which profile you have chosen and which educational institution you decide to apply to, a master's degree in England gives you such practical skills that will be useful in your future profession. An important distinguishing feature of the British system is that students study in small groups so that everyone can find enough time to communicate with the teacher or work independently. A different approach to teaching students, combined with work in the richest libraries, modern laboratories, research centers and studios, provides a unique training. The English Graduate Diploma is valued all over the world: employers are looking for people who know what awaits them at work, speak several languages ​​and have experience of performing tasks in a multicultural team. Of course, this is also reflected in the salary: according to this indicator, graduates of the English master's program are far removed from their competitors.

Often, university graduates do not stop at the achieved result, many want to increase their competitiveness in the labor market and decide to continue their studies in a master's program in England. Master's programs provide in-depth knowledge in the chosen field and open up all opportunities for career growth.

The UK is one of the most sought-after countries for studying for a master's degree. The training takes 1 year; Most master's programs do not require entrance examinations. With over 36,000 courses available at UK universities, there is something for everyone. Diplomas from British universities are recognized in all countries of the world and enjoy well-deserved respect from employers.

How to choose a master's program in the UK

Education in a master's program in England begins with the choice of a suitable direction and program of study. The best universities in England can offer prospective students more than a hundred different master's programs.

Requirements for applicants for master's programs in British universities

In the UK master's program, as the second stage of higher education, students are accepted with a bachelor's degree. The diploma can be either British or issued in any other country. When selecting students for master's programs, universities in England evaluate the average score in the diploma, work experience in the specialty and, of course, the level of English.

Terms of study in the magistracy in the UK

Master's programs in England take 1-2 years. As a rule, the last six months are devoted to writing a dissertation.

Types of master's programs in the UK:

Educational Taught Programs

Educational Research Research-Taught

Research Research Programs

Applied Professional/Practice Programs

Curriculums of the British master's program Taught Programs

These programs are most common in universities in England and are the most often chosen for career advancement. Education includes lectures, applied classes (seminars, master classes, workshops), as well as independent work. The last 3 months are devoted to the preparation of a master's degree and its defense. The term of study is 1 year full-time.

After passing the exams and defending the diploma, one of the master's degrees is awarded:

Master of Arts / Master of Arts - in the field of arts, humanities and social sciences

Master of Science / Master of Science - in the field of natural and exact sciences

Master of Laws / Master of Laws - in the field of jurisprudence

Depending on how well a student completes a master's degree in the UK, degrees are awarded:

Honors - with honors

Pass - with a passing score

Fail - with no passing score

Research (Research) and teaching and research (Research-Taught Programs) master's programs in Britain

These programs teach you to conduct independent research and document the results; they are mainly entered for the purpose of further study in graduate school at universities in the UK. At the same time, the educational component is also present in them, which opens up opportunities for both a scientific career and professional growth.

Research-Taught Programs last 2 to 3 years full-time and 4 to 5 years part-time. After passing the examination tests and defending the diploma, a master's degree (MA / MSc by Research) is awarded.

Applied Professional/Practice Programs in British Universities Masters

Applied programs are suitable for studying in England for those who plan to study business, management, hospitality, logistics, communications, and marketing. The educational process combines theoretical and practical training, and at the end of the course, students work on their graduation project. Young professionals with experience in the industry, including middle and senior managers, enter such programs at universities in the UK. Although there are also master's programs that are focused on continuing education students without work experience.

Applied programs at universities in Britain provide for internships in partner companies. After an internship, well-performing students may receive a job offer.

All professional master's programs in British universities have mandatory accreditation in government departments of various industries. The duration of full-time study is 2-3 years.

After passing the tests and defending the thesis, degrees are awarded, for example:

Master of Business Administration/ Master of Business Administration

Master of Education/Master of Pedagogy

The cost of studying in a master's program in England

Master in London– for me it was from the “dream” category, and now it is my reality, love and inspiration. I wrote this list of 10 steps for those who also dream of going to study abroad (personal experience).

1. Research. Choosing the right one direction* and university- Google to the rescue. If you decide on a magistracy, then it should be understanding why and confidence in the chosen course.
2. Checking admission requirements. We note what is already available in the personal and prof. arsenal and what is worth work. For example, hand over English exam(most often IELTS).
3. The search for an educational institution is starting in advance. Better a year before the start of studies. In England, studies begin at the end of September, sometimes in January, depending on the course and the university.
4. Acceptance of applications(if studying in September) starts in early March, sometimes in February. Continues until the end of summer. However, if the course and university are popular, places are snapped up quickly and enrollment ends earlier. In August, clearing passes - a time when universities are understaffed to provide an opportunity to jump on the outgoing train of science.
5. Payment. Expensive, most often on their own. The Master's course for international students costs £14,000+. Part-time course (two-year) allows you to pay in four stages + deposit. Gadgets like scholarships can be found, but difficult. Take advice from those who fumble to save time and understand a huge amount of information. Some directions are supported by the state and private companies. Information will be on the website of the selected university.
6. Preparation of documents. Diploma translation, recommendations, motivation letters, questionnaires, etc.
7. We apply directly to the university (on the website of the educational institution). Waiting for an answer.
8. Interview. Answer the question - what can you bring to the group special? There will also be questions about experience, motivation, why you come here, how you used to work with deadlines, interaction with the team, etc.
9. We are waiting for the results, we are preparing a deposit.
10. If the invitation is in the mail, then the next step is to get a CAS number (confirmation of acceptance for studies) to apply for an English visa (Tier 4). And this is a completely different story 😉 Good luck!

*If you suddenly cannot decide on the choice of direction, you need help with career self-determination, you lack confidence and it is not clear where to start - think about coaching, sometimes one or two Skype sessions with a coach are enough and a lot of things clear up in your head. Coaching allows you to unwind a tangle of thoughts and lay them out in a straight line, look at this whole story and make a plan of action. You can sign up for a free 30-minute meeting with me (in Russian or English).