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Choosing a Postgraduate
Programme
Increasing numbers of students from across the world
are choosing to study for a Postgraduate (or 'Graduate')
degree. With such a vast range of taught courses and
research programmes on offer, it’s fair to say
you’ll find the specialist qualification you’re
looking for at whatever postgraduate level you intend
to study.
 Not
only do universities worldwide offer an extensive range
of diverse subjects which are relevant to career development,
but also those courses run in countries such as the
U.K for example, run from September to September, IN
CONTRAST TO THE TWO-YEAR masters degree offered by other
education systems. This time factor can be so important
to fresh graduates and to those who are in the early
stages of their career.
At research level, the UK PhD can be completed in three
years if a student is committed to that time scale.
A further advantage is that it is possible to be accepted
on to a PhD programme directly after graduating at Bachelors
level, if the student has achieved an excellent result
in their final undergraduate examinations.
Masters courses are very often structured so that students
study intensively in the first and second semesters,
attending lecturers and seminars, before continuing
to carry out an independent applied piece of research
giving an opportunity for students to be the author
of an original piece of work. In a Masters course such
as Information Systems, for instance, students may well
carry out research for a ‘client’ from industry,
thereby giving students the opportunity to excel in
the industry of their choice. They would also receive
a valuable reference from the client, which would undoubtedly
support the students when starting out on the next stage
of their career path.
 Make
an informed decision
It is important to make informed decisions when drawing
up your shortlist of perhaps six or eight universities.
Having gathered information from an Education Fair,
or from the internet, or perhaps having spoken directly
to a university representative who may have visited
your country, you should try to identify any gaps in
the information you have gathered. You may need more
specific information about course content, which is
not available in prospectuses. At this stage it is important
to put time aside to use the university’s website.
Universities are aware that the web is likely to be
the primary source of information for applicants from
other countries. Department websites should give comprehensive
information on course content as well as details of
the research priorities of the department. The best
sites will give profiles of professors and lecturers,
and may also give details of the work of current international
students and perhaps their career destination after
graduation.
Do not hesitate to write to the academic department
directly, either by mail or e-mail, with further specific
questions, after you have carried out your initial research.
It is quite acceptable for students to approach academic
members of staff directly for advice or clarification,
if the departmental website has not answered all your
queries. Most universities produce departmental brochures,
which will be sent to you on request. Another source
of information is the local embassy or consulate in
your city. UK universities are closely linked with education
counsellors in overseas British Council offices and
they ensure that counsellors are given the latest information
about study opportunities and entry requirements.
 The
application procedure
Applying to universities is not a complicated procedure,
but you do need to plan ahead. It is crucial that if
you are intending to apply for a Masters course, which
is in high demand, you apply early, as it is likely
that places on certain courses will fill very quickly.
Departments have a quota of places available and therefore
it is wise to apply as early as October or November
of the previous year, and ideally before April, for
a September start. Making an early application will
increase your chances of selection. Please note, however,
that UK universities accept applications as late as
August, in some cases. Research students may begin their
studies at any point in the year, in agreement with
the academic supervisor.
You should consider the time it takes to gather information,
the time referees need to supply references in support
of your application, and the fact that it may take a
number of weeks for a university to make a decision
due to the sheer number of international applications.
Ideally, you should begin the process eight to twelve
months before the start date. It is also important to
take into account the deadlines of scholarship awarding
bodies. In most cases, you need to hold an offer of
a place at a university before you are eligible to apply.
If this is the case, you should apply as early as possible
and clearly state the deadline by which you need your
offer letter, on the application form.
Application forms for individual universities will
either be given to you at the Education Fair or sent
upon request. There is no limit to the number of universities
you can apply to but it is probably wise to focus on
around six institutions.
 By
far the simplest and swiftest method of application
is online. Many universities now make it possible to
either download the postgraduate application form from
the web, or in many cases, to actually apply online.
Prospectuses will always outline the application procedure.
Since there is no national postgraduate entrance examination
in Britain, your application will be considered on academic
achievements in your own country and on references.
Referees should be university tutors who are able to
comment on your academic strengths, underlining where
a candidate has excelled and why a candidate is suited
for the course or research area to which he or she is
applying. You need to supply your referee with details
of the course or research area and you should also impress
upon them the importance of providing references quickly,
in order not to delay application. To save time, many
universities will accept sealed references, which you
can send with your application form.
It is common practice to apply to university before
you have your final Bachelor / Masters degree results.
A conditional Offer may be made in advance of your results.
If you meet the conditions, such as achieving a certain
class or percentage in your degree, your offer with
then be converted to an Unconditional Offer.
Remember that a neat, comprehensive form is much more
appealing to an academic selector than an untidy application.
It is wise to use black ink, as the form is likely to
be photocopied.
Meeting expectations
Applying to a university is a two-way process. You
can expect universities to provide you with detailed
information on postgraduate opportunities, while selectors
need to have a clear picture of your academic calibre
and to be assured that you are applying for the right
programme for the right reasons.
It is important that you present a convincing case
and make the most of the section on the application
form which asks you why you want to follow a particular
degree. If you are a prospective Masters student, you
should show you understand the aims and content of the
course and explain your motivation. Any information
which may help the selector decide if the course meets
your needs, and that you are able to cope with the course,
should be included.
As it is not possible for international research applicants
to be interviewed before being offered a place at university,
you must convince a potential supervisor that you have
the foundation of knowledge to pursue the research in
question. If communication is poor at the start of the
application procedure, you should encounter problems
in the future, even after you have been offered a place.
You need to communicate your expectations to your potential
supervisor from the outset. It is advisable to make
personal contact with a potential supervisor in a specific
department, by e-mail if possible, at the same time
as submitting a formal application. You should be prepared
to submit an initial research proposal with your application
form and supply further information as requested by
the university, in order to establish a basis for negotiating
the direction of your research degree.
Selection is not a mechanical administrative procedure.
Your application will be considered carefully by an
academic member of staff in the department to which
you have applied. Time is taken to assess you as an
individual worthy of serious consideration, not an application
number. A well-planned application will result in the
offer of a number of places at institutions, all of
which suit your needs.
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