Your guide to postgraduate degrees

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Postgraduate degrees are usually studied after completing an undergraduate degree. What may surprise you is the range of postgraduate qualifications you can study. Postgraduate degrees are regarded as level 7 or 8 qualifications across the UK, except in Scotland where they’re seen as level 11 qualifications.

This is where you begin to specialise in a specific area of a subject you studied as an undergraduate student. It can also be a route into academia or help you with a career change.

You’ll typically have ‘taught’ or ‘research’ postgraduate degrees. A ‘taught’ postgrad is similar to an undergraduate experience where you’ll have lectures, labs and tutorials, while a ‘research’ degree will suit you if you prefer more independent study. You’ll be guided by a tutor or professor but will undertake your own research based on the question you’re exploring.

Types of postgraduate degrees

Master’s degree

This is the most commonly studied postgraduate qualification after completing undergraduate studies. The majority of master’s degrees are taught. However, there are some research-based master’s you can do if you prefer a more independent, self-led experience.

Here are some common master’s degrees available:

Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Science (MSc)
Master of Engineering (MEng)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Research (MRes)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Masters Degree in Law (LLM)

Most master’s degrees take one year to complete if you’re studying full-time and two years if you’re studying part-time. You’ll typically need at least a 2:2 bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. However, some courses do ask for a 2:1 or higher.

Your fees will depend on what and where you study. They can range from £4,000 for UK students to as much as £30,000. The average cost per year usually falls between £8,000 and £11,000.

Master’s of Business Administration (MBA)

A Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) qualification differs slightly from a regular master’s degree. While a master’s degree can be taken after you graduate, MBAs are usually undertaken after a few years of professional experience when you’re looking to grow your knowledge in business. Achieving an MBA can lead to a pay rise and even a promotion. These courses typically take between 12 and 15 months to complete if you’re studying full-time. However, there are accelerated options available where you can complete the course sooner.

MBAs typically cost between £15,000 to £40,000. International students are likely to be charged more depending on the course.

Master’s degree in law

This taught degree is for students who want to specialise in a specific area of law. It’s a level 7 qualification and you’ll pick the modules that interest you, making it a very flexible and adaptable program where you’ll work towards completing a research project or dissertation. The duration of this course is one year if you’re studying full-time and up to two years if studying part-time.

To study a master’s degree in law, you’ll need to have completed a law undergraduate degree or a postgraduate law conversion course. You can expect to pay anywhere between £10,000 and £20,000 depending on where you study. Fees will be more for international students.

Doctorate (PhD)

A doctorate degree is regarded as the highest degree you can earn, signifying you’ve mastered a specific area of study or field. You’ll need to have undertaken a significant amount of research or conducted new research that brings new light to the topic. Most students will achieve this by taking the ‘PhD by thesis’ route, but there are five options in total to choose from if you want to study for this qualification:

PhD by thesis – the most common option when getting a doctorate, you’ll spend three or four years researching at uni to produce a thesis based on your research proposal
Integrated PhD – these aren’t offered at every uni but this qualification is where you spend a year studying a research master’s and then complete a three-year PhD
Professional doctorate – this option is usually taken by professionals in vocational sectors like healthcare, teaching and engineering, usually on a part-time basis, and can last anywhere from two to eight years
PhD by publication – this involves submitting previously published work that makes up a new body of work and is an original contribution to your chosen field
Distance-learning PhD – this option has risen in popularity because of the coronavirus pandemic, with people opting for an online PhD to carry out their research at home and around family commitments

To study for a doctorate, you’ll typically need to have completed a 2:1 bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject as well as a master’s degree. You’ll also need to submit a detailed research proposal of what your thesis will be based on.

UK and EU fees are between £3,000 and £6,000 a year. Most PhD students are either partially or fully funded. This is because every year UK universities get £4,237 for each funded PhD student from the UK Research Councils. There are also grants and bursaries available for additional funding.

Postgraduate certificate/diploma

If you don’t want to commit to a full master’s degree, then you may want to consider a postgraduate certificate or a postgraduate diploma. Both are level 7 qualifications, are shorter than a master’s degree and don’t need a research project or a dissertation. A postgraduate diploma is twice as long as a postgraduate certificate. Both give you credits that can be put towards a master’s degree.

A postgraduate certificate typically takes one term (15 weeks) to complete, while a postgraduate diploma takes two terms (30 weeks).

You need a total of 180 credits to gain a master’s. A postgraduate certificate will give you 60 credits, while a postgraduate diploma will give you 120. Both qualifications are offered within a master’s programme and students have the chance to upgrade their postgraduate diploma to a master’s by completing a research project or dissertation.

Fees for these qualifications are lower than a master’s degree. You’ll expect to pay roughly £3,000 for postgraduate certificates, while postgraduate diplomas will cost around £5,000.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)/Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (or a PGCE) is a level 7 qualification for students interested in teaching. Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland study for this qualification to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which allows them to teach anywhere in the world. These courses are a mix of both academic and practical learning.

In Scotland, the equivalent of this qualification is a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).

You’ll be expected to have at least a 2:2 bachelor’s degree. You’ll also need a grade C/4 or above in GCSE English, maths and sometimes a science-related subject. Some extra requirements may include relevant work experience, completing a medical fitness questionnaire and a Disclosure and Barring Service check if you’re in England or Wales.

UK and EU students pay a standard tuition fee of £9,250 per year (this will be rising to £9,535 in England from the 2025/26 academic year). Fees are more for international students.

Now you know the different types of postgraduate courses you can study for, start your search and explore your options.