Postgraduate studies in the UK
Michael Sewell
Recruitment and Admissions
University of Kent, Brussels
Contents
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Why the UK?
Types of postgraduate
courses available in the UK
Choosing your university
Entry requirements: What do
UK universities look for?
Application procedure
Fees and funding
About the University of Kent
Useful websites
Why study in the UK?
Prestigious
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Excellent reputation
Well respected qualifications recognised
around the world
31 UK institutions in the 2012/13 Top 200
World University rankings
World leading research—the UK has
produced more than 44 Nobel prize
winners in the last 50 years
Why study in the UK?
Quality
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High quality teaching, small seminar groups –
excellent contact time with experts in their
field
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Teaching quality assessed by the UK’s
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
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Research output measured via the Research
Assessment Exercise (RAE) and new
Research Assessment Framework (REF)
Why study in the UK?
Employability
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Better graduate starting salaries
Excellent graduate employment rates over 90% of postgraduates graduating
from Kent in 2012 found a job or further
study opportunity within 6 months
For example at Kent:
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Transferable Skills Training Programme
Global Skills Award training programme
Why study in the UK?
Superb facilities
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Fantastic resources
Free access to ultra-modern
information services/facilities
Excellent laboratories
Well-equipped libraries
Free Wi-Fi available over most
campuses
Why study in the UK?
Perfect your English
Experience life in the UK
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Improve your language skills every day
Gain confidence in seminar discussions
Become competent in ‘academic English’
Learn the language of business
Take advantage of extra English
language support if needed
Support often provided to develop other
(non-English) language skills
Why study in the UK?
A multicultural experience
Mix with students from all around the world;
large percentage of student body from
overseas
In the UK 25% of postgraduate students are
international
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At Kent, 53% of Kent’s postgraduates are
from outside the UK
International partnerships/exchange
agreements bring more international
students to the UK
Why study in the UK?
Gain the skills employers want
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Independence
Initiative
Research skills
Project management experience
Skills for an international environment
Compete better in the international job
market
Why study in the UK
Choice and flexibility
Over 50,000 postgraduate courses to
choose from
Postgraduate diploma
Taught Master’s
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Master’s by research
Doctorate
Timely
Complete a Master’s degree in just
12 months
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Type of Postgraduate qualifications
Taught courses
• Assessed by mixture of coursework
and exams
• Set number of contact hours per
week
• Taught in lectures and seminars
• Final project or dissertation
Research courses
• In depth study in a specific field
• Students assigned a research
supervisor
• More independence
• Teaching opportunities
Postgraduate qualifications
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Postgraduate certificate/diploma
• 1 year full time, 2 years part-time
Taught Masters (MA, LLM, MSc)
• 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Some 2 years full-time
Research Masters (MA, LLM MSc)
• 1 year full time, 2 years part-time
MPhil
• 2 years full-time, can convert to a doctorate
Doctorate (PhD)
• 3 years full-time
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
• 1 or 2 years, work experience required
Study abroad opportunity/double degrees
Choosing your university
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Choose the right course for you
• Search for courses at www.educationuk.org
www.prospects.ac.uk and www.postgrad.com
• Postgraduate qualification for your career?
Academic quality
• Quality Assurance Agency
• Visit www.qaa.ac.uk
University rankings
• No official ranking lists but for a general guide look at
www.timesonline.co.uk,www.independent.co.uk/education
and www.guardian.co.uk/education
Choosing your university
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Location
Campus vs non campus
Transport links
Facilities – Library, laboratories,
sports centre etc
Accommodation
Off-campus housing advice
• www.accommodationforstudents.com
• www.landlordlaw.co.uk
Choosing your university
What support services are available?
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At Kent we have:
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Personal Academic Support System (PASS)
Centre for European and World Languages: free English language classes
for all international students
Study Skills Centre: advice on essay writing, time management, exams
University Jobshop for part-time work
Careers Advisory Service
Disability and Dyslexia Support Service
Medical Centre and Pharmacy
Campus Watch - 24 hour security
Students’ Union (including the Student Advice and Information Service)
Campus nursery
Entry requirements
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University qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree/ Licenciaat met grote (grotste)
onderscheiding in an appropriate subject
English language qualifications
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in reading and writing)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: grade C
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English: grade B
• TOEFL internet: 90 (22 reading, 21 writing)
Other requirements
• Academic references
• Transcripts
• Research proposal (if research application)
• Academic ability, commitment, enthusiasm, dedication!
Application
Check deadline dates, best to apply by February/March
There may be deadlines for accommodation or scholarships
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If research, contact the appropriate academic first
Online application form
Supporting statement
Research proposal (research degrees only)
Academic references, normally two
English test (TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge)
Translated and verified transcripts (summary of marks)
A ‘conditional’ offer will be made subject to degree result, when the
conditions are met, you will get an unconditional offer (formal
acceptance).
Fees, living costs and funding
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Universities set their fees
Can range from £4,500 to £20,000
Living costs are likely to vary
Financial support for research students
includes:
• University awards
• Research Council funding (open to EU
students, fees only)
• Sponsored studentships
• Charities / foundations
Financial support for taught postgraduate
students more difficult
Check websites for extra information
Possible fees and monthly living costs
Fees at Kent for UK and EU students (2013/14):
£3,900 – Research courses
£4,950 – Taught courses
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Kent’s Brussels centre:
€16,500 (full-time)
€8,250 (part-time)
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Weekly living costs
Weekly estimated costs
From
To
- Woolf College (51 week contract, Canterbury campus)
£104.00
£154.00
- Hothe Court (51 week contract, Canterbury campus)
£98.00
£116.00
- Liberty Quays
£125.50
£125.50
Additional study costs
£43.00
£108.00
Food
£30.00
£60.00
Clothing and laundry
£15.00
£45.00
Socialising
£25.00
£65.00
Mobile phone
£5.00
£15.00
Television licence (required by law)
£2.80
£2.80
Unexpected costs
£5.00
£15.00
Accommodation (self catered)
(39 week contract, Medway campus)
Funding
Scholarships
Research council scholarships cover tuition fees (www.educationuk.org)
Up to £13,290 University postgraduate research scholarships
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Departmental research or teaching scholarships
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Sports scholarships (Kent: £250-£5000 p.a.)
Music scholarships (Kent: £350-£5000 p.a.)
Overseas fee paying scholarships (non-EU) (Kent: £5000)
Other funding options
Funding within your country - check with the British Council
Royal Belgian Benevolent Society (RBBS)
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75% of students have a part-time job at some point – use the University
Jobshop to find the latest vacancies
University of Kent, the UK’s European University
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South East England
Closest UK university to
mainland Europe
Canterbury, Medway,
Tonbridge, Brussels,
Paris, Athens
Excellent train/Eurostar
links:
• 60 mins from London
• 60 mins from Lille
• 90 mins from Brussels
• 110 mins from Paris
Nearest airport : Gatwick
University top selling points
• World-leading research
• Strong academic community
• Strong academic community
• Graduate School
• External lectures
• Global outlook
• Strong focus on internationalisation
• Partnerships with prestigious European
universities
The Canterbury campus…
Page 24
Summary of useful websites
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Education UK (British Council)
www.education.org
Prospects (lists postgraduate courses)
www.prospects.ac.uk
Department for Children, Families and Schools (DCSF)
www.dcsf.gov.uk or www.direct.gov.uk
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Research Assessment Exercise 2008
www.rae.ac.uk
The Times world rankings
www.thes.co.uk
The Times Good University Guide
www.timesonline.co.uk
National Student Survey
www.unistats.com
The Guardian University Guide
www.guardian.co.uk/education
Questions?
For further information contact:
Recruitment and Admissions Office
The Registry, University of Kent
Canterbury
Kent CT2 7NZ
E: eurec@kent.ac.uk
T: + 44 1227 827272