The UK is famous worldwide for its higher education degrees, especially for the many excellent postgraduate degrees available for students to pursue.

The right postgraduate degree can seriously change your life! Whether you are thinking of changing your career or just advancing in your current line of work, a postgrad degree is recommended.

If you are considering enrolling in a postgraduate degree but are confused by all the different types of degrees being offered, you’ve come to the right place! Join us as we discuss all the different types of postgraduate degrees available in the UK.

Major Categories of Postgraduate Degrees

The two major categories of postgraduate degrees in the UK are

Taught Courses

Taught courses include postgraduate diplomas or certificates and master’s degrees. A taught master’s degree takes one or two years and usually involves completing a dissertation or project.

Taught courses are led by a program director or course leader, and students attend weekly seminars and lectures.

Research Courses

Research degrees, or doctorates, can be taken after a master’s degree and sometimes after a bachelor’s degree, where the master’s is earned at the same time as the bachelor’s.

Doctorates include PhDs/DPhils, integrated PhDs, and professional doctorates. The main component of a PhD is a doctoral thesis.

Other Postgraduate Degrees

Within the above 2 degrees, there are many other types of postgraduate degrees

Masters Degree

This is usually the degree that comes to mind when people think of postgrad degrees. A master’s degree is an academic qualification.

People often pursue a masters if they want to specialize further in their line of work. Or if they want to do a career switch. In this case, they choose to do the Master in a subject other than the one they got their undergrad degree in.

There are many different kinds of Masters programs available. Let’s take a look at some of them

Master of Arts (MA): Typically offered in humanities, social sciences, and arts disciplines. Common fields include History, English Literature, and Media Studies.

Master of Science (MSc): Focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, such as Computer Science, Data Analytics, and Environmental Science.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): A professional degree aimed at teaching students leadership, management, and business strategy skills.

Master of Engineering (MEng): Often integrated with undergraduate studies, this degree is designed for engineering students who want advanced knowledge.

Master of Laws (LLM): This degree is for those interested in advancing their legal expertise, often specializing in areas like international law, corporate law, or human rights law.

Master of Education (MEd): This degree is for people who work in the education field, and want to further improve their understanding.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil): A more extensive research program than the MRes, often leading to a PhD.

Master of Research (MRes): This combines advanced research training with a smaller research project. Suitable for those considering a PhD.

You can choose to pursue your Master’s either full-time or part-time. Full-time Master’s program typically lasts about a year. A part-time program lasts for 2 to 3 years.

Postgrad diploma (PGDip) 

Postgraduate Diploma, or PGDip, is a shorter qualification than a Master’s degree. They are designed to provide specialized knowledge in a specific area. There are a wide range of subjects you can choose from for your PGDip

These postgraduate degrees are shorter than a Masters degree and also do not require a dissertation.

PGDip usually lasts about 9–12 months. 

Postgrad certificate (PGCert)

Similar to a PGDip, a postgraduate certificate is shorter than a Master and doesn’t require a dissertation. It is very helpful if you want to learn new skills and advance in your career

PGCert usually lasts about 3-6 months and is usually focused on a specific skill

Conversion Courses

Conversion courses are postgraduate degrees designed for students who want to switch career paths or enter a field unrelated to their undergraduate degree.

One of the popular courses is the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), which is for non-law graduates who want to become solicitors or barristers. Similarly the

PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) is also very popular with those aspiring to become teachers.

A conversion course normally takes around 1 year if you pursue it full-time.

Doctorate Degree

A doctorate degree is the highest academic level you can achieve. A doctorate qualification allows you to do any research you want to do. There are many different types of doctorate degrees, for example:

• A doctor of philosophy. (PhD)
• A doctor of psychology (PsyD)
• A doctor of Medicine (MD)

These degrees are very demanding and often lead to careers in academia (as a lecturer or researcher, for example). These degrees are designed for those pursuing advanced practice in fields such as medicine, education, or business. The main component of a PhD is a doctoral thesis.

The main goal of a PhD is to write a doctoral thesis. A PhD usually lasts for about 3 to 6 years

Conclusion

The UK offers many different postgraduate degree options to suit every career goal and academic interest.

Whether you aim to specialize, switch fields, or advance in your career, a program is tailored to your needs.

We hope we’ve helped you understand the different types of postgraduate degrees. Now you can choose which degree you want to pursue and make an informed decision! If you need our help, contact Enrollmate, today!