Postgraduate Study

For some students their undergraduate degree is only the start of their higher education experience. After graduating at the end of your third year you may decide to go on to postgraduate study.

If you choose to study at Southampton, you will work with internationally respected academics and experience world-leading research as it happens.

Things to Consider:

More than a quarter of postgraduates surveyed felt their future employment prospects were better as a result of their qualifications, according to a 2011 report by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Student loans are not usually available to Masters students and so bank loans are a popular option.

Should I do a taught course or research degree?

This choice can depend on which subject you wish to study or which career path you want to pursue. The main differences between a taught course and a research degree are:

Taught courses are delivered by a lecturer, and students attend weekly seminars and lectures, although, there is an emphasis on independent learning. The two main types of taught courses are Masters degrees and postgraduate diplomas. These are divided into modules (like undergraduate degrees) and usually take one year full-time or two years part-time to complete, with students assessed by coursework, examinations and a dissertation
Research degrees rely on independent study with support and guidance from a supervisor. The best known research degree is the PhD, which can last three to four years full-time or six years part-time. The emphasis is on researching a specific area in order to produce new knowledge. Depending on the subject area, the thesis can be between 40,000 and 100,000 words.