Frequently Asked Questions: Postgraduate Study
This page features frequently asked questions on postgraduate study, split into the following sections.
Please choose a link from the following list:
For further information, please refer to the study section of our website.
General questions:
- What are the benefits of postgraduate study?
- When should applications be made?
- How much will a postgraduate degree cost and how are postgraduate degrees funded?
- How do I choose between a taught course and research?
- What is the best time to start postgraduate study?
- Are there advantages to being a part-time postgraduate student?
- How do I find out more about part-time study opportunities?
What are the benefits of postgraduate study?
Postgraduate study involves hard work and commitment, but success can bring with it a range of benefits, some personal, some professional and some financial. These include: Vocational training for a a professional career, e.g. Postgraduate Certificate in Education; improved career and promotion prospects; the chance to change career direction; intellectual development; and access to all of the University's excellent facilities, including the Graduate Centre.
Research degrees are commonly undertaken with a view to an academic or research career. Taught Master's, certificates and diplomas have a wide range of vocational objectives and can bring together themes from a number of disciplines.
When should applications be made?
Once you know what course you want to do, what you want to get out of it, and how you hope to fund your studies, you may need to look at the deadlines of applications to relevant funding bodies, e.g. Research Councils. You should pay particular attention to these deadlines if you attend to apply for a studentship; in most cases you will need to have an offer of a place to study in order to apply for funding, and so you will need to apply for your place well in advance of any funding deadlines.
Ideally applications for research degrees should be made in December/January and applications for taught courses in around January/February. If you apply at a much later date, the range of funding opportunities still accepting applications can be greatly reduced. If you are in a position to fund yourself you may apply for admission right up until the time the course begins, providing that there are still places available. For more information about the application process, visit our How to Apply pages.
How much will a postgraduate degree cost and how are postgraduate degrees funded?
Downloadable lists of tuition fees for postgraduate taught and research programmes are available on the Fees page. Tuition fees for each course will also be recorded in the Course Finder database.
The funding of postgraduate study is fundamentally different from that of undergraduate degrees. There are no mandatory awards at postgraduate level except for the PGCE and the MA in Social Work. Research Council studentships and university/school studentships are the principal sources of funding. Many academic schools have quotas of research council studentships, and the university offers a range of school-funded studentships each year. Other sources of funding include: charities; career development loans; low interest bank loans; grant-making trusts; employers sponsorship; Overseas Research Students awards; and Commonwealth Scholarships.
A list of funding sources for UK/EU students is available in the funding section. Funding information for International Students can be found at our website for International students.
How do I choose between taught and research programmes?
The choice between taught and research programmes may seem difficult, but after some thought the most suitable choice is often self-evident. Ask yourself certain questions, such as:
- What are your long term career objectives?
- Why do you want to return to/continue your study?
- What do you hope to get out of studying for a postgraduate degree?
Discuss these ideas with people in the know, and look into the academic school of your choice; a list of links to academic school websites can be found on our Education homepage. If you are currently an undergraduate student at Cardiff, speak with your personal tutor, or the postgraduate admissions tutor in the relevant school.
If you are a graduate from another University contact the school of your choice to discuss the postgraduate opportunities available. You can also discuss your career aims with your University careers service. These people will be able to clarify which course most suits your individual requirements and ambitions.
What is the best time to start postgraduate study?
Many people consider taking a postgraduate degree immediately or within a year or so of graduating. An alternative strategy may be to consider taking a postgraduate qualification with the approval and financial support of an employer who will take into account the benefits to the organisation of the postgraduate training you will gain. You may also consider taking a postgraduate degree part-time, while you are working, for both personal and professional development. You may decide to follow a new career path and support this with a postgraduate qualification.
Are there advantages to being a part-time postgraduate student?
Undertaking part-time postgraduate study is a popular and successful choice for many students at Cardiff University. Potential advantages include: the ability to structure your degree around your working and family life while maintaining your income; improving your career prospects whilst working, with financial support from your employer in some cases; enjoying full use of all the University's excellent facilities while attending part-time.
How do I find out more about part-time study opportunities?
Please see our Part-Time Study Opportunities pages for a comprehensive list of our part-time postgraduate schemes of study and use the Course Finder facility for further information on any of the courses that interest you.
Taught Courses
- What is involved in a taught course?
- What are the entry requirements for a taught course?
- How long will it take to complete a taught course?
- What are the dates of the academic year for a taught course?
What is involved in a taught course?
A wide range of taught postgraduate courses are available at Cardiff University. These programmes are delivered via a range of teaching methods including lectures, assignments, seminars, case studies and a dissertation or project. In some cases there will be a professional work placement. Examination may take various forms, including traditional unseen written examinations, assessed course work, project work, placements, etc.
Some Master's courses are directly vocational and lead to total or partial exemption from related professional examinations. Some may be essential for entry to a particular profession. Certificate and diploma courses provide vocational, academic and practical instruction and may also give total or partial exemption from professional examinations. Again, as for Master's courses, some are essential for entry to a profession, e.g. the Postgraduate Certificate in Education in relation to teaching. Opportunities for taught postgraduate study are available in most academic schools.
What are the entry requirements for a taught course?
Master's Courses: Applicants should possess a UK higher education degree, or a non-UK qualification recognised by the University as being equivalent to this. For most Schools, the minimum requirement is a 2:1 honours degree. However, there are some Schools for which the minimum requirement is a 2:2 honours degree. Applicants who do not meet these criteria may be considered provided they have a minimum of two years experience in a position of responsibility relevant to the proposed course of study. Please check our Course Finder database for more information on entry requirements for particular courses.
Diploma/Certificate Courses: Entry requirements differ from course to course. Details are available from the relevant academic school; alternatively, please check our Course Finder database.
How long will it take to complete a taught course?
The following information on course length is a general guide only - please see our Course Finder database or check with the relevant Academic School to confirm the period of study for any course(s) of interest.
- Full-time Master’s degree: requires one year of study.
- Full-time Diploma: requires 9 months of study.
- Full-time Certificate: requires 9 months of study.
- Part-time Master's degree: completed in two years.
- Part-time Diploma: completed in 21 months.
- Part-time Certificate: completed in 21 months.
What are the dates of the academic year for a taught course?
For the majority of students registered on taught courses, the academic year starts with enrolment in late September and concludes either at the end of the following June (Diploma students) or the following September (Master's students). A very small number of courses start in January/April and end the following December/January. Please see our Course Finder database or check with the relevant Academic School for more information.
Research Degrees
- What is a higher degree by research?
- What are the entry requirements for a research degree?
- How long will it take to complete a postgraduate research degree?
- What are the dates of the academic year for a research degree?
- When should applications be made?
What is a higher degree by research?
The qualifications attainable through research are usually the degrees of PhD and MPhil; some specialised areas have other awards (e.g. MD/MCh in Medicine). A Master's degree by Research (MPhil) provides an opportunity for individual research work that may also serve as a probationary period for a PhD. A PhD is usually required for an academic career or a career as a professional researcher. There are also several 'professional doctorates' aimed at specific professions, which offer the opportunity for personal and career development.
Research involves an in-depth study of a specific field. The results of the research are presented in a thesis and by oral examination (viva-voce). The work should include some original material. Opportunities to pursue full and part time research degrees exist in most academic schools in Cardiff.
What are the entry requirements for a research degree?
Applicants should possess (or expect to obtain) a UK higher education degree, or a non-UK qualification recognised by the University as being equivalent to this. Normally you will be required to have the equivalent of a 2:1 or above.
How long will it take to complete a postgraduate research degree?
MPhil: Full-time: one or two years; Part-time: two or three years.
PhD: Full-time: usually three years; Part-time: usually up to five years, depending in each case on your entry qualifications.
Specific details about the time commitment involved will be detailed in the course literature that can be obtained from the contact telephone numbers/email addresses listed on our Course Finder database. The normal expectation is that full-time PhD students will complete their research projects and submit their thesis within three years of the start of their candidature.
What are the dates of the academic year for a research degree?
Periods of study for a research degree can begin on the first day of one of the four following calendar months: October, January, April and July (subject to the agreement of the relevant Academic School). Full-time MPhil/PhD students are allowed six weeks vacation, including public holidays, in each academic year.
When should applications be made?
Once you know what area of research you are interested in, what you hope to achieve from it, and how you hope to fund your study, you will need to look at the deadlines of the relevant academic and funding bodies.
Deadlines for the various Research Council schemes can be found on the relevant Research Council website (these can be accessed via the Research Councils UK website; alternatively, please see our funding section for more information). You should pay particular attention to these deadlines if you attend to apply for a studentship. Ideally, applications for research degrees should be made in December/January. If you apply at a much later date, the range of funding opportunities still accepting applications can be greatly reduced.
