If you’re thinking about postgraduate study, then you won’t be the only person having trouble distinguishing your MPhil from your DPhil, or a PGCE from a PGCert. Here are a few of the main postgraduate qualifications explained.
Masters degrees
e.g. Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Education (MEd)
Often referred to as a “taught masters”, these degrees usually take one year full-time (or two years part-time). You will typically attend lectures and seminars for about nine months, leaving another three to research and write up your thesis.
Some choose to do a Master’s because it is advantageous or required for their chosen career, whilst others want to challenge themselves or enhance their knowledge of a subject.
Master of Research (MRes)
If you are considering a career in research, either in industry or academia, then a research-led masters may be a more relevant route for you. There is a greater emphasis on the thesis, which can be up to 40,000 words in length, compared to around 20,000 for a taught masters. An MRes can also be awarded to students who have worked towards a doctorate but have not achieved the required standard.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
This is a more advanced, research-based masters degree, and can sometimes be completed as preparation for a doctorate.
Doctorates (including PHDs)
A doctorate is a research degree. It demonstrates that you have made an original contribution to your academic discipline, engaging in around three to four years of committed research and producing a thesis.
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) can be undertaken alone, or you could also be part of a research team and may be supervised by several academics or even industry professionals to address different aspects of your project. A DPhil is simply what the University of Oxford calls a PhD. A DEng is a doctorate in engineering, and this can involve considerable time spent in industry on placements, as is also now the case with some science doctorates.
Other options include practice-led doctorates, which require something like an exhibition alongside a thesis in art and design or performance-based areas, or a doctorate by publication, where publishing a certain number of articles or a book can be taken as evidence of your expertise. The latter is more common when you have already been working in an area for some years. This is also the case for professional doctorates, such as the Doctor of Education or EdD, where experienced practitioners will present a portfolio of evidence as well as a thesis to achieve this qualification.
Postgraduate Certificates (PGCert) & Diplomas (PGDip)
Postgraduate certificates and diplomas are “Level 7” qualifications (i.e. one level up from undergraduate degree level). A PGCert is equivalent to a third of a Master’s (60 credits), a PGDip is two thirds (120 credits), with a full Master’s being 180 credits.
A well-known example of a PGCert is the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), a popular route into teaching careers. Some providers now offer a PGDE for those who want to pursue extra academic credits.
As another example, careers advisers can complete a postgraduate certificate in careers guidance (PGCert), followed by a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) and, if they are really keen, go on to an MA in Careers Guidance, where they would take on a research element in an area that interests them.
Is further study right for me? How can I find out more?
What are your reasons for considering postgraduate study? Many students think about taking a masters degree because they can’t think of what else to do after graduation, and this could be a very expensive year out of the labour market without enhancing your prospects if you don’t choose wisely. Students can also assume that a postgraduate degree will automatically make them more employable, which is not necessarily the case.
To help you make an informed decision that is right for you, we highly recommend reading our new Further Study resources, which includes advice on:
- Deciding if further study is right for you
- Researching your options
- Funding further study
- Application process (including personal statements)
We also run a regular term-time talk online or on campus on “Finding and funding further study”.