Types of Postgraduate Course

Masters courses

A master's course can allow you to extend your knowledge of a specific area of interest, or to explore new topics unrelated to your first degree. Most masters courses last one or two years full-time. Part-time options are available at some institutions.

The masters degrees you will most commonly come across are:

• MA – generally arts, social sciences or business
• MSt - generally arts, social sciences or business (commonly offered at Oxford)
• MSc – science and technology disciplines (MS in the USA)
• MRes – practical research research techniques and experience focus, often as a precursor to a PhD/DPhil programme
• MBA – management and business, usually after a few years of business experience
• MPhil – includes a substantial piece of individual research
• Subject-specific degree titles such as MEd, MEng

Professional qualifications

Some postgraduate courses lead directly to a professional qualification required for entry into a particular career. Examples include the PGCE or PGDE for teaching. Whilst not a professional requirement, the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) supports individuals who did not study law as their first degree to learn what is needed to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). However, there are a whole series of other further study options which could be classified as vocational, ranging from six-week courses in computer skills through to the PhD or DPhil in Clinical Psychology, necessary to work as a Clinical Psychologist.

Due to differing time and cost implications, it is important to consider which type of postgraduate course is necessary and sufficient to support your goals. Find out more about study routes into specific career areas in sectors and occupations.

Doctoral degrees

A PhD (known as a DPhil in Oxford) usually requires three or more years' full-time research, involving in-depth study of a specific field, the results of which are presented as a thesis of 50,000+ words. In some countries, including the USA, doctoral students begin their course with a programme of taught modules before beginning doctoral research in year 2 or 3, making the overall length of a PhD much longer than the 3-4 year average in the UK. Examples of typical PhD lengths in countries often applied to by Oxford students are: UK 3-4 years, USA 5-7 years, Canada 4-5 years, France & Germany 3-4 years (post-masters), Netherlands 4 years (post-masters).

Most PhD students join an existing research group in a university department under the guidance of one or more supervisors. In the UK there are a growing number of Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) and Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs, also known as Doctoral Training Programmes DTPs) funded by UK research councils and offering four-year programmes with a focus on interdisciplinary topics and formal training in research methods.These four-year programmes can often have 6-month or 12-month initial periods focused on training, short projects and rotations, or other structured programming to help develop skills and interests, and allow time to decide on a specific project for longer term research. These programmes are therefore useful in providing time for individuals who know they have a strong interest in a broader field of study, but do not yet know the specific topic they with to focus on longer term.

Research masters

Many taught masters courses contain an element of research via an extended dissertation on a specific topic. Research masters courses offering training in research methods and the opportunity to explore a topic in depth are also available at some institutions. The most common of these degree titles are MRes and MPhil, and these are often seen as a precursor to more extended doctoral level research.

The Careers Service regularly runs sessions introducing further study and on writing applications for postgraduate study: check the Term Planner to find the dates of this term's sessions. You can also book in a 1:1 Advice Appointment with a careers adviser to discuss your options and plans for further study.

Related pages

• Why study further
• Postgraduate Study in the UK
• Postgraduate Study in the USA
• Postgraduate Study in Other Countries

• TargetPostgrad
• Prospects: Postgraduate Study
• FAQs about postgraduate study - A guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study.
• Vitae - Advice and information for those considering doctoral research.
• Find a Masters - extensive advice and information on masters courses.
• Find a PhD - extensive advice and information about doctoral study.