Well-known for the quality of education and breadth of opportunity they provide to graduates, UK universities constitute just under 25% of the top 100 QS world-ranked universities. As a result, applications to study at many UK universities are competitive due to the wide variety of excellent candidates who apply from the world over.

To support students applying to UK universities, we are publishing a series of articles on the preparation and work required during the application and admissions process in order to secure a university place. In this article, we discuss postgraduate applications, how they differ from undergraduate and key features of Masters or PhD applications.

Postgraduate v.s. Undergraduate

There are several key differences to be aware of between undergraduate and postgraduate applications. Many courses at postgraduate will not have a fixed application deadline, operation on a “first come, first served” basis. Therefore, it is universally advised to submit a good-quality application as soon as you are able to strengthen your chances of success. You should look to submit your application a minimum of six months before the start of the course. If you don't have your final degree certificate/transcript yet, your university will usually provide an indication of a predicted degree grade to accompany your application. The majority of universities in the UK run their own postgraduate applications with direct applications through their website. The course page will contain all the key information regarding how to apply and the documents required. You are not limited in the number of applications you can submit, however, it is important not to stretch yourself too thin - we recommend submitting around 5 applications depending on your university and course choices.

You will still need to provide much of the same content for the applications such as personal details, qualifications, a personal statement and a reference. You will also need to provide your CV. Postgraduate applications frequently also require the completion of admissions exams and an interview. For PhD applications and some master’s applications, you will also need to submit a research proposal. If you are an international student, you will also need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

Your referee is likely to be academic, someone you have studied under such as a lecturer or a tutor. If you have been working, they may be a professional reference instead - it is important to check whether the course has any requirements regarding this. In either case, you should politely ask your intended referee if they are willing to provide you with a reference before putting their details down on your application - it is advisable to do so early to ensure no delays later in the process.

Master’s Applications

A master’s degree lasts 1–2 years and is designed to prepare you to develop and apply a skillset as part of your career. Depending on the field, a course may require that you have achieved some professional experience in your field. There are two types of masters you can apply for: taught or research. A taught master’s degree resembles an undergraduate degree in that your learning is guided via seminars and lectures. A research degree resembles a PhD in that your learning is more self-guided with instruction from your supervisor. If you’re applying for a research Masters (MPhil or MRes) then you will also need to provide a research proposal.

PhD Applications

A PhD will take circa 4–7 years to complete and is designed to develop your skillset for academic research. When applying for a PhD, you will need to evidence your research background so far by citing research you have been involved such as any publications or presentations you were a part of. Your referees should be themselves academics in good standing - former professors or supervisors who have seen your work and can attest to its quality.

One of the key differences with PhD applications is the research proposal, this is a document that outlines your academic focus and how you will conduct your research and detail it in your dissertation. The research proposal is crucial to your application as it shows your existing knowledge of the area, your intended methods and the benefits of your research. It is essential that it accurately reflects why your research is important and how you will use your time wisely. The research proposal is different from the personal statement which focuses on your personal experience, interests and qualities; there should be as little overlap as possible between the two documents.

The other key difference with most PhD applications is that you will need to secure a supervisor’s approval before you can submit an application. This means you will need to invest time in emailing potential supervisors at your institutions of choice to check if they have the availability to supervise a PhD student, sharing your proposed research and requesting an opportunity to discuss with them. This can be a time-intensive process that needs to be completed before you can submit your PhD application in full for review by the university department.

For more advice or for a free personalised university application plan, contact our team at info@libraeducation.co.uk.

We hope that this article will provide you with greater preparation for your applications to study at university in the UK and portray you as a prime candidate for your intended course and university. We wish you success in this next exciting stage of your academic career.