postgraduate

Top tips for applying for your post-grad

Primary research for your master’s dissertation

One major obstacle can be finding suitable interviewees. Instead of knocking on doors, use groups that are already in existence. Over 50s clubs, mother and toddler groups or community halls can all be possible sources of interviewees. Get in touch with the organizers and let them know you are a student rather than a professional researcher. People seem keen to help students, although they can be wary if they think they are speaking to a journalist, so be open and honest about your intentions.

Master’s Dissertation help – the MA Handbook

Many colleges will provide you with an MA or Masters dissertation handbook which will cover all the basic tools and facilities you need to be aware of in order to complete your MA. What sort of information should you expect to receive?

The basics – There should be full information about who to contact within your subject department. This will range from email addresses and webpages to check through to “old school” methods of contact – for example, if the department has post trays for each postgraduate student.

A boom in postgraduate study

If you have been considering a return to study, you are not alone. Postgraduate courses have seen a sharp rise in applications. Back in 2007-2008 the numbers of people studying for Masters degrees increased by 27% and PhD numbers rose by 9%. More recent recent by the Higher Education Policy Unit (Hepi) has shown that although 78% of undergraduates found work in the professions three years after graduation, for postgraduates the figure stood at 94%.

Is there a PhD in you?

Many people dream of taking a PhD, but what is really involved in getting these letters after your name?

What is a PhD?

The letters are an abbreviation for ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and you might also see it written as ‘DPhil’. This type of degree emerged from Germany in the early 1800s and it is intended to be a research degree where you focus on finding the solution to a tightly defined problem.Your work must be original.