Masters degree - Postgraduate in English in England UK for international students

Nearly half a million international students come for higher education in UK each year, most of them choosing to take a master's degree in the UK.

Main advantages of masters degree in UK:

• Deepen knowledge;
• Improving skills;
• Mastering spoken English;
• Joining the international professional community.
• This diploma will be appreciated in any country in the world;
• Master's degree in England will open up for you the verges of a career;
• New level of earnings with future job that was previously unattainable.

The key feature of the British master's program is the acquisition of a new specialty, and not just a deepening of knowledge in the specialty in which foreign student studied in the bachelor's degree. During the study period, up to 15-20 subjects can be studied, but due to the tight deadlines, the intensity, the speed of study will be very high - carefully and honestly assess your capabilities before applying for a place in a master's program in England. After receiving a bachelor's degree, many people prefer to work for 1-2 years, get real experience, realize their strengths, features of the profession that they want to know better - and only then decide whether you need a master's degree in the UK.

SMAPSE offers more than 80 best schools and universities in the UK where international students can study advanced Master's programs conducted in English. They can choose prestigious schools in England that provide high-quality programs. Due to the list of TOP-80 prestigious schools and best universities for higher education in UK, you will definitely find the most appropriate option. Please, don't hesitate to contact SMAPSE experts, as they are always ready to answer all your questions. 

Master's programs in England are offered only by universities and higher educational institutions. As a rule, studies last 1-2 years, and the last 6 months are almost completely devoted to writing a dissertation, scientific work or research project.

Master's degree in the UK is divided into several varieties, and all of them have mandatory state accreditation:

• Educational.

The most common and  they are most often chosen. The educational scheme will not be a novelty for international students: lectures and practical exercises (seminars and master classes). It usually lasts a year, the last 3 months are devoted to independent work, preparation and defense of the final master's work.

List of possible degrees after graduation:

• • Master of Arts:
    • Arts;
    • Humanities;
    • Social sciences.
  • Master of Science: Natural and exact sciences.
  • Master of Laws: Jurisprudence.

• Research-Educational type.
• Research.

Similar options aimed at maximum independent work, individual research. Most often, such degrees are chosen by foreign students who are aimed at further graduate school and scientific work. They can last up to 2-3 years (for part-time - up to 4-5 years), an MA / MSc by Research degree is awarded.

• Professional or Practice (applied, practical).

Especially common in the areas of business, management, logistics, marketing, communications and hospitality. Theory + practice, thesis at the end - but usually students come here who already have practical work experience, resumes and letters of recommendation (even middle / senior managers who want to take positions in top management). Almost always, an internship or work experience is provided - many companies are willing to partner with universities in the UK and accept such students for a while, and often make them an official job offer even before receiving a diploma. The educational program lasts 2-3 years.

But the master's diplomas themselves can be of different "quality" - it depends on how high the results the graduate achieved:

• Fail - minimum, not a passing score;
• Pass - a "regular" diploma with a passing score;
• Honors -  maximum result.

Separately, it is worth mentioning such a degree as MBA - Master of Business Administration. Many universities distinguish it as a separate program: MBA in UK holders are the elite of the world, the best managers, founders and directors of the largest companies on the planet. This is a pass to the world of great opportunities, connections and high salaries.

More than 100 universities offer master's programs in the UK.

List of main educational directions and top educational institutions:

• Business and diplomacy, jurisprudence, international relations: London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), King's College London;
• Management and Marketing: University of Exeter;
• Fashion, Design, Photography, Journalism: Goldsmiths University London, University for The Creative Arts, The Arts University at Bournemouth, Brighton University;
• Science and Research, Applied Sciences, Engineering and IT: University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Sussex, University of East Anglia.

The intensity and speed of studying in a master's program in England requires students to have excellent knowledge, a high level of self-organization and thorough preparation. Future masters are selected very carefully - they evaluate their theoretical knowledge, the ability to find non-trivial solutions to problems, logical / critical / analytical thinking.

English is also very important, and not ordinary spoken, but academic, scientific - the ability to reason, read scientific literature in English.

It is better to prepare for a master's degree in England in 1-2 years: to study individually and with a tutor. It makes sense to take a specialized Pre-Masters preparatory course, especially if there is one at your priority university.

Main requirements for applicants to the master's program:

• High level of English. Please note that since 2014 UK universities do not accept TOEFL certificates - only IELTS. For future masters, the Academic IELTS exam must be passed with at least 6.0-6.5 points.
• GRE exam. Most often they require a general exam (analytical thinking in English), but they may also require the results of a specialized GRE (profile knowledge of the subject, knowledge of terminology in English). Can be replaced with a GMAT certificate if you are applying for economics, business, engineering or finance.
• Completed application (usually posted on the university website).
• Resume (CV), letters of recommendation from work (at least two).
• Essay, motivational letter (Statement of Purpose).
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent demonstrating basic higher education.

This is a minimum “set”, individual faculties and specialties may have their own specific requirements. For medical fields, this will be an MCAT test, for creative specialties - a personal portfolio.

Carefully check the translation and notarization of the documents for which it is necessary!

Of course, the cost of a master's degree in the UK is different. Tuition fee depends on:

The prestige of the university, its national and international ranking;

Popularity and demand for the specialty: more affordable education in the humanities, the most expensive - medicine;

University locations: in capitals and large cities, studying is more expensive than in the provinces.

Total cost for master study in UK varies from £ 9,000 to £ 40,000.

There is a way to study master in the UK for free! There are many scholarships and grants - both from the university and from private / public organizations. A big plus is that it is usually easier to get a scholarship in a master's program than in a bachelor's degree: the competition is much less.

Usually a scholarship is a discount on tuition (10% -50%), but there is also a full compensation for all expenses: tuition + accommodation + meals (monthly payment) + transport + visa.

To get a scholarship for a master's degree in the UK, foreign students will have to go through a competition - the basic requirements are:

• Bachelor's degree: the higher the grades - the better chance;
• Excellent level of English: IELTS 6.5-7.5;
• Confirmation of interest in the specialty:
• Additional courses;
• Personal research;
• Joint scientific publications;
• Field trips and internships;
• Volunteering and social work, etc.

A Master's degree in the UK is a higher education program offered at Master's level, which is the second level of education after a Bachelor's degree. This level allows students to deepen their knowledge and specialize in a specific field.

The duration of a Master's degree in the UK is usually 1 year for most programs. However, some specialized programs, such as MBA, may last 2 years.

For admission to a master's program, you will usually need a bachelor's degree, which must be related to your chosen field of graduate study. Requirements may vary from university to university and program to program, so it is always best to check the requirements on the official website of the university.

English language requirements may vary, but typically an IELTS score of 6.5-7.0 or an equivalent TOEFL score is required. If your native language is English or you have completed an undergraduate program in English, you may be exempt from the language requirement.

The cost of studying in the UK depends on the university and the program. It is usually between £10,000 and £30,000 per year. However, the cost may be higher for courses from more prestigious universities or special programs.

Yes, many universities provide scholarships and financial aid for international students. Scholarships may be awarded based on academic achievement, financial need of the student, or other criteria. Information about available scholarships can be found on university websites or specialized resources.

Yes, there are various options for extending your visa to stay in the UK after completing your Master's degree. For example, you can apply for a work visa, entrepreneur visa, research visa or other visas that allow you to stay and work in the country. It is also possible to transfer to a doctoral program.

Yes, you can apply for a Masters program at more than one university at the same time. You can do this through the UCAS system (for some programs) or directly on the universities' websites. You will usually need to pay a small fee for each application.

After completing a Master's degree in the UK, you will have a wide range of prospects. You can look for a job in the UK or return to your home country with a British degree, which is highly valued in the labor market. It can also be the first step to further education such as a doctorate.

To begin the admission process, you should first select the program and universities you are interested in. Then gather the necessary documents such as your previous degree, English language results, letters of recommendation and other documents. After that, you should send applications for the selected programs through the UCAS system or directly on the universities' websites. Follow the instructions on the official university websites and don't forget to meet the application deadlines.

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