1. Postgraduate studies in the UK
Michael Sewell
Recruitment and Admissions
University of Kent, Brussels

2. Contents Why the UK? Types of postgraduate courses available in the UK
Choosing your university
Entry requirements: What do UK universities look for?
Application procedure
Fees and funding
About the University of Kent
Useful websites
-Why should a Flemish student (who has already an academic bachelor- or masterdegree from KULeuven) do a (postgraduate) study in the UK?  What are the benefits of studying in the UK?
- What different postgraduate qualifications do exist in the UK (+ differences between taught & research courses + differences beween postgraduate Diploma, postgraduate Certificate, different Master degrees, PhD)
- How to choose the right program (+ resources for searching postgraduate courses).  Rankings?  Quality assurance?
- Entrance requirements: the application process, timing, English language requirements, practical tips & tricks
- Funding: scholarships! (for Belgian students there is the Belgian Royal Benevolent Society + scholarships from the Research Councils + financial aid from other organisations & funding from the educational institutions), assistentships, combining study and work,..
- what are the possibilities of studentaccomodation in British towns, how to look for accomodation?

3. Why study in the UK? Excellent reputation
Prestigious
Excellent reputation
Well respected qualifications recognised around the world
31 UK institutions in the 2012/13 Top 200 World University rankings
World leading research—the UK has produced more than 44 Nobel prize winners in the last 50 years
UK Institutions in the top 200 are: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, LSE, Manchester, KCL, Bristol, Durham, York, St Andrews, Sussex, Sheffield, Royal Holloway, Nottingham, Warwick, Southampton, Glasgow, Leeds, Lancaster, Queen Mary, Exeter, Birmingham, Liverpool, UEA, Aberdeen, Reading, Newcastle, Leicester.

4. Why study in the UK? Quality
High quality teaching, small seminar groups – excellent contact time with experts in their field
Teaching quality assessed by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
Research output measured via the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and new Research Assessment Framework (REF)
Kent was ranked 24th in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (159 participating institutions):
5 subject areas (Drama, English, History, Law, and Social Policy and Sociology) have had 30% of their research rated 4* (world leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour)
6 subject areas (History, Metallurgy and Metals, Social Policy and Sociology , Law, French, and Statistics and Operational Research) have been ranked in the top 10 of their discipline nationwide
5 subject areas (Drama and Film Studies, Anthropology, Economics, English, and Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology) are among the UK top 20
A further 10 subjects are in the top 30: Applied Mathematics, Business and Management Studies, Classics and Archaeological Studies, Religious Studies, Computing, Philosophy, Electronics, Spanish, German, and Environmental Studies

5. Why study in the UK? Employability Better graduate starting salaries
Excellent graduate employment rates - over 90% of postgraduates graduating from Kent in 2012 found a job or further study opportunity within 6 months
For example at Kent:
Transferable Skills Training Programme
Global Skills Award training programme
Transferable Skills Training Programme: Co-ordinated by the Graduate School and covers a diverse range of topics: research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and team working, and career management skills.
Global Skills Award: For students on taught programmes. Delivered by the Graduate School and designed to enhance graduates’ awareness of current global issues and improve career prospects.

6. Why study in the UK? Superb facilities Fantastic resources
Free access to ultra-modern information services/facilities
Excellent laboratories
Well-equipped libraries
Free Wi-Fi available over most campuses

7. Why study in the UK? Perfect your English Experience life in the UK
Improve your language skills every day
Gain confidence in seminar discussions
Become competent in ‘academic English’
Learn the language of business
Take advantage of extra English language support if needed
Support often provided to develop other (non-English) language skills

8. Why study in the UK? A multicultural experience
Mix with students from all around the world; large percentage of student body from overseas
In the UK 25% of postgraduate students are international
At Kent, 53% of Kent’s postgraduates are from outside the UK
International partnerships/exchange agreements bring more international students to the UK

9. Why study in the UK? Gain the skills employers want Independence
Initiative
Research skills
Project management experience
Skills for an international environment
Compete better in the international job market

10. Why study in the UK Choice and flexibility
Over 50,000 postgraduate courses to choose from
Postgraduate diploma
Taught Master’s
Master’s by research
Doctorate
Timely
Complete a Master’s degree in just months

11. Type of Postgraduate qualifications
Taught courses
Assessed by mixture of coursework and exams
Set number of contact hours per week
Taught in lectures and seminars
Final project or dissertation
Research courses
In depth study in a specific field
Students assigned a research supervisor
More independence
Teaching opportunities

12. Postgraduate qualifications
Postgraduate certificate/diploma
1 year full time, 2 years part-time
Taught Masters (MA, LLM, MSc)
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Some 2 years full-time
Research Masters (MA, LLM MSc)
MPhil
2 years full-time, can convert to a doctorate
Doctorate (PhD)
3 years full-time
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
1 or 2 years, work experience required
Study abroad opportunity/double degrees

13. Choosing your university
Choose the right course for you
Search for courses at and
Postgraduate qualification for your career?
Academic quality
Quality Assurance Agency
Visit
University rankings
No official ranking lists but for a general guide look at and
National Student Survey 2011 (survey of final year undergraduates at HE institutions across the UK)
Kent is ranked 3rd in London and the South East for overall student satisfaction
Kent scored 88% - the 6th highest national score
The majority of subjects are in a Top 20 position, 14 subjects are in the Top 10
Canterbury also rated the safest university city in England and Wales (Complete University Guide 2012)

14. Choosing your university
Location
Campus vs non campus
Transport links
Facilities – Library, laboratories, sports centre etc
Accommodation
Off-campus housing advice
University accommodation is available for Master’s students
Images are of Woolf College (Canterbury) and Liberty Quays (Medway)

15. Choosing your university
What support services are available?
At Kent we have:
Personal Academic Support System (PASS)
Centre for European and World Languages: free English language classes for all international students
Study Skills Centre: advice on essay writing, time management, exams
University Jobshop for part-time work
Careers Advisory Service
Disability and Dyslexia Support Service
Medical Centre and Pharmacy
Campus Watch - 24 hour security
Students’ Union (including the Student Advice and Information Service)
Campus nursery
Medical Centre and Pharmacy is on the Canterbury campus.
PASS provides the following:
General academic guidance
Assistance with academic problems or difficulties
Individual progress monitoring
Information about progression routes
Support and guidance
Personal development

16. Entry requirements University qualifications
Bachelor’s degree/ Licenciaat met grote (grotste) onderscheiding in an appropriate subject
English language qualifications
IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in reading and writing)
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: grade C
Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English: grade B
TOEFL internet: 90 (22 reading, 21 writing)
Other requirements
Academic references
Transcripts
Research proposal (if research application)
Academic ability, commitment, enthusiasm, dedication!

17. Application Check deadline dates, best to apply by February/March
There may be deadlines for accommodation or scholarships
If research, contact the appropriate academic first
Online application form
Supporting statement
Research proposal (research degrees only)
Academic references, normally two
English test (TOEFL/IELTS/Cambridge)
Translated and verified transcripts (summary of marks)
A ‘conditional’ offer will be made subject to degree result, when the
conditions are met, you will get an unconditional offer (formal
acceptance).

18. Fees, living costs and funding
Universities set their fees
Can range from £4,500 to £20,000
Living costs are likely to vary
Financial support for research students includes:
University awards
Research Council funding (open to EU students, fees only)
Sponsored studentships
Charities / foundations
Financial support for taught postgraduate students more difficult
Check websites for extra information

19. Possible fees and monthly living costs
Fees at Kent for UK and EU students (2013/14):
£3,900 – Research courses
£4,950 – Taught courses
Kent’s Brussels centre:
€16,500 (full-time)
€8,250 (part-time)
standard fee in the UK (some courses will vary)

20. Weekly living costs Weekly estimated costs From To
Accommodation (self catered)
- Woolf College (51 week contract, Canterbury campus)
£104.00
£154.00
- Hothe Court (51 week contract, Canterbury campus)
£98.00
£116.00
- Liberty Quays (39 week contract, Medway campus)
£125.50
Additional study costs
£43.00
£108.00
Food
£30.00
£60.00
Clothing and laundry
£15.00
£45.00
Socialising
£25.00
£65.00
Mobile phone
£5.00
Television licence (required by law)
£2.80
Unexpected costs
These are estimated costs and mirror the figures on the Kent student funding pages: They are primarily for undergraduate, but it can give an idea of general living costs.

21. Funding
Scholarships
Research council scholarships cover tuition fees (
Up to £13,290 University postgraduate research scholarships
Departmental research or teaching scholarships
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Sports scholarships (Kent: £250-£5000 p.a.)
Music scholarships (Kent: £350-£5000 p.a.)
Overseas fee paying scholarships (non-EU) (Kent: £5000)
Other funding options
Funding within your country - check with the British Council
Royal Belgian Benevolent Society (RBBS)
75% of students have a part-time job at some point – use the University Jobshop to find the latest vacancies

22. University of Kent, the UK’s European University
South East England
Closest UK university to mainland Europe
Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens
Excellent train/Eurostar links:
60 mins from London
60 mins from Lille
90 mins from Brussels
110 mins from Paris
Nearest airport : Gatwick

23. University top selling points
World-leading research
Strong academic community
Graduate School
External lectures
Global outlook
Strong focus on internationalisation
Partnerships with prestigious European universities

24. The Canterbury campus…

25. Summary of useful websites
Education UK (British Council)
Prospects (lists postgraduate courses)
Department for Children, Families and Schools (DCSF) or
Research Assessment Exercise
The Times world rankings
The Times Good University Guide
National Student Survey
The Guardian University Guide

26. For further information contact:
Questions?
For further information contact:
Recruitment and Admissions Office
The Registry, University of Kent
Canterbury
Kent CT2 7NZ E: T: