1. Thinking of a Masters? What you need to know – and think about
Jane Penrose,
Director, Think Postgrad
The home of: PostgraduateStudentships.co.uk
MastersCompare.co.uk
MyPostgradApps.com

2. What you need to know – and think about
What can you expect?
Fees, finance and loans
Factors to consider when choosing your course
Information sources
A buyer’s market?

3. Masters Courses – what can you expect?
Intensive – check course lengths and start dates
Full-time, part-time, distance
Higher standard – hard work!
More independent learning
Support – but maybe not as much as at UG?
Postgraduate societies esp subject based
Career advantage? More money?
A buyer’s market?

4. Masters courses – fees, finance and loans
Fees from £5-6K upwards – more variation; sometimes payable in instalments through the year of study
Paid up front – BUT there are now loans for English students of £10K – repayment AT SAME TIME as ug loan
Masters course loans but not for PG Certs or Dips or Grad Dips; not for PhDs
Univs may still provide scholarships or bursaries of different sizes
MastersCompare £5K masters bursary
A buyer’s market?

5. Choosing your Postgraduate Course
Where?
Why?
When?
How?
How much?
What?
= Which course
A buyer’s market?

6. Where?
First, not last
Be practical – what are your circumstances, now and in the future?
To move or not to move?
Accommodation (is there any for PGs?) and the cost of living where you are thinking of.
A buyer’s market?

7. Why? To put off work/having to choose a career
To differentiate yourself
To upgrade your degree
Specialist knowledge
Career advancement
Conversion courses
‘Love of subject’
What do you want to get out of it?
A buyer’s market?

8. When? Not always straight after graduation
Fitting it in with the rest of your life
Loan scheme – here to stay
A buyer’s market?

9. How? Study Modes Your preferences or what the course offers?
What will make you succeed?
Is distance learning right for you?
A buyer’s market?

10. How much? How big a factor is this for you? Cost or investment?
Don’t let it get more important than ‘what’ or ‘where’
University and other funding sources
Remember cost of living
Loan scheme – taking on (more?) debt
A buyer’s market?

11. What? Research or taught masters
Does it do what you want it to eg for career
Assessment issues
Content – check modules
University/course reputation
Your contact with the University
A buyer’s market?

12. Choosing between opportunities
Creating a shortlist – how many to add?
Which is the ‘best’ course?
Comparing courses – decide which factors to compare
A buyer’s market?

13. = What?
What will suit you, in your life and career, where you are now (or then), to get where you want to be, how you want to get there.
A buyer’s market?

14. Information Sources
Portal websites to see what’s out there and evaluate (and compare!) your options
Careers Services
University websites and publications for greater detail
Open Days – go if you can
Always contact the University….
A buyer’s market?