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Postgraduate Study in Humanities and Social Sciences

Postgraduate Study in Humanities and Social Sciences. University of Kent at Canterbury Careers Advisory Service. The slides from this talk are at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm. This talk will cover …. Types of postgraduate study Questions to ask Choosing where to study How to apply

archibald-richter
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Postgraduate Study in Humanities and Social Sciences

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  1. Postgraduate Studyin Humanities and Social Sciences University of Kent at Canterbury Careers Advisory Service The slides from this talk are at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

  2. This talk will cover … • Types of postgraduate study • Questions to ask • Choosing where to study • How to apply • Funding issues

  3. TYPES OF POSTGRADUATE STUDY • Research degrees • Taught Masters degrees • Postgraduate diplomas and certificates • Professional training

  4. POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREES • M.Phil or PhD • Length: from one year for Masters to at least three for PhD • Work independently to prepare a thesis • Your supervisor will advise and guide - who you choose is very important • Original research expected

  5. TAUGHT MASTERS DEGREES • Higher degrees by taught course & dissertation • MA, MSc, LLM, etc • Usually academic, but may be vocational ... • ... eg MA in Human Resource Management or Librarianship • Length: one calendar year (September - September) • Seminars, coursework and exams over the academic year • Followed by a dissertation prepared over the summer

  6. POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMAS & CERTIFICATES Normally vocational, such as: • PGCE (teaching) • GDL/CPE (law conversion course) • Length: up to one calendar year • Seminars, coursework and exams • You may have the option to "upgrade" to a Masters by producing a dissertation

  7. PROFESSIONAL ON-THE-JOB TRAINING • Professional qualifications essential or useful to employers • ACA (chartered accountancy) • ACIB (banking) • Normally taken while working full-time and studying part-time • May be day release, block release or evening study • Employers will often pay your fees and give time off for study and exams

  8. QUESTIONS TO ASK • Why do you want to do a postgraduate degree? • Do you know what you want to do after it? • Are you good enough? • What type of postgraduate study is most appropriate for you? • Where will you study? • How will you fund your study?

  9. WHY DO A POSTGRADUATE DEGREE? • For interest in the subject? • As a career move? • To add something extra to your CV? • Because your tutor has recommended it? • To keep on being a student? • To put off making a career decision? • To avoid unemployment?

  10. ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH? • You do not have to have a First to get into postgraduate study or research … • … but it does help when it comes to getting funding ….. • … even though funding cannot be guaranteed, however good your degree • A “good” 2.1 is usually expected

  11. WHERE WILL YOU STUDY? • Continue at Kent? • Study elsewhere in the UK? • Study abroad?

  12. CHOOSING WHERE TO STUDY • Use league tables and research assessments - but with caution! • Ask your tutors • Visit other universities and talk to current postgraduates • Useful websites linked from www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#Info

  13. HOW TO APPLY • No UCAS equivalent for postgraduate academic study • Each university will have its own application form • Academic reference is important • No overall closing date, but you may need to apply early - in the first term of your final year • Early application especially important to be eligible for funding www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#How2apply

  14. APPLICATION FORMS Usually quite straightforward! • Personal details • Programme of study • Personal statement • Research proposal (for research degrees) You may also be asked to enclose a CV

  15. PERSONAL STATEMENTS • Why this programme of study? • Why this university? • Relevant undergraduate studies • Other relevant experience • Skills • Career aims/future plans www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#AppsInts

  16. RESEARCH PROPOSALS • Outline your proposed area of research • Why is it relevant/worthwhile? • What previous research has been carried out on this topic (if any)? What can you add to this? • How will you approach the research? What methods will you use? Consult with academic staff in your area of study

  17. WHAT DO SELECTORS LOOK FOR? Apart from your current degree, they will look at: • Your motivation. Why this course? this university? • Your skills: critical analysis, time management, written communication • Your referee’s report

  18. FUNDING!or, Where Will the Money Come From? "The types and sources of funding for postgraduate study are many and varied. They are, however, rarely sufficient, either in number or in the level of support awarded" FUNDING CAN BE DIFFICULT ...

  19. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? • Postgraduate fees are set by universities, not the Government • Currently: • postgraduate fees start at approx. £3500 a year for UK/EU students on full-time academic courses • But can be more - £25,000+ for some MBA courses • International student fees start at around £10,000

  20. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? • The Browne review’s recommendations on university fees and funding did not include any changes to PG funding … • If undergraduate fees rise to £6-9000, will postgraduate fees rise correspondingly? • Many PG fees are already higher than UG fees • As well as fees, you need to consider the costs of maintenance and study expenses - travel to libraries or to carry out interviews, cost of producing thesis, etc

  21. WHERE THE MONEY WILL NOT COME FROM • Your local education authority • The Student Loans Company • Funding will not come from anywhere automatically (PGCE courses are an exception to all the above)

  22. WHERE THE MONEY MIGHT COME FROM • Research Council Studentship • University Studentship • Loan • Savings • Earnings • Charity • Sponsorship

  23. THE RESEARCH COUNCILS(and similar bodies) • Arts & Humanities Research Council www.ahrc.ac.uk • Economic & Social Research Council www.esrc.ac.uk These fund students resident in England & Wales (there are separate funding bodies for students from Scotland and Northern Ireland) Awards pay fees + maintenance (£8500 - £15000 approx.) Students resident in other EU countries may receive a fees-only award

  24. Funding applications and deadlines For both AHRC and ESRC: • Awards are made to universities, not individuals • Universities submit applications on students’ behalf: you apply to the universityand they apply to the appropriate Research Council • Nominations for awards are submitted between February and May • Need to apply to universities by the end of January

  25. UNIVERSITY STUDENTSHIPS • Aimed at encouraging research – not usually available for taught courses • Sums vary but often similar level to Research Council studentships • May include a requirement to teach part-time • Eligibility varies • Check with the universities you are applying to • www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/index.html

  26. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING Earnings • Undergraduate teaching - sometimes a requirement of university studentships • Research Assistant - posts are relatively rare and do not occur regularly • Other jobs, unrelated to your studies, full or part-time (Over half of postgraduates are part-time students)

  27. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING Charities • Can rarely fund all your postgraduate expenses • Many do not make grants directly to individuals • Use resources such as “The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts” (Templeman Library- per LB 2338.D4), “Funderfinder” and “Student Money” • The Educational Grants Advisory Service can help shortcut the search process Links from www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#Funding

  28. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING Loans • Professional & Career Development Loans www.direct.gov.uk/pcdl • Bank loans Sponsorship • not common, and only likely if your degree can be shown to be relevant to an employer sponsor

  29. STUDY ABROAD • Why study abroad? • To study at a world-renowned university? • To specialise in a particular area? • To improve your language skills? • To prepare for an international career? • For financial reasons? www.prospects.ac.uk/studying_abroad.htm

  30. ENGLAND $5,234 (£3,300) USA Up to $50,000 CANADA $3,693 AUSTRIA $821 BELGIUM $586 DENMARK FREE FINLAND FREE FRANCE $241 GERMANY $0 - $1,660 GREECE FREE SPAIN $1,275 SWEDEN FREE FINANCIAL REASONS! Figures from Reuters, December 2010:http://reut.rs/eZzaAR and from www.studyineurope.eu/

  31. FINDING OUT MORE Directories and websites such as: • Prospects Postgrad www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PGstudy • www.postgrad.com • Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/education/postgraduates • Find a Masters www.findamasters.com • Careers Advisory Service website www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm

  32. TO CONCLUDE …. • Start planning early! • Think about your answers to those questions • Think about the funding possibilities • Seek advice from current postgraduates, academics and careers advisers

  33. THE END …. • …. of this presentation • the beginning of your postgraduate career? • If so, “more research is needed” The Careers Advisory Service At the end of Keynes driveway Open 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, Monday - Friday www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

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