Master in England

It is no secret that master's programs in the UK are one of the most sought after areas for students . Today we will tell not only about the admission process, requirements, tuition fees, but also about grants and scholarships.

Masters in the UK is a unique educational base. Students from all over the world are eager to come here to receive a diploma that can become the key to a successful career.

The master's program provides for a deeper, unlike undergraduate, development of the theory in the chosen specialty and, depending on the profile, the preparation of the student for research or professional activity.
Master's programs usually last one year. Individual programs sometimes take two years.

The uniqueness of the master's program in the UK is that it makes it possible to master a new specialty that is not related to the undergraduate program. The master's program involves the study of 15-20 subjects that are directly related to the direction of the diploma. Thus, for 1 year you get a fairly intensive program, which will save time and money. However, such a rapid rhythm of study may come as a surprise to foreign students and requires taking the Pre-Master's course, which is available at almost any university in England.

International students have the right to work while studying in the UK no more than 15 hours a week. The average hourly salary of students is 5-7 pounds. Any university in the UK has sufficient connections with companies that offer students a part-time job while studying.

Upon completion of studies at the Master's program, students are awarded a scientific degree depending on the chosen specialization:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education, PC CE (post-graduate certificate giving the right to teach);
• Diploma in Management Studies, DMS (diploma in management);
• Master of Arts, MA (master's degree in humanities);
• Master of Science, MSc (Master of Science);
• Master of Business Administration, MBA (Master of Business Administration);
• Master of Law, LLM (Master of Laws).

Entry Requirements

Depending on the university, admission requirements may vary. Of course, the higher the university in the ranking, the higher the competition is waiting for you.

So, the selection committee expects from you:

• certificate of knowledge of English - IELTS (note that TOEFL has not been accepted since 2014);
• GMAT or GRE certificate (usually for technical, financial and economic specialties);
• essay (answers to questions proposed in the application form);
• CV (CV);
• 2 letters of recommendation (academic references);
• Higher education diploma equivalent to English undergraduate (transcript).

Even more information about the requirements for applicants in the article "Master abroad, step by step . "

Preparation for admission

Preparation for admission must begin one year before the end of the bachelor's program (i.e., in the third year), so that after graduation immediately begin studies in the magistracy. In addition, preparation for tests takes a rather long time and it is advisable to plan this process correctly.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) - an exam to determine the level of English proficiency in people for whom it is not native. Depending on the candidate’s goals, there are two exam modules: General and Academic. They differ in assignments in the Reading and Writing sections. To enter the master's program, you will need to pass the Academic IELTS. The required score for admission to a master's program in England is from 6.5 and above. You can read more about the test format and preparation in our blog .

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is a standardized exam in English, which is one of the necessary conditions for admission to foreign postgraduate programs and courses (MSc, MBA, PhD, etc.). There are two types of exam: GRE General Test (general) and GRE Subject Test (specialized).

The GRE General Test is designed to evaluate critical thinking and analytical skills in general. If, for admission to the university, it is necessary to demonstrate knowledge of a certain subject, it is necessary to pass an exam in one of the following areas: biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, computer science, English-language literature, mathematics, physics and psychology. However, most often GRE General is required for admission.
Read more about the GRE test and its analogue, testGMAT can be found here .

You can prepare for the tests in courses, individually with a tutor and independently. The latter option is suitable only for those who have a high level of language and good self-discipline. In the other two, we recommend that you contact teachers with experience in passing and working with tests for at least 3-5 years.

All documents, including test results, are attached to the application form on the university’s website and submitted to the deadline.

Cost of education

The highest cost of studying for a master's program in England is at universities, with the highest position in the ranking of universities. As a rule, the cost of a master's program in English universities for programs whose study does not require laboratory equipment in universities that are below the 50th position in the rating does not exceed £ 11,000.

At Oxford Unisersity, tuition is £ 18,550, LSE is £ 24,456, Lancaster is £ 17,000. Do not forget about living expenses, this is still about 10,000 pounds.

Grants and scholarships

We have repeatedly talked about grants and scholarships for studying abroad, so we recall once again those that are suitable for paying for studies in England.

So, pay attention to the following programs:

• Chevening Scholarships - the British system of grants for the education of talented students with leadership qualities. Student support is sponsored by the British Government and provides an opportunity for free education and development in British universities. Everything is paid, from flight to accommodation and meals;

• Erasmus Mundus- A program that fully pays not only for tuition, but also for accommodation, meals and even flights. But you cannot choose a university on your own, it will be one of 10-12 universities in Europe, and not always prestigious and iconic, but it may be lucky to get to Oxford;

• Global Education - the Russian program for financing students who have independently entered foreign universities. The program already involves more than 200 universities in 27 countries. The program finances not only study, but also accommodation abroad.

We hope that our article was interesting and useful to you. Next time we will talk about graduate studies in Germany.

Translation by Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of MBA Consult