To satisfy one’s interest in a specific subject is one of the reasons why students take a master’s degree. For some, studying a master’s degree can do more. It may help you in your career advancement or mastery of your chosen field. It can also open doors for more employment opportunities as you gain higher skills or specialization in a certain area. That’s why prospective students are looking to pursue higher education at universities which are highly recognized and valued around the globe, to gain certain advantage. One popular choice is studying master’s degree in the UK.
Being one of the UK’s postgraduate programs, a master’s degree is a taught degree which involves lectures and exams, with an element of research through a dissertation. This program is usually offered by universities, but can also be found at colleges or specialist institutions.
Why study in the UK?
Aside from achieving a world renowned education, studying master’s degree in the UK can also enable you to cut on study expenses. Master’s programs in other countries usually take 2 years to finish. In the UK, the duration is normally shorter than other countries, which could only take 12 months to complete. The 12 months already include holiday periods and the academic period is usually 9 months. There are certain occasions where it could take 18 months, but very rare. Studying with shorter duration could mean less expense on tuition fees, accommodation, food, and other necessities.
UK universities also offer wide variety of courses at a master’s level. There are a lot of programs available in subjects such as agriculture, sciences, IT, engineering, history, law, tourism, and business. To ensure that only high quality services are provided by the UK universities and colleges, they are evaluated by the British Government’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in areas such as the teaching quality, learning resources and facilities, as well as the academic education.
You can also come in the UK with your family (spouse and children) as dependants and your spouse can work (as long as you’re studying in an institution recognized by the UK Border Agency as a higher education institution). You can verify with the university if they meet the standard.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements are needed to make sure you are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to finish the program. These may vary with the university. Mostly, it’s needed that you have taken a relevant undergraduate degree and have passed an English language test such as IELTS (if English is not the first language of students). The normal range for a passing score is 5.5 to 7.5 for IELTS.
How much
The tuition fee also varies per university. The amount can range from £5,000 to £40,000 per year. However, on average expect to pay £10,000 to £11,500. Please also note that tuition cost inclusions also differ as some universities may or may not include fees for study materials and other course fees. When planning for your study budget, do also consider expenses on accommodation, food, transportation, and other living expenses, as you have to make sure you have enough money to support yourself for the entire duration.
