Postgraduate taught degrees - international students
Entry requirements
For detailed information about entry requirements at individual universities follow the links (right).
Some programmes build on knowledge gained at undergraduate level and therefore require a degree in a specific subject while others provide the opportunity to develop a new interest. In the majority of cases you are likely to be asked to achieve a good undergraduate degree (normally defined as the equivalent of a UK upper second class degree or above).
Russell Group universities are happy to advise on appropriate entry routes, in the light of your educational history and qualifications. In some cases, country-specific advice is available on university websites.
Financial support
Securing financial support for postgraduate study can be challenging but the reputation of Russell Group universities places students in a strong position, when seeking funding. Students finance their studies in a variety of different ways, sometimes combining support from different sources to build their own funding package. The principal funding options are:
• Scholarships/awards from external organisations, both in the UK and in students’ own countries of origin.
• Scholarships funded by individual universities.
• Bank loans and career development loans.
• Private funding
Around 50% of non-UK students are self-financing.
The following websites may be useful:
Chevening Scholarships
Marshall Scholarships
Department for International Development
Education UK
English Language
In order to benefit from the demanding programmes offered by Russell Group universities, it is important that you have a good grasp of the English language before taking up your place. In addition to satisfying academic entry requirements, universities will ask you to provide evidence of this, usually by achieving a specified level in an approved English language test, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
The tests approved and scores required will vary from university to university and from programme to programme, depending on the linguistic demands of the programme, the intensity of the timetable (and therefore the extent to which you will be able to fit in additional English tuition alongside your academic work) and the nature of the English language support which the university is able to offer.
Finding out more
There is no one definitive source of information on postgraduate study opportunities. However, the following websites may be a helpful starting point:
Education UK
Find a PhD
Hotcourses
Prospects
Studylink
Postgraduate Studentships UK