Just like choosing an undergraduate degree, there is a vast amount of choice when going into postgraduate study. If you want to be successful at a higher academic level then it is important to research courses properly and choose the right one for you. There is no official ratings system for individual courses in the UK so you will have to make some informed insights into how courses compare at different institutions.
Quality of institutionThe
Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) reviews the work of higher education institutions and publishes reports based on its findings. Both academic standards and quality of learning opportunities are rated. Although not all subjects at an institution are covered by the individual reports, they do give a good indication of whether an institution is respected. Go to
www.qaa.ac.uk to access the reports online.
The
Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) which has been running for more than a decade. Although it does not look at courses, it does assess the research quality and output from individual departments and academics. This gives an impression of how well the work of an institution is respected and an insight into whether its qualifications will be valued by potential employers. When the last RAE was done in 2002, ratings were given on a rising scale from ‘1’ to ‘5*’. A department awarded ‘5*’ would be of international significance with the best research in its field. The grading system is being reviewed for the next assessment, possibly next year. Visit
www.hero.ac.uk/rae for more information.
Another good way of rating institutions is to log onto its website. They will normally be split into departments, giving you the opportunity to read some background into past research awards and recognition. You should also be able to find out if they have any renowned tutors, professors or visiting lecturers who may be taking part in your field of study during your time there. This can place one course above another from a personal perspective.
You could also check work-related journals as they often list courses which are best for their professions. For example, the Financial Times lists top European Business Courses – very useful for rating which is best for you!
The courseYou may have found the perfect institution in terms of ratings and staff, but is the course the right one for you? Plenty of undergraduates sign up to a course because of a great campus, facilities or persuasive talk from tutors but then find the course itself uninteresting or not directly related to their next step. When looking at postgraduate courses, you need to be sure it is the right one for you due if you are going to put in all the extra work. Look at the units, consider the workload and research the different tutors. Also consider how easy it is to adopt units from other courses as often this can add some variety. While the institution should have the functional basics and strong reputation, the course you choose should ignite some excitement in your academic abilities. If it sounds like a bore, it probably will be!
LocationWhen considering where you would like to continue your studies, many of the same issues as at undergraduate apply. Cost is a major factor: living in a city may be desirable to you, but is more likely to be one of the most expensive options – especially if it is London or the South and South East. Bear in mind that you are not supposed to be choosing a place to study based on an having an active social life, although that is a key point to consider. However, you will also need to think about how close you will be to specialist research facilities that might help your studies, and whether living on campus with other students is a possibility or if you would prefer to be off campus in private accommodation. While being on campus might be cheap and close to university it may also mean living with hyperactive undergraduates; going private gives more freedom, but could be a long way from your institution and expensive.