As the academic year begins again, many final-year students will begin to look into the options for their next steps. Some may be going to work, but many will be considering a Master’s degree. Whether you’ve been considering a master’s degree already or whether it’s a new idea, there’s a lot you probably don’t know about the application and the teaching and how it compares to undergraduate degrees. When applying for my own Master’s, I had to find out so much by myself, so here is everything I know about doing a master’s degree in England.
Application
The process of applying for a master’s degree is different from applying for an undergraduate degree. Rather than applying through an external system like UCAS, you instead apply directly to the university through their application portal. Because of this, there often isn’t a set deadline for when you need to apply for the course, but it’s recommended that you apply as soon as possible in case places fill up. When applying, you’re likely to be asked to write a personal statement describing why you want to study the course, similar to the one that you may have had to write for your undergraduate course. They might ask for your CV and references. If you haven’t gotten your degree classification yet, it’s best to also upload a transcript of your grades so they know if you’re on track to get the required grade for the course (often a 2:1).
Course Fees
Unlike at the undergraduate level, master’s degree fees are not capped, meaning the university can charge as much as they see fit. As a general rule, STEM degrees are more expensive than arts and humanities degrees, as they are usually lab-based and require more specialist equipment. A particularly expensive degree to get is a Master of Business Administration (MBA)—the MBA at London Business School is £115,000! You will also need to pay the course fees directly to the university rather than the government paying it.
Loan
The biggest surprise about Master’s degrees is how different the loans are. With an undergraduate loan, you get two loans: a tuition loan paid directly to the university and a maintenance loan based on your household income. With a master’s, you only get one loan to cover tuition and maintenance. Everyone gets the same regardless of income. The loan amount usually increases each year—the 2024/25 loan is £12,471 and the 2023/24 loan was £12,167. If you are eligible for DSA you can apply for this too. The loan applications usually open in May/June, later than the undergraduate loans. The deadline for applying varies based on when you start your course. You need to apply within nine months of the first day of the last academic year of your course. I found working this out quite confusing, but there is more information on the government website.
Studying
As a master’s degree is more selective with applicants than an undergraduate degree, the course and class sizes are generally a lot smaller. Whilst this may seem intimidating at first, it can be helpful as the lecturers can support each student’s specific needs more easily. You’ll have fewer contact hours and classes than on your undergraduate degree, and a lot more independent work to do, which will be in-depth in your chosen subject. The grading of a master’s degree is also different. The pass mark is raised from 40% to 50%, as the courses are more difficult. The classification of the degree is also different with the levels of Fail, Pass, Merit, and Distinction rather than Fail, Third, 2:2, 2:1, and First.
If you think a master’s degree would be right for you, don’t let yourself be scared off by how different it can be from an undergraduate degree. Use this information to guide you in your decision-making process and try to view the next steps as a new adventure!
Words by Phoebe Leonard