The British are also famous for their dark humor and polite euphemism. The influence of the former colonial power on world affairs and cultural developments is still clearly perceptible today. These peculiarities of the culture of British life are also visible in the world-famous British study system. One of the most common reasons why many international students decide to study a master’s degree in Great Britain is the short duration of the studies, just one year.
Studying a master’s degree in Britain also leaves time for breaks. British universities attract students with green spaces and parks.
Graduates of a bachelor’s program at a Fachhochschule (This is the name given to the University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, among other European countries, a university specialized in certain areas, technology, business, etc.) or accredited German university basically meet the requirements for postgraduate studies at a British university. Since the Bologna reform, it is also possible to change countries without any restrictions.
Reasons to study a Master’s degree in Great Britain
A master’s degree in Great Britain is also attractive due to the partially reduced duration of the studies, from only one year, at most two. At the same time, there is a differentiated range of high-quality master’s programs in Britain that have been proven over many years.
Another argument in favor of a master’s degree in Great Britain is that many English universities occupy very good positions in international rankings. For this reason, a master’s degree in Great Britain looks good on any CV, especially because of the linguistic knowledge and intercultural skills that are acquired during studies.
A master’s degree in Great Britain is also interesting for students who, after completing their bachelor’s degree, wish to deepen their knowledge and interests in a secondary or elective subject of the bachelor’s degree or to extend their bachelor’s studies with a master’s degree in another subject area.
Master’s programs in Great Britain
In Great Britain there are specialized master’s programs in addition to the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Education (MEd) programs. These are specifically tailored to fields of study such as psychology, law, engineering or health, such as the Master of Laws (LLM) or the Master of Public Health (MPH).
Practical relevance or research?
Depending on the type of master’s program, students choose a course-based or research-based master’s program. A course-based master’s degree, the Master of Coursework, means taking courses and completing small written assignments, as you would in a bachelor’s degree program.
In contrast, the Master by Research focuses on carrying out largely independent research work. Therefore, this latest master’s program is highly recommended for all students who wish to pursue an academic career after graduation.
Combined study programs
However, many master’s programs combine seminars and lectures with independent research. In some postgraduate programmes, for example, a master’s degree is a combination of a postgraduate certificate or diploma, a research module and a written thesis.
Creative study programs
Also worth mentioning are the artistic degree programs in music, fashion, design, art and film, which are mainly offered in London. Most of them are very practical and focus on developing your own artistic project, such as a film script. Some of these master’s programs are characterized by having relatively short face-to-face phases, and sometimes it is even possible to complete part of the course online.
Recognition of a Master’s degree in Great Britain
Recognition of a master’s degree obtained in Great Britain is usually possible without problems after graduation thanks to the Bologna Agreement. However, for admission to the program, the equivalence of the foreign university degree must be verified before starting studies abroad.
Information for doctoral students
Formal admission requirements for doctoral studies include successful completion of a Master’s degree in Great Britain or an equivalent qualification. For a doctorate, it is generally not decisive whether a master’s degree has been obtained in one or two years or whether a certain number of ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) has been achieved.
What do I need to do a master’s degree in Great Britain?
The prerequisite for obtaining a master’s degree in Great Britain is, in any case, having completed a bachelor’s degree or a comparable degree, such as the Diplom. In addition, artistic courses usually require a portfolio or professional experience.
Sufficient knowledge of English must be demonstrated through a standardized language test, for example IELTS or TOEFL.
Costs and financing of a master’s degree in Great Britain
The cost of a master’s program in Great Britain ranges from approximately £3,500 to £20,000 (equivalent to between €4,000 and €23,000). Living costs can be estimated at around 1,000 euros per month.
British University Scholarships; British universities themselves grant scholarships (scholarships or funding) to international students in the field of master’s degrees.
Visa and work permit
All international students wishing to study in Great Britain must obtain a Tier 4 (General) student visa. If you are going to do a master’s degree in Great Britain, you can apply for a visa up to three months before the start date of the course.
With a Tier 4 (general) visa, which is granted to university students in Great Britain, you can work, although there is often a limit on the number of hours per week you can work during term time. During vacations, full-time work is allowed.
