Our postgraduate courses are split into those that are taught and those that are research based. The length of study varies greatly, from 36 weeks up to four years.
Research programmes
Taught programmes
Study abroad programmes
Research programmes
We offer a variety of research programmes from master of research degrees to doctoral work, the most advanced form of postgraduate study.
As a Nottingham postgraduate research student you will:
- have close contact with academic staff
- receive personal research supervision
- work with either one or two academics, or as part of a research team
Research training is provided to support your work and to help you gain:
- generic skills in research methodology
- skills specific to your research area
- a greater understanding of your subject as a whole
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Duration — three years (guide only)
A PhD is awarded on the successful completion of a programme of supervised research. It is assessed via a final thesis and a viva voce, an oral examination.
Doctor of Medicine (DM)
The Doctor of Medicine is a research-based postgraduate degree for fully qualified medical doctors. It is similar to a PhD, but often contains a component of clinical research and can sometimes be completed more quickly.
The New Route PhD programme
Duration — four years (guide only)
The New Route, or Integrated, PhD is an integrated postgraduate programme of research, taught modules and professional skills training designed to meet the needs of students who will be working at a middle or senior level in the public or private sector. It offers specific training in employment-related skills, such as management skills, as well as providing the opportunity to carry out research. Students undertake formal coursework before a thesis is produced from original research.
Professional Doctorate (PD)
Duration: two — three years (guide only)
Professional Doctorates (PD) are doctoral level qualifications, equivalent to traditional PhDs. They are rigorous, part-time programmes of advanced, applied study and research, specifically designed to meet the needs of practising professionals. They provide a framework for the integration of professional expertise and scholarly inquiry to explore specific areas of interest.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Duration — two years (guide only)
The MPhil requires research skills and training similar to a PhD but its scope and complexity is less than that required for a doctorate.
You can apply to upgrade to a PhD after one year of study (or two years for part-time postgraduate students). The MPhil is assessed by the submission of a thesis.
Master of Research (MRes)
Duration — one year (guide only)
The MRes offers general research training and skills for those intending to pursue a career that requires an understanding of research and is the perfect stepping stone to a PhD programme. In essence, it gives you the opportunity to experience research within one year, and comprises:
- taught research training modules
- taught subject-specific modules
- a research project
Taught programmes
Nottingham’s range of Masters courses continually expands and develops in response to changes in society and the need to integrate the latest research findings. Our postgraduate taught courses are also developed in response to the views of employers to maximise the employment potential of our graduates.
As a masters student at Nottingham you will be exposed to the latest academic thinking and will have the opportunity to work with tutors who are leaders in their field. Masters courses can provide anything from vocational training to preparation for further research.
You will usually work in small groups and learning may take the form of:
- essays
- individual or group project work
- a research dissertation, for which you will have close contact with the academics involved
- industrial or business placements
- problem-based learning
- lectures
- tutorials or discussion groups
Masters degrees
Duration — one year (guide only)
Masters degrees are intensive taught courses culminating with a dissertation or project.
Masters programmes also include the:
Masters (by research) courses give you the opportunity to carry out research over one year of postgraduate study. Individual schools decide on the delivery of their programmes. For example, some contain a taught component and others focus purely on research. Contact your school of interest for more information.
Nottingham also offers other Masters programmes, including:
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Education (Med)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Master of Science (MSc)
Diplomas (PGDip) and Certificates (PGCert)
Duration — six-nine months (guide only)
Postgraduate diplomas and certificates are generally vocational programmes of study, but can be structured in a similar way to masters programmes. They are usually assessed by exams and coursework, and a dissertation is not required.
Distance learning
For students whose geographical location or commitments will not allow them to attend regular on-campus classes, a distance learning course may be an ideal solution.
The University currently offers web-based postgraduate courses in a range of areas, including:
- brewing sciences
- education
- English language education
- English studies
- ergonomics
- healthcare communication
- occupational health psychology
- tourism and travel management
Further details about our distance learning courses are available on the appropriate school webpages.
Study abroad programmes
Postgraduate Occasional Study Abroad programme
EU and international applicants
Masters or PhD level
Overview
Duration
Which subjects are included in the programme?
Entry requirements
English language requirements
Fees
Overview
Many European and international students already enrolled on a masters or doctoral programme in their home country wish to undertake short-term study in the UK, but are not looking for a qualification from a UK university.
We are delighted to invite these students to apply for postgraduate occasional study of up to 12 months.
Students undertake this opportunity as part of their studies and are usually able to:
- transfer the credits and grades received in Nottingham to their degree at home
- use their time with us to undertake areas of research that we specialise in
Duration
Up to one year full-time
Which subjects are included in the programme?
Students can apply for postgraduate occasional study across all disciplines offered at the University. However, some schools and departments may only be able to accept a limited number of applicants each year.
Students wishing to undertake doctoral level study must:
- identify a potential supervisor for their research as part of their application
- include a research proposal with their supporting documents
Entry requirements
Students would normally be expected to hold an honours degree at 2:1 level or above (or its international equivalent) from a recognised institution.
English language requirements
The minimum English language level for joining a postgraduate programme at The University of Nottingham is:
- IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5 in any element
- TOEFL PBT 550 with a minimum of 4.0 in the TWE
- TOEFL CBT 213 with a minimum of 4.0 in the academic essay rating
- IBT 76
Many schools and departments require a higher level than this to enter the Postgraduate Occasional Study Abroad programme.
You can check the required level for individual schools and departments by emailing us.
The University’s Centre for English Language Education (CELE) offers presessional English language courses to help students achieve the necessary English language entry requirements.
Fees
Taught modules - fees for Postgraduate Occasional Study Abroad students who wish to undertake up to 120 credits of modular study will be charged the appropriate programme fee for international and EU applicants.
Research - fees for Postgraduate Occasional Study Abroad students who wish to undertake a period of research towards their masters or PhD programme are:
Academic Year (arts-based subjects) 2009-10
International applicants £7,820
EU applicants Programme fee for EU students
Academic Year (science-based subjects) 2009-10
International applicants £10,345
EU applicants Programme fee for EU students
Applicants who wish to apply to study for less than a full academic year will be informed of the pro rata fee on application.
Further information about fees is available on our website.
For further information, please email studyabroad@nottingham.ac.uk
Disclaimer
The courses and research opportunities listed on this website are subject to change. While we will do all we can to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up-to-date, The University of Nottingham reserves the right to change the content, modules and titles of any courses and research opportunities listed here without prior warning.