Postgraduate research courses

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Getting started

There are different types of further study. These include:

  • Masters degrees, which exist in the full range of academic subjects
  • Vocational or professional diplomas/masters degrees, for example in teaching, law and nursing
  • Research degrees such as PhDs

If you really enjoy studying your subject, postgraduate study or research will allow you to deepen your knowledge and specialise in certain aspects of it. Meanwhile, gaining a postgraduate qualification may help you get into the career you have in mind, although this is not automatically the case.

For example, in some careers having a masters or PhD may be required or desirable, while some employers may relax their entry requirements for masters students. However, in many cases, a postgraduate qualification does not automatically give you an advantage over an undergraduate degree in the job market, or necessarily lead to a higher starting salary.

Before applying for further study, make sure to research the possible routes into the careers that interest you, so that you understand how postgraduate study might fit in with your career plans as well as how you can fund your studies.

Higher degrees by research

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy, usually shortened to PhD (or DPhil at some universities) is awarded primarily on the basis of a thesis, which is the product of an original research project.

To help find and apply for a PhD:

  • Search databases which list PhD opportunities
  • Contact your prospective supervisor(s) before applying to find out as much as you can about their project outline or, if you are submitting a research proposal, their specific areas of expertise. This discussion will also allow you to explore practical issues with them, such as whether they can offer you the time and support you will require a research student

Careers after a PhD

A PhD is often viewed as an apprenticeship for aspiring academics, but can also be a basis for employment in research, either in industry, government or the voluntary sector.

If you choose to do a PhD as the basis for an academic career, be realistic - each year, roughly half of those who obtain a PhD in the UK move into a research or teaching post in a higher education institution, but this is often on a fixed-term basis of one to three years.

Some estimates suggest that only about ten percent will eventually obtain a permanent academic position, although the actual number varies across different disciplines.

Key tasks

Find courses via databases such as:

Contact the institutions you are interested in to find out more about the course:

You may also want to ask about the careers that graduates from the course go on to do. If you are a disabled or dyslexic student, it’s a good idea to discuss your needs with the university you plan to apply to prior to making an application.

Find a PhD

Search for PhD opportunities at Sheffield and be part of our world-leading research.

Find a project or supervisor