Making sense of

postgraduate study

Professor Neill Marshall

Dean of Postgraduate Studies

Humanities and Social Sciences

About usPostgraduate study in the Humanities and Social Sciences

• Ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world (World University Rankings 2014/15)

• Over 160 programmes across 9 academic schools

• Over 2,000 postgraduate taught and 500 postgraduate research students from over 80 countries

• Dedicated to excellence in teaching and research

• Committed to supporting our postgraduate students to reach their full potential

Types of taught degrees

Master of Art (MA) • 120 credits of taught modules and a 60 credit

dissertation or project • 12 months full time, 24 months part time• Titles vary depending on the award studied e.g.

Master of: Business Administration (MBA), Fine Art (MFA), Law (LLM), Science (MSc)

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) • 120 credits of taught modules, with no dissertation • 8 months full time, 16 months part timePostgraduate Certificate (PGCert)• 60 credits of taught modules with no dissertation • 4 months full time, 8 months part time

Types of research degrees

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) • Research and training leading to the completion

of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis• 12 months full time, 24 months part time • Titles and structure vary depending on the award

studied e.g. Master of: Literature (MLitt), Research (MRes), Music (MMus)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) • Supervised thesis of 80,000 – 100,000 words

showing originality and suitability for publication • Researcher training and skills development• 36 months full time, 72 months part time

Types of research degrees

Integrated Doctor of Philosophy (IPhD) • Combines taught modules and advanced training

in discipline specific and generic research skills with original research

• 36 months – 48 months full time

Professional Doctorate (e.g. Doctor of Education, EdD) • Combines original research with taught modules

and work placements. The focus is on work-based practice rather than research in an academic context

• 36 - 48 months full time, 72 -84 months part time

Teaching and assessmentTaught degrees • Contact hours and teaching and assessment methods

vary depending on the degree and modules you choose

• Lectures and small group seminars are common teaching methods

• Coursework and exams are common assessment methods

Research degrees• Expect to work a 40 hr week• Includes researcher development workshops• Examined by thesis and vivaFind out moreFull details available on the degree pages of the website: www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses

Flexibility and Choice

Postgraduate study that’s built around you • The majority of our taught degrees are highly

flexible, with a mixture of compulsory modules and numerous optional modules to choose from - tailor your studies to match your personal interests and career aspirations

• Study full or part time• Some degrees have September and January

intakes• Most programmes are studied on campus, with

some online or blended learning options available

Why choose postgraduate study?

David Levinson,

Careers Service

Why do you want to do it?!!

academic interests and aptitudes?

change of direction?

work-related experience?

necessary for chosen career?

improve your prospects?

The UK graduate job market…

Any degree v specific degree

Salaries for PG v UG

Graduate v non-graduate jobs

General outlook

Before choosing….

Think about what you want to achieve What do you want to learn? What skills do you want to develop? Be very clear about the course content Research graduate destinations and options

Destinations of HASS Masters graduates, 2012/13

Make sure your application grabs attention!

Successful applicants will have...

Thought carefully about their reasons for applying and provided evidence of suitability

Researched the options thoroughly Spoken to academic staff, postgraduate

students and possibly employers Checked that they met the entry requirements Read and followed the applicants notes Provided all the information requested

Funding Postgraduate StudyNovember 2014

• Funding Tips• Terminology• Living Expenses• Tuition Fees• Funding SourcesFunding for UK/EU studentsFunding for international students (non EU)Fee discounts at Newcastle University

• Funding - other

Topics

Funding tips• Very few postgraduate programmes have

mandatory funding• The Student Loans Company normally does not

fund postgraduate study • Portfolio funding• Offer of a place • Start your search for funding early • Check what funding is available and when:

– www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding– www.jobs.ac.uk– www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk– www.findaphd.com

Terminology • Scholarships• Studentships• Stipends• Bursaries• Awards

• Maintenance or living expenses (including accommodation) 2015-16 figures

– UK students £10,000 - £11,000 per year– EU/international students £10,500 - £11,500

per year

**These figures do not include tuition fees**

Living Expenses

Tuition Fees

• Fees for 2015 entry are available on the University’s online Prospectus:

www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses• The fees vary by course…but typical costs (per

year):• Taught programmes - £5,500 (UK); £12,680 (int)• Research programmes - £4,450 (UK); £11,950 (int)

• Additional course-related expenses, e.g. books, equipment, fieldwork, travel (speak to your prospective school/institute)

Making an Application for Funding

• Very varied• Qualifications/ publications• Work/research experience• Proposed research project/objectives on

completion of the degree• Why should you be considered for the

studentship/ scholarship?• How will you pay for any remaining

tuition fees/ living costs?

AHRC Funding (UK/EU)• Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership

(Newcastle, Durham, Queen’s University Belfast)• Approx. 50 studentships per year over next 5 years• Funding for doctoral-level programmes• Areas include: history, law, fine art, digital art, creative writing, music,

archaeology, classics, French studies, interpreting and translation, linguistics, German studies, film, drama and theatre studies, cultural and museum studies, English language and literature

• Stipend – approximately £13,800 (tbc)• Deadline – 26 January 2015• More information www.northernbridge.ac.uk

(updated end of November)

ESRC Funding (UK/EU)• 35 fully funded awards for 2015 entry

(Newcastle and Durham universities)Areas include: law, economic and social history, education, environmental planning, finance and economics, human geography, linguistics, Iberian and American studies, management and business studies, politics and international relations, psychology, social sciences and health, sociology

• Stipend – approx £13,800 (tbc) + £750 fieldwork, conferences

• 1+3; +3; +3.5• Deadline 16 February 2015• www.nedtc.ac.uk

Excellence Scholarships• UK/EU students• Excellence Scholarships for returning

students (graduates in 2014/15)• Taught programmes in HASS (Masters’ level

including MLitts)• £2,000 discount on tuition fees• 35 awards available• Deadline 1 June 2015• www.ncl.ac.uk/hss/postgrad/excellenceschol

arships.htm

Main sources of funding - International

Range of scholarship and bursary schemes for international students:

• University (partial funding)Newcastle University International Postgraduate Scholarships (NUIPS) £2,000Newcastle University Overseas Research Scholarship (NUORS) (£5,000 - £9,000)Country-specific scholarships (£2,000- £3,000)www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

• External (sometimes fully funded scholarships)www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

Tuition Fee Discounts - Newcastle

• Alumni Tuition Fee Discount (20%)Self-funded and partially-funded students

• International Family Discount (10%)Close relatives of international students

• Early Payment Discount (2%)Full payment by end of registration week

• Fee payment instalments- varies by university (Newcastle currently has two instalments - registration and then final payment in January )

• More information - www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/fees

Funding - Other

• Funding for students with children– www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/finance/funding/ukstudents/depe

ndants

• Funding for students with a disability– www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/disability-support

• PGCE Funding– www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/postgraduate-fundi

ng

• Professional and Career Development Loans– www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/finance/funding/ukstudents/postg

raduate/private

• Charities, foundations and trusts– www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/finance/funding/ukstudents/charityandtrust/postgra

duate

How do I find out more?

We’re here to help • Degree, module content and entry requirements:

www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses • Contact programme directors, potential research

supervisors or ask your personal tutor• Speak to current postgraduate students• Target postgraduate study and funding fair:

17 November, St. James’ Park 11am – 4pm • Postgraduate Open Day Wednesday 4 February 2015• Join Spring taster sessions• Ask us today, or leave your questions in the question

box outside