Australians - Study in Europe

 
 

 
 

This website is dedicated to making it easier for Australians to embark on postgraduate study in Europe.

As well as providing a host of links to relevant websites in Europe and Australia ASiE also undertakes research and consultation with the EU Commission, European governments and a great number of universities and foundations. The aim is to produce and update as much as possible all information concerning grants and scholarships available to Australian students seeking to pursue doctoral studies in Europe.

 
 

Types of Post-Graduate Degrees in the UK

Like the Australian system the British universities offer postgraduates both Master’s and Doctoral degrees as well as diplomas and certificates. On this site we have confined ourselves only to the more substantial Masters and Doctoral degrees.
Master’s Degrees - Typically Master’s degrees require 1 year of full time study or 2 years part time. The courses may be studied via coursework or in some cases, usually called an M Phil (Master of Philosophy) by research thesis. Typical Masters’ degrees include Arts, Science, Law, and Business Administration.

Doctorates (PhDs) – as in Australia, are usually offered as research only degrees, requiring a substantial research output under one or more academic supervisors over three years. However from 2001 an alternative to this traditional method was introduced and is offered in some areas at some universities. These new doctoral degrees are structured more along North American lines and combine a specific research project with a coherent program of course work in the chosen subject area.

The specific types of degree on offer and the requirements for entry are best consulted in detail on the individual university websites since each institution controls its own postgraduate intake. Where possible our list of links to UK universities includes the pages relevant to this. In general a proven proficiency in English and a good graduate qualification pertinent the area you wish to study will be the basic requirement.

Seeking Admission
There is no central entry point for those wishing to pursue postgraduate study in the UK. Each institution has its own system of admission and while requirements are similar it is the rules of the particular institution you wish to study at that will be your guide. Many of the universities are well geared to the needs of new students, including those from overseas, and their web pages are normally very clear. When problems remain contact the enrolment people whose email addresses are invariably given on the websites.

 

Degree deposit required for all hats, any lost hats results in lost degreesResearching the Possibilities


Most universities have international student pages and supply postgraduate prospectuses. In addition it is worth browsing pages relating to areas of study, departments or schools, and in the case of many institutions research clusters, institutes or centres. These will often provide you with both a research profile for the university and also the number and identity of academics in the area. The research pages of the university are also worth perusing.  They can supply information about where resources are being committed and also the research output of the academics based there. Information about graduate career paths may also be factor in your deliberations over a course or institution.


When considering taught courses you may wish to factor in the resources available, the quality and number of teaching staff, the reputation of the institution both generally and in terms of the speciality you are interested in, and the variety and pertinence of subjects within the degree.
In general terms, whether you are considering a research or taught degree, you may wish to consider some other factors alongside purely academic ones. 1 to 3 years is a long time to be away from home and living as a student. In terms of balance therefore issue such as housing availability, perhaps family friendliness, or range of cultural and social activities may also come into your assessment. London for example is notorious for difficulties in housing but it offers an incredible range of resources and cultural and social choices. Regional city universities may offer a compromise. Others may prefer smaller rural universities in what are effectively university towns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
This website is an initiative of the Contemporary Europe Research Centre (CERC) at the University of Melbourne and has received funding and support from the Australian Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, The Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand and The National Europe Centre at the Australian National University.
 
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