Postgraduate Opportunities at Plymouth

The University of Plymouth is a vibrant and friendly university, with a strong record of excellence and innovation across our teaching, research and enterprise activities, and a well established reputation for high quality student support.

Consistently ranked one of the top modern universities in the UK*, Plymouth’s excellence in teaching has been recognised at the highest level, with government funding of around £20 million for four Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, more than any other single university. In addition, we have 11 prestigious National Teaching Fellowships (including one with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry).

The university’s staff include internationally respected researchers who regularly make global headlines with research findings in areas ranging from climate change to robotics.

We have links with 300 educational institutions worldwide, providing for both student and research exchanges.

*The Guardian and The Times higher education league tables, 2008

LOCATION
Unlike many other universities, our campus is based in the heart of the city, so you are never far from the action. The city centre, train station, Plymouth’s spectacular waterfront, The Hoe and historic Barbican area are all within walking distance of the campus. Our students are already benefiting from over £100 million of recent investment in facilities. The campus has been redesigned and modernised, to create improved study and leisure amenities including new open-access computing facility, new nursery facilities and extended library facilities with 24/7 access, research facilities for health and medicine students, and campus-wide wireless technology (by end 2008).

WHY STUDY AT POSTGRADUATE LEVEL?
After graduating with a postgraduate degree from the University of Plymouth, a number of different career opportunities will be open to you: the University has a higher-than-average employment rate for postgraduates, with 84% of full-time and 93% of part-time students employed within six months.

YOUR POSTGRADUATE STUDY
Postgraduate opportunities at the university take a number of forms which include taught masters of research, professional doctorates and research degrees including NewRoute PhDs. We offer a wide range of postgraduate programmes that encompass professional development, research training and specialist knowledge. Programmes can be undertaken full-time, some part-time and distance learning modes are also available.

TAUGHT DEGREES (MSc/MA/MRes)
Taught programmes lead to a masters degree qualification and are usually studied over one year, although part-time opportunities are available. They offer flexible opportunities for learning vocational skills, provide advanced learning in a subject area and can set the foundation for further research. A wide range of masters degree programmes are available, which reflect the diversity of disciplines and expertise of our academics.

RESEARCH DEGREES (MPhil/PhD)
Research degrees are designed to equip graduates with the skills and methods necessary to carry out further work within a research environment, or to move into a range of other professional careers in academia or business. They are characterised by the requirement to undertake a substantive research project together with a taught skills element. Many of those who achieve a masters degree progress to this level of study. This incorporates PhDs, three to four years full-time and MPhils, two to three years full-time, and NewRoute PhDs.

SUPPORT FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
The Graduate School operates across the entire university and has an executive role in assuring quality and due process for postgraduate research degrees. They can provide support, including opportunities for research students to develop professional skills through a free comprehensive programme of generic skills workshops and study days.

Masters Courses