Make sure to check the specific entry requirements for your chosen route of study. This may be a combination of academic qualifications and professional experience. There may also be medical and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks undertaken.
Contact the admissions tutor or your prospective research supervisor to find out more about either the course content or your potential research project. Prepare a list of relevant questions to gain the information you require. You could also contact the Careers Advisory Service at the relevant institution to find what past students on your chosen course have gone on to do.
If you're an OU student you can request a careers consultation to talk about your future plans.
Here are some additional sources of information to assist your research into further study options:
- Association of Commonwealth Universities
Contains a database of higher education institutions across the Commonwealth.
- Find a Masters
A database of taught and research masters in the UK.
- Find a PhD
A guide to postgraduate research and PhD studentships in the UK and Europe.
- Fullbright Commission
Scholarship awards and advice for UK citizens to study, lecture or research in the USA. Official source of information on applying to American universities from the UK.
- UCAS teacher training
Web-based tools to help you apply for postgraduate teacher-training courses.
- jobs.ac.uk
Jobs in science, research, academic and administrative employment in the UK and abroad.
- jobs.ac.uk PhD portal
to help you find PhD programmes, studentships and professional doctorates.
- A practical guide to planning an academic or research career
an ebook to help you decide whether doing a Masters and then a PhD followed by an academic career is for you
- PhD application tips and advice
an ebook to help those applying for postgraduate courses, with particular advice for those wanting to pursue an academic career.
- NHS Bursaries Services Authority
Administers bursaries for healthcare and social work students on behalf of the Department of Health.
- Gradireland
Provides careers advice and information on postgraduate courses in Ireland.
- Total Professions
A database of more than 270 UK professional associations, with information and guidance on a range of sectors. Includes information about the variety of routes to specific professions.
- Prospects
UK’s official graduate careers website, with a comprehensive section on postgraduate study.
- Disability Rights UK
Provides information on postgraduate education for disabled students.
- Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Manages applications to full time UK undergraduate higher education courses.
- Postgraduate Studentships
A dedicated website that brings together all of the different types of funding opportunities open to potential postgraduates at both taught and research level in one place.
To find about vocational qualifications in the UK linked to your area of work try
