MASTER’S DEGREE

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDETO APPLYING FOR A

Pursuing a postgraduate degree is a big decision, made harder by the fact that the process can often be more intimidating or confusing than when you applied for your undergraduate degree.

In this guidebook, we’ll cover everything you need to know

from the main benefits of studying for a master’s degree to

application advice and information about funding.

Your complete guide to applying for a Master’s degree

The basics 3

Full-time, part-time, or online? 6

Applying for a master’s degree 8

Financing your master’s: what are your options? 10

What’s next? 13

In this guide...

Your complete guide to applying for a master’s degree | 2

The basicsWhile undergraduate degrees often provide a basic level of education in a particular field, postgraduate study gives you the opportunity to specialise in a topic of your choice or maybe even change the focus of your studies entirely.

This increased specialist knowledge, along with soft skills you will continue to develop can make

postgraduates better qualified for certain job roles.

The career benefits of studying a postgraduate degree can’t be overstated.

To apply for a postgraduate degree, you will need to have obtained an undergraduate degree from

another recognised institution (this doesn’t always have to be in a relevant field).

You may also, depending on

the programme, need to:

� Take an entrance exam

� Demonstrate language

proficiency

� Have some professional

experience.

Your complete guide to applying for a master’s degree | 3

Want to study a master’s degree?

Here’s what to do now

Different master’s degrees offer

different qualifications, from MSc

to MA, Mphil to MEng - for example

MSc degrees have a scientific or

technical focus, while MA degrees are

more humanities-focused.

Research, research, research

Find schools and master’s degrees

which suit your career needs. Try the QS

Course Matching Tool, which features

US, UK and Australian universities.

For a wider search, consult the QS

World University Rankings or QS World

University Rankings by Subject.

This will help you work out which

course(s) offer the best preparation

for your ideal career.

Identify your career path

Check the qualifications

Choose your study destination

It’s not just a case of picking the right

course - make sure you’ll be based in a

town or city you’d love to live in. If you

need help, the QS Best Student Cities

ranking has lots of information about

the world’s top cities for students. Our

top 10 student city guide can give you a

better understanding of what to expect

when living in each of these cities.

Learn more about the university

Think you’ve narrowed your

options down to a few institutions?

Learn more about them by visiting

the university’s page.

Speak to people from the university

Judging if you’ll be a good fit for a

particular institution can be tricky based

on internet research alone. If you attend

a QS event, you can meet admissions

staff and get first-hand information

about what the university is really like.Start applying!

If you match all of the academic

requirements for your chosen

programme(s), then it’s time to start the

application process. You can apply to

multiple schools but don’t spread your

efforts too thinly; aim for four or five.

Full-time, part-time, or online?Master’s degrees are offered by schools in multiple ways. Full-time study replicates the undergraduate university experience, while part-time and online allow you to fit your studies around work or other commitments.

Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of each method.

Pros

� More immersive

� Stronger networking

opportunities

� Fewer distractions from

your studies

Cons

� Can’t work at same time - no

guaranteed job after graduation

� Most popular study option so places

are competitive

� Can be more expensive upfront

Full-

tim

e

Pros

� Allows you to combine studies

with work; classes are mainly

evenings or weekends

� Can put what you learn into

practice at work immediately

and progress your career

� Can be more affordable

Cons

� Fewer opportunities to network

with classmates

� Challenging to balance demands of

studies with full-time job and other

commitments

� Takes longer to complete

your degree

Par

t-ti

me

Pros

� Near-total flexibility about

when and where you study

� Course content is often identical

to on-campus programmes

� Opportunity to study using

cutting-edge technology

Cons

� Remoteness can make

engaging with students and

programme leaders difficult

� Requires significant levels

of self-motivation

� Quality of online programmes is less

consistent between universities

Onl

ine

Applying for a master’s degree

What you’ll need

Key datesAs well as checking application

deadlines, it’s also

worth keeping a track of the

following key dates:

� Funding/scholarship

application deadlines

� Admission interview dates

� Deadline for responding to your offer

� Deadline for paying your deposit

� Deadline for paying for your

accommodation

Below, we run through some of the key things

you may need to have ready when applying for

a master’s degree. The key thing, throughout

the application process, is to stay on top of

deadlines, start your application as soon as

possible and to always communicate honestly

with admissions staff.

� Letters of recommendation / references

� Application essays

� Test results (i.e. IELTS, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL)

- Head to QS Leap if you need some test

prep help before you before you take

the real thing

� Personal statement

� Academic transcripts (including

undergraduate degree)

� CV

Think about how you can stand out - be ready to convey your passion for your chosen subject and future ambitions

The interview

Arrive early - this mostly applies to in-person

interviews (although you shouldn’t be late to a

Skype interview either!) Leave enough time for

delays or getting lost if going in person

Make a good impression - if your interview

is over Skype, you should still look as smart

as you would if attending in person. Make

sure the background behind you is similarly

smart and respectable

Plan your answers - interviews

often cover similar questions,

such as why you want to study

this course

Re-read your application - you’ll be asked

questions about things in your application so be

prepared to talk about anything you mentioned

Re-read the course information -

demonstrate you’ve researched the course

and have questions ready to ask. DON’T ask

anything which you should have been able to

find out if you had done your research properly

Plan your answers - interviews often cover

similar questions, such as why you want

to study this course. Have pre-prepared,

detailed answers so you can appear keen,

but don’t sound too rehearsed. Find

common questions here.

Applying for a master’s degree | 9

Government funding from your home & host country

Check for schemes run by the Ministry/

Department of Education

University financial aid

Information about bursaries, grants,

scholarships and awards should be on

the institution’s website

Financing your master’s: what are your options?Start looking for funding opportunities while applying to universities. Here are some options to consider:

Charities & trusts

Some dedicate budget towards

funding graduate studies

Employer contributions

Applying to a postgraduate degree

after a spell in full-time employment?

See if your company will pay

towards your tuition

Student loans

These typically have lower repayment

rates than regular loans

National research council

Public sector distributors of investment,

only really suitable if you are applying

for a research-based master’s degree

Scholarships

Usually based on academic merit but

others are available. More info below.

Teaching / research assistantships

Earn funding in exchange for time spent

working in a teaching or research role

For more information about scholarships, see our guide here.

Research available options

Check your eligibility

Plan and organise your applications

Make sure you’ve included all required information

Ensure your application is neat and well-presented

Have someone check for spelling/grammar mistakes

Double-check all your information is correct

Provide references/referees

Keep an eye on deadlines!

Scholarship application checklist

QS also offers a range of scholarships each year. Attend the QS World Grad School Tour

and you’ll automatically be eligible.

Find out more

What’s next?When you hear back about your master’s degree application, the answer will probably be one of four things:

Unconditional offer

Congratulations! You’ve been offered a place on your chosen course. Now it’s time to

start planning for the beginning of your studies, including finding accommodation and

checking if you need to apply for a student visa. Of course, if you’ve applied to multiple

schools you can wait to give a response to find out which other universities offer you a

place. Don’t feel rushed!

Conditional offer

You’re nearly there - a place has been offered to you providing you meet a particular

requirement. This is often the case if you’re still studying at undergraduate level and they

want you to obtain a minimum degree (i.e. 2:1) in order to be accepted onto the master’s

programme. If this happens, make sure you knuckle down and meet the offer requirements.

Interview

They liked your written application and want to interview you either in person or remotely

(e.g. over Skype) to learn more about you and why you’re interested in the programme.

Read our section earlier in this guidebook for tips on how to prepare for an interview.

Unsuccessful

Unlucky - despite your best efforts you’ve been unable to secure a place at your chosen

master’s degree. Don’t be discouraged though, you can always reapply the following year.

Check back through the tips in this guidebook and head to TopUniversities.com for more

helpful information that will ensure your application is even stronger next time around.

Additional resources

If you’re looking for additional information on topics such as scholarships, rankings, online learning and more, then take a look at our other free guides and tools:

Find and apply to our QS World Merit Scholarships.

If you’re looking to attend a virtual or in-person event in your city, head over to our university and business school events pages and

see what events we have coming up.

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