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Masters and PhD Applications

Many graduating students continue their education as postgraduate students undertaking Masters and/or PhD programmes either within the University of Exeter or at other universities. However, such a path is not suitable for all graduates so consider carefully your motivation for undertaking further study and what it will lead to. If you are unsure about committing to the time (and, in the case of a Masters, the expense) of postgraduate study, then taking a year out to pursue other interests, gaining experience (or just earning some money) is always an available option too.

MEDICAL SCIENCES PGT OPPORTUNITIES IN CMH

Invited Speakers:

Professor Mike Eaton and Professor Tim Frayling

Friday 21^st January 2022

Click here to access the session and learn more about PGT opportunities in our college.

Here you can find the resources shared during the session.

Postgraduate research applications guidance - a talk by Professor Kate Ellacott

7th October 2021.

For those of you thinking ahead to post-graduate life and who are interested in a career as a researcher, undertaking post-graduate studies in the form of a research MSc and/or PhD is an essential undertaking to maximise future career opportunities as a research scientist.

Many postgraduate programmes are advertising now (or will be shortly) for 22/23 programmes, so please ensure that you keep a look out on webpages, such as www.findaphd.com, www.findamasters.com or www.jobs.ac.uk.

Questions to ask yourself to help you decide whether to do a Masters and/or a PhD:

Are you hungry to learn more and to delve deeper into the science? Then postgraduate study may be for you.
Do you want to carry out your own research and work as a researcher/academic as a career? Then postgraduate study may be for you, particularly a PhD. (You don't need to do a Masters in order to do a PhD, but many students do to demonstrate they are capable of advanced postgraduate research)
Do you want to change disciplines and embark on a new (but related) career path? This may include public health, environmental science, business, one of the allied health professionals, a clinical scientist. Then consider undertaking a Masters that will provide you with the necessary qualifications to do so.
Are you feeling a bit burnt-out after three or four years of undergraduate study? Then consider taking some 'time-out' for a year and think about continuing with postgraduate study when you feel more enthusiastic about it.
Are you considering doing a Masters because everyone else seems to be doing one? Don't rush into anything. Think carefully about what you want to do in the future. A Masters should be a carefully considered investment in your future career, not just something to do on a whim.

Interview with a postgraduate: Tips for pursuing further study

Further study could be an option for you to make the most of your research or research interests and get you where you want to go. But it often comes with a lot of decisions – where will you go? What will you study? How much will it cost? What’s your end goal, and will a postgraduate degree help to get you there?

Three Exeter alumni who have gone on to study postgraduate programmes share their views on postgraduate study. You can view the interviews by following the link below:

Interview with a postgrad: Tips for pursuing further study (sharepoint.com)

How do you apply for a Masters or PhD programme?

Unlike undergraduate degrees, you do not apply for an Masters or a PhD through UCAS. Instead, you apply directly to the programme itself. This can make the application process somewhat variable, but since most UK postgraduate programmes begin in September, they are typically advertised early in the same year.

In the case of Masters programmes, this is often done through a university's postgraduate admissions process. You can find out what programmes are offered at any given university by visiting their websites, but they can also be advertised externally on such career websites as findamasters.com.

Funded PhD programmes (i.e. students receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses and all lab costs are covered) tend to be advertised like other academic jobs (e.g. on career websites such as jobs.ac.uk or findaphd.com) or can be allocated internally to students or postgraduate researchers already working within labs. Some PhDs are not funded, in which case a postgraduate student with a great idea for a PhD project can undertake one with the support of a lab and supervisor if they are able to self-fund, but this is unusual.

Writing a 'Statement of Interest' or a 'Personal Statement' when applying for a MSc. or a PhD.

Unlike a personal statement for a medicine programme, you don't need to get too personal when writing your personal statement in support of an application to be accepted onto a MSc. or PhD programme. What MSc. programme leads and PhD supervisors are looking for in prospective students is an aptitude for post-graduate study, proven academic ability, evidence of relevant skills and knowledge (particularly research skills and academic skills like critical analysis, academic reading and writing) and a genuine desire and motivation to continue their academic studies as a postgraduate student and beyond (e.g. as an academic or researcher).

So, what you are trying to communicate in your statement is:

your motivation for wanting to complete this particular programme as a postgraduate student - e.g. what modules within the MSc. are you particularly interested in, why you are interested in a specific research project/proposal, what will completing this MSc./PhD lead to (longer term career ambitions)
what skills, relevant experience and knowledge-base you can bring to the programme. This will draw on your UG studies, any research experience you may have (e.g. summer placements, PTY, final year research dissertation) and additional skills you have gained in your own time (e.g. coding, published writing, etc.)

Keep your statement concise and to the point; minimise waffle. Remember, your application will be read by scientists!

Funding Postgraduate Study:

Masters programmes (whether taught or by research) are expensive - typically more than £10K per year. But, if you choose your MSc. programme carefully and you have a well thought-through longer-term career plan in place (e.g. using it as a stepping stone to a specific job title or to apply for a PhD) then it can be an excellent investment.

If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs. You can get up to £11,570 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021.

Doctoral (PhD) programmes are usually funded by a research funding body in the form of a monthly stipend or a studentship or scholarship, such as the Medical Research Council, or by the host institution in partnership with, for example, a pharmaceutical company.

If you are applying for a self-funded doctoral degree, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs. You can get up to £27,265 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021

Search for additional postgraduate funding on the Scholarship Search website or Prospects website.

Masters Programmes:

Masters programmes are usually one year (sometimes two, or more if part-time) advanced 'level 7' postgraduate programmes that can be classified as either taught (much like an UG degree comprising taught modules and a dissertation) or research (some taught modules but mostly involves undertaking research under the guidance of a supervisor).

Taught Masters programmes - choose this option if you are mainly interested in acquiring more advanced knowledge and building on existing knowledge gained from your BSc. degree. Also, if you are doing a Masters in order to change disciplines or change careers.
Research Masters programmes - choose this option if your main objective is to acquire advanced research skills and experience of undertaking independent research or scholarship activity. This can be a useful stepping stone to doing a PhD.

Masters Opportunities and Advice:

Taught postgraduate opportunities in the College of Medicine & Health, University of Exeter - a recording of an information session on taught Masters programmes on offer within CMH, January 2022
Healthcare and Medicine | Postgraduate taught | University of Exeter - taught Masters programmes in medicine and health
Findamasters.com - Masters vacancies and advice
Funding for postgraduate study - funding provided by the UK Government to support postgraduate study
University of Exeter Postgraduate fees and funding - details of how much a MSc. at the University of Exeter will cost and where you can apply for funding to help cover the costs of tuition fees and other expenses
Postgraduatefunding.com - Details of additional postgraduate funding opportunities

PhD Programmes:

PhD programmes are usually three (or longer if part-time) advanced 'level 8' postgraduate research programmes that involve fully independent research (although with an appointed supervisor) with an expectation on the student's part of original scholarship and a contribution to the advancement of knowledge. Unlike an Masters, a PhD. is always a research-based qualification.

PhD Opportunities and Advice:

GW4 Biomed - Information on the GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership in collaboration between Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter Universities
Findaphd.com - PhD vacancies and advice
There are some excellent fully-funded four-year PhD programmes (often referred to as Doctoral Training Programmes, DTPs, and include a research MSc.) offered by top institutes each year (closing deadlines are normally in November-February prior to commencing the programme in September) that are well worth considering. For example:

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