Written by Natalie Boxall.
Although the majority of postgraduates apply within their last year as an undergraduate in order to secure funding, it’s still not too late to get on a course. Lisa McAleese, graduate administrator at the University of Manchester, says, ‘At this time of year we do see an influx of people who weren’t really sure what their degree result was going to be and are pleasantly surprised. They get a higher qualification than they thought they would and then start to think about postgraduate study.’ Taught programmes generally begin in September but entry in January, April or July is possible, depending on the desired starting date. The timetable for some postgraduate courses, such as part-time programmes undertaken on day-release or in the evenings, doesn't always follow the established academic year. Most programmes have two or three different start dates throughout the year. Also it is possible to apply for part-time distance learning courses through the Open University at any time throughout the year. For those applying for a postgraduate course starting in September, the main priority, Lisa says, is to get an application in as soon as possible. ‘Generally departments tend to fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. So the sooner people can get an application to us, the sooner we can start looking at it. Although we can’t actually make a decision until we get a full application in, if someone has shown an interest in a programme of study, it is registered. Then as soon as we get the supporting documentation we can make a final decision.’ Related Topic
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