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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
There are many reasons as to why students opt to study either a Taught Master's or a Master's by Research at Bedfordshire - whether it's because you want to study a subject you enjoy in more detail, whether you want to progress and develop your career, or if you simply want to become an expert in your chosen field.
To help you decide which Master's course is right for you, and your needs, read the information below.
Master's by Research includes both research methods training in
the relevant discipline and a substantial research project. They are
valuable, and sometimes necessary if you are planning to progress to a PhD. In some disciplines, it is
expected that you will complete a Master's level course with a
substantial research element before progressing on to a PhD, and so you may find it difficult to find funding for a PhD without doing so.
If you are unsure whether a PhD is right for you, a Master's by
Research can give you a great insight in to what studying for a doctorate might
be like, whilst at the same time allowing you to earn a valuable Master's level
qualification.
The structure of a taught master's varies from course to course, and from institution to institution. Therefore, it is important to find out exactly what your course of interest is offering. There is a wide variety of Master's level qualifications and courses, but the most common are the MA and MSc. If you find a department is offering both MA and MSc courses in similar subjects, it is important to clarify where the differences lie and then you can decide which is most appropriate course for you.
Teaching can be delivered through seminars, classes, tutorials and supervised laboratory work, and assessment can range from examinations, vivas, assessed projects, group work or coursework. Many taught courses include some form of research project or dissertation, and are therefore not entirely 'taught'. Some offer a choice of units but others have a set criteria that all students have to follow.
If you are thinking about progressing to a PhD, it is important to make sure that your Master's course includes an appropriate level of research training as well as specialist knowledge, and provides suitable grounding for Doctoral study.
