Making the right choice for you
Still deciding which postgraduate course and university is right for you? Read our advice on making the decision
Choosing to study a postgraduate degree is a big decision. Whatever you decide to study, you're not just picking a degree course – you're also choosing a university to join and a new city to call home.
We want to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision about the right degree and university. And of course, we'd love for you to choose Portsmouth.
Here are our tips on how to research postgraduate courses, find a university that suits you, and get a feel for the town or city it's based in.
Finding the course you want
You might have only just started thinking about doing a postgraduate qualification and be open to the possibilities, or you might have your heart set on a specific course. Wherever you are in the process, you'll need to narrow down your search to the courses that fit your ambitions and personal situation.
Narrow down your search
On our course search, you can filter courses by award type, mode of study and start date. This will help you narrow down your search to the results that interest you most – so if you want to earn while you study, or join us as a part-time student, you can find a course to suit you.
Check your career prospects
Whatever your reasons for studying at postgraduate level, it makes sense to check how a particular course will affect your career prospects. To get an idea of where your course could take you, take a look at your chosen course page to see the kind of roles you could do and any professional recognition you could get.
Make sure you're eligible
Each course page lists the entry requirements you need to meet to get a place on the course. But because we know there's more than one route into postgraduate study, if you don't meet all the standard criteria, we still want to hear from you.
Find a contact on your chosen course page and get in touch with us to discuss your application.
Think about funding
It's important to consider all the costs of your study – from your tuition fees and other course costs, to your living costs. In our fees and funding section, you'll find all the information you need to start budgeting, and advice on what financial support you could receive too.
How to research universities
Once you know the kind of course you want to do, it's time to research the universities that offer it. You should look into the quality of the teaching, what facilities you can use, and what learning and personal support you can access.
If you're moving away from home, you'll also want to find out what the accommodation is like – and you can learn more about what life in the city is like by reading our Student Life pages.
Go to a Postgraduate and part-time Open Evening
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, there's no substitute for visiting the university in person at one of our events. You can go to subject-specific talks, speak to lecturers in your chosen area of study, and find out about key steps in your journey such as how to apply and how to fund your studies.
How to get to know the city
If you can't make it to the city, you can still explore it from wherever in the world you, by visiting our Postgraduate Online Experience page.
If you can make it to Portsmouth, nothing beats visiting the city in person to get a feel for it. Grab your Lonely Planet and spend a day or weekend wandering around. Try to get off the beaten track to really see what the city is like.
Portsmouth has excellent transport links to London and other cities in the south of England, so it's easy to plan your trip here. If you live further afield, you can catch a flight to one of the nearby airports. We're also connected to mainland Europe by a ferry service.