What is postgraduate study?

What is a postgraduate qualification?

Postgraduate qualifications are usually divided between taught (masters etc.) and research (doctorates).

Our wide range of taught postgraduate programmes are continually developing in response to changes in society or the needs of business.

At Coventry University there are a range of taught postgraduate awards to suit your needs from a postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma to a full masters degree (MA, MBA, MSc, LLM). You can choose to complete a postgraduate certificate or diploma as a standalone award and, in most cases, if you are on a masters programme you can also decide to exit at postgraduate certificate or diploma level, without carrying onto the full masters qualification.

Masters degree

Masters degrees are intensive taught programmes integrating different learning approaches, typically one year in length with a dissertation or project. Our range of masters degrees includes:

• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Science (MSc)

Diploma (PgDip) and certificate (PgCert)

Diplomas and certificates are often vocational programmes of study or structured in a similar way to masters programmes. These courses are usually assessed by exams and coursework and a dissertation is not required. Typically these are 6 to 9 months in length.

Distance learning, blended learning and work-based learning

We offer a number of programmes that are tailored towards off campus learning, giving you greater flexibility in how you learn. Full-time study is typically run over one full year, e.g. September through to September. Part-time study is typically run over two and a half years if you are completing the full masters degree.