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Postgraduate diplomas and postgraduate certificates can be academic or vocational qualifications. They normally take 9 to 12 months to complete full-time. The number of lectures and seminars you attend, and projects and research papers you produce will vary depending on the type of course and the college or university you attend.
Grades are normally awarded as distinction, merit, pass, fail.
- Masters degrees
A masters degree is a qualification of academic study. It can be research based, a taught course, or a mixture of both, and will take at least 12 months of full-time study to complete.
The number of lectures, seminars, projects and research papers will vary depending on the type of course and the institution.
You may also have to submit a dissertation at the end of your course.
Grades are normally awarded as distinction, merit (optional), pass, fail.
- Doctorates
A doctorate qualification gives you the opportunity to undertake an original piece of research. It will usually take at least three years of full-time study to complete.
Throughout the course, you will be expected to work independently, with guidance from a supervisor. The supervisor advises you whether your research is on track and about deadlines you have to meet.
During the first one to three years of your doctorate, you will research your chosen topic and plan your dissertation. In your final year, you will normally write up your dissertation.
Many doctorate courses lead to a qualification such as a Doctor of Philosophy - a PhD or Dphil.
Doctorates are usually awarded as either a pass or fail; in rare cases with a distinction.
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