Your postgraduate qualification We have a firm commitment to excellence in teaching, entrepreneurship, support and research to ensure you gain a postgraduate qualification with strong career relevance and vocational value. Postgraduate study is a valuable investment for life. It is designed to enhance your career prospects, facilitate career change, add to your academic achievements and provide you with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of an area that interests you. We offer two main types of postgraduate degree: taught and research-based. Qualifications can be gained through full-time and part-time study while some courses are available through distance learning.
Taught courses
Research degrees
The University offers a selection of taught awards, such as:
Research degrees are an independent advanced study programme supervised by academic staff and lasting between one and seven years, giving you an opportunity to explore more deeply a topic of your choice. Across our ten research institutes here at Bedfordshire, we have around 400 research students conducting their own unique research, and producing new knowledge and expertise that is innovative, relevant and enlightened. They are studying towards one of the following awards:
• Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) – for UK/EU students • Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) • Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) – initial teacher training courses which focus on developing teaching skills for the subject you intend to teach • Master of Arts (MA) is normally awarded for a course in an arts subject • Master of Science (MSc) is usually awarded for a course in a science or technology discipline • Master of Business Administration (MBA) for those specialising in a course in business, management and administration
• Master of Arts by Research (MA by Research) • Master of Science by Research (MSc by Research) • Master of Philosophy (MPhil) • PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) – a PhD is an advanced level academic course and involves the submission of a thesis which is original academic research in a chosen field of study • Professional Doctorates – these are practice-based research degrees. Professional Doctorates currently offered by the University are the Professional Doctorate in Children and Young People’s Services and a Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice.
Distance learning For our UK and EU students, we have a small number of courses that are available by distance learning with online support. There is no attendance requirement, which is ideal if you have other work or family commitments. 160
