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The UK and Ireland offer a huge range of postgraduate studies in the arts, humanities and languages. The broad range of skills that can be learnt and the potential career prospects make this an exciting area to consider. Gill Sharp investigates further
When you are deciding on a programme, take care! The content isn’t always clear from the title. ‘Drama’ could mean studying major playwrights or learning to act. Many language courses might cover history and literature too, while others include linguistics. The majority of postgraduate geography courses offer an MSc (Master of Science) rather than an MA (Master of Arts), so they may not be appropriate if you want to look at political or social aspects of the subject. Some history courses, particularly those that include archaeology, can involve scientific knowledge. Other courses cross boundaries into social science.
Where you decide to study may also depend on unique features offered by individual institutions. For instance, the University Exeter’s MA in Staging Shakespeare has work placements at London’s Globe Theatre and Stratford upon Avon, while programmes at the University of Kent have links with institutions in France.
Don’t assume that you will only be able to study traditional aspects of the arts and humanities: The UK has MAs in everything from Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Writing to the University of Liverpool’s Science Fiction Studies. Nor are all programmes centred around the UK itself: yes, there are plenty of ‘traditional’ courses, but several institutions offer programmes concerned with the geography, history and literature of the Americas, Australasia and the Caribbean, while other focus on (often surprising) areas – Egyptology at Swansea and Birmingham, Norse and Viking Studies in Nottingham. Linguists are not confined to the major European languages – Chinese, Japanese and Arabic/Indic dialects can be studied as well.
Do you want an academic qualification or a practical one? If you choose the latter, then your skill with languages may lead to a Master’s in Interpreting and Translation, a speciality at Essex University and several other institutions. If you are a keen writer, you can take you pick from numerous courses in journalism or from the growing number of Master’s in Creative Writing. Other expanding areas are applied courses in such topics as museum and gallery studies, and heritage management.
The location also needs to be considered: the cost of living can be high in London and in certain other regions. Joseph Ameh, who came from Nigeria to study for a master’s in London, says: ‘Get your facts straight about what you want to do and what you want to achieve before you invest in a course. It’s difficult to change once you’ve paid. Don’t go into it blindly.’
So cost is often a key issue. If you are from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you have home-student status and pay the same fees as your UK classmates. For a master’s in the arts or humanities, this would be around £3,300–£4,500 per year. International students from outside the EU/EEA will find that fees can rise very sharply to £9,000 and above for an MA. A few universities are now offering the same lower rate to both home and overseas students.
On top of this, there may be extra costs apart from the usual essential ones for course materials, such as books and stationery. If you are doing, for example, an MA in Art and Design, you will probably have to purchase materials, such as paper, pencils and paint. Any courses that involve technical equipment, or the use of studios or language labs will make a small charge for these facilities too. There may also be the chance to go on trips to other countries, so consider these outgoings when thinking about your budget.
The majority of master’s degrees and virtually all postgraduate diplomas and certificates are taught. A diploma can link into a master’s (usually by writing a dissertation), but it is accepted as a qualification in its own right.
Postgraduate certificates are normally vocational, ie leading to a particular job, such as photography.
Assessment methods differ widely, so look for a programme that matches your learning style. Whether you find it easy to pass tests and exams or prefer continuous assessment throughout the year, there is plenty of choice. If you enjoy research and writing, you may want consider doing a dissertation (an extended essay of between 10,000 and 25,000 words). On some master’s degrees, these are compulsory. Other programmes let you decide between a dissertation or taking extra modules. Although a few creative courses are based entirely around practical projects, most require essays and written assignments as well.
Perhaps you would enjoy the opportunity of working with students from other departments, such as music, computing art or film? This is possible at many institutions. Or maybe you would like to explore a range of subjects rather than concentrating on a narrow area? Several universities run general arts and humanities programmes, where you can mix different disciplines.
Some master’s degrees are research based. They are especially popular with students who want to go on to a PhD. The university will offer training in qualitative or quantitative methods before the programme begins or as part of the first phase of study.
Those who already have a taught master’s or who gained excellent grades for their first degree may go straight onto an MPhil or PhD. The first year of such a programme could involve lectures and tutorials plus an introduction to research and communication techniques. Following this, you will be meeting your supervisor only about every six weeks or so while studying and researching alone. The qualification will focus your own ideas for individual research, which should be strong and original, looking at new ideas, perspectives and sources or challenging established thinking.
The final part of any research degree is a thesis, about 40,000 to 60,000 words for an MPhil or 60,000 to 100,000 words for a PhD. This is followed by an oral discussion of your findings with a panel of tutors and academics.
There are no permanent or long-term employment schemes for high-achieving overseas arts, humanities and language graduates as there are for science or business disciplines. However, the new UK points-based immigration system does offer some opportunities for high-achieving international graduates of UK universities to stay on to work in the UK: see the UK Border Agency website for full details of the schemes available.
There are also lots of potential careers that a postgraduate qualification in this area can lead to. They include becoming a designer, an interpreter, a graphic designer, an art historian, a politician or a musician, and so on.
Adele Merrison, Careers Adviser at the University of the West of England in Bristol, says: ‘Although a master’s course in arts or humanities is unlikely to lead directly to a job, unless it’s in a vocational area, it contributes to an individual’s employability in so many ways. There’s the cachet of a UK qualification, demonstrating English-language expertise and flexibility in adapting to different styles of teaching. Increased awareness of cultural differences, an insight into the UK labour market, the opportunity to work part time whilst studying and build up a network of contacts, all add to its value and can lead to increased employment opportunities here and elsewhere.
‘The personal skills gained from master’s study are highly marketable too. In addition to gaining in-depth knowledge of the subject, there’s the chance to further develop teamworking, communication, analytical and problem-solving skills. You can base a dissertation or project on issues relevant to UK and international employers, and consequently enhance employment possibilities.’
What do students themselves think? Joseph Ameh knows it will be difficult to start a career here. If necessary, he will take his qualification to Nigeria, where it will get him a good job. The administrative experience he has acquired through working on campus will also help. He sums up: ‘I’ve seen a new way of life and a different way of looking at things. I think that perspective is what will help me whether I stay or go back.’
Gill Sharp is a freelance careers adviser and a freelance writer.
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