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Postgraduate Programs in Science
Find postgraduate programs in SCIENCEDating all the way to the natural philosophers of ancient Greece, we can see that Europe has a long history with science. Beginning with the early mathematicians of Athens, then being taken up by great thinkers of the Renaissance, to the development of the modern scientific method in medieval European universities – many of which are still going strong today – Europe has had a profound impact on our scientific study of the world around us.
European nations pour major funding into science, fuelling game-changing collaborations like CERN's (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) particle physics breakthroughs with the European Space Agency (ESA) on space-ready radiation tech (over 10 years running), plus ESA's JUICE mission to Jupiter's moons. This builds on giants like the Human Genome Project, powering today's genomics advances.
Top institutions rank amongst the globally elite for postgraduate science. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Natural Sciences positions University of Oxford in third place, University of Cambridge in fourth place and Imperial College London at number nine in the UK. While further afield the USA’s Harvard University takes the number one spot, and Switzerland’s Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) ranks sixth.
Masters degrees and PhDs in science
So, what does a postgraduate degree entail for a science student? Well, that depends on a number of things, firstly, whether you’re studying for a masters degree or a PhD.
Science masters degree
A masters degree is essentially an extension to your undergraduate study, generally lasting one or two years. Depending on the course you choose, this could either be a research project, extra study in a specific area, or, more often, a mix of the two. The extra study will often take a similar form to your undergraduate degree, with lectures and classes.
Taking on a research project, however, really puts you in the shoes of a researcher, teaching you valuable skills for investigating systems.
Science student case study
Tim, a recent graduate from the University of Sheffield, says, “Doing a masters in chemistry (focusing on organic synthesis) was exactly the lab freedom I was looking for; rather than following methods, I had to find my own pathways and piece together new reactions from old papers. It finally felt like I was making new contributions to my subject.”
If you’re lucky, you may even end up doing entirely new research, although this, again, will depend on the course you choose.
Science PhD program
A PhD will really let you immerse yourself in the world of academia. Depending on where you study in Europe, some courses will involve a little further study. However, whatever course you end up signing up to, you will be doing research. And not just a research project that’s set for every crop of students, year in, year out. No, if you choose to do a PhD you’ll be working with a supervisor, usually a professor or other senior academic, to study an entirely new area of science, and becoming an expert in your specific field; many doctoral positions will actually have you doing the same work and hours as experienced academics.
Science student case study
Initially study science at doctorate level may seem intimidating, Jessica, a student at the University Oxford, says, “It felt a little scary to be doing research for a seasoned academic, but after a few months, it’s reassuring to know that you’re working with someone who really knows what they’re doing.”
To finish off your course, you’ll be required to submit a thesis summarising what you’ve learned, but you’ll often end up publishing a few papers along the way, too.
Areas of study in science
So, what sort of areas can you choose to study?
In no particular order, here are a few of your options.
Biology
Biology is the study of life in all its forms, and everything related to it. If you choose to go into this discipline, you’ll be looking into the building blocks of life, physiology of all kinds of species, ecology and many more topics besides. Biology is definitely on the more practical end of science, with research aimed at understanding the processes in living bodies, as well as the relationships between them and their environment.
Famous European biologists: Charles Darwin, Louis Pasteur, Alexander Fleming.
Find postgraduate programs in BIOLOGYPhysics
From the formulation of grand theories to the studies of very specific phenomena, it is physics that has paved the way for much of the mechanical and technological advancements in history. While the exact details of your study will depend on your university and physics course, you’ll generally be looking at fundamental parts of science – the basic forms of matter, the forces which link them all together, and how it all relates to the way they function on a larger scale, usually from a theoretical standpoint.
Famous European physicists: Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking.
Find postgraduate programs in PHYSICSChemistry
Chemistry is possibly the broadest area of study within the science family, often linking the more fundamental concepts explored in physics to the practical elements of other sciences. If you choose to study a course in chemistry, you’ll be looking into the structure of matter, how it all interacts, how that leads to the properties we observe, and most importantly, how we can make things with the properties we want.
Famous European chemists: Antoine Lavoisier, Michael Faraday, Marie Curie.
Find postgraduate programs in CHEMISTRYMathematics
Often called ‘the language of science’, maths may not be immediately spring to mind when thinking of science, but it’s by no means any less vital. At a postgraduate level, you’ll be studying high-level mathematical concepts, whether for their own sake, or for their relevance to more practical subjects.
Famous European mathematicians: Archimedes, Alan Turing, Paul Erdos.
Find postgraduate programs in MATHEMATICSOther science subjects
Of course, these aren’t the only science courses you can choose. While most European universities will offer these four courses, many will provide a host of alternatives.
- Materials science is great for those who want to take a more practical look at the way we use the substances available to us to make our lives easier.
- Geology is a good choice if you want to cast a scientific eye over the very earth we live on.
- If you want to mix disciplines, you could try a subject like biochemistry.
- Meanwhile, students of natural science will look at the theories, which enable them to describe and explain the natural world.
- And if you really want to specialise, there’s no reason not to pick a course like neuroscience or astronomy.
Still, that’s not to say that you’re restricting your choices by choosing the specialised subjects, or only scratching the surface if you choose a broad one. As mentioned earlier, postgraduate courses often involve research, and any good project can and will involve mixing disciplines to lead the way into new area of study.
Cutting-edge science courses
Modern postgraduate science courses have evolved to embrace cutting-edge fields – let’s take a look at some of the options.
The MSc Artificial Intelligence for Science course at University of Sheffield where students apply AI to model complex systems in physics or biology.
Other popular options include Data Science MSc (widespread across UK universities including London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London and University of Exeter), blending stats with real-world analytics.
At the University of Sussex the Quantum Technology Applications and Management MSc is completed online and focuses on next-gen computing and sensors.
While at the University of Bath its MSc Sustainable Engineering for Decarbonisation tackles climate challenges through green materials and energy systems. These programs equip graduates for booming sectors like tech R&D and net-zero industries.
Find out more about studying science postgraduate courses.
Tuition fees for science masters degrees
As for fees, these vary wildly across the continent, with universities setting their own tuition fees to ensure they balance covering their own costs with the need to attract students. EU students often pay less or even none in Nordic countries.
For the academic year 2026/2027, UK students can expect to pay around £11,000-£15,000 if studying at a UK institute. While international students can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £18,000-£26,000 at the same institutes.
If you’re not an EU student, or you choose to study in one of the countries that charge, you’ll see a wide variety of charges – Germany charges only an average of about €400 per term with no separate tuition fees, while in France the average cost is approximately €3,770 per year. In Switzerland fees vary – from CHF 1,000-2,000 (approx. €1,071-€2,142) per semester at public universities, reaching as much as CHF 20,000 (approx. €21,426) per semester in private universities. At ETH Zurich, non-Swiss students can expect to pay in the region of CHF 730 per semester (approx. €782).
Unless you’re able to self-fund your masters studies, you will also need to consider outside funding. For masters students this is largely irrelevant outside of scholarships, which will differ from university to university. However, if you are doing a PhD, due to the length and time involved in doing the research required for a doctoral thesis, there is a range of grants available to you. When applying for your postgraduate course, it’s best to ask your potential supervisor what funding they can provide, as many research groups will be given money for this specific purpose.
If you have no luck here, there are dozens of other possibilities, from government grants to charitable foundations, and many more besides. See our Postgraduate Scholarships Zone for a great range of university scholarships to help with your studies. Plus, check out the exclusive bursaries on offer from Postgrad Solutions.
Entry requirements for postgraduate science courses
As for entry requirements, the standard requirement for a masters degree tends to be a 2.1 (or equivalent) in a relevant field, while a PhD will usually require either a masters degree or professional experience in the area. Many courses will require proof of language skills (usually an IELTS score of 6.5-7.0 or equivalent for an English course), so it’s best to check before applying.
What can you do after your science program?
Finally, what can you actually do with a postgraduate degree? Well, for starters, doing a full course of postgraduate study is pretty much a requirement for anyone with an interest in academia. This isn’t just a necessity for your CV – doing a masters or doctorate will give you vital skills and contacts necessary to advance in academia that simply can’t be taught elsewhere.
Many technical jobs in science, such as research and development positions and chemical engineers, require a minimum of a masters degree in a relevant subject. Even if you decide to leave the field of science entirely, successfully completing a postgraduate degree by will prove to your potential employers that you have both ability and initiative, making you a far more valuable applicant.
Science student case study
As Edward, from Cambridge, simply puts, “I did a masters degree in maths. I probably wouldn’t have a job today if I hadn’t. Well, not one that I liked.”
