Once you receive your offer, you may want to begin preparing for the start of your postgraduate programme. The below information will give you an idea of what to expect.
Preparatory reading
Most programmes will not ask you to do any preparatory reading unless specifically communicated to you when you were made an offer. However, if you are keen to do so, or would like to buy textbooks in advance, you should contact your programme leader.
Induction events during Welcome Week will introduce you to your programme and the amount of reading required.
Welcome Timetable
Choosing modules
If your programme includes optional modules, some Departments will invite you to choose these ahead of starting the programme, and will contact you by email over the summer. Otherwise, you will choose your modules on arrival and your induction will provide an overview of the options available. In the meantime, many of our programmes list the modules available on our course finder pages so you can start thinking about what might best suit your interests.
Please bear in mind that these module lists are indicative and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year due to academic leave.
Managing your time
Usually a full-time Taught Masters student would take 60 credits of modules per semester, making 120 credits of modules in total (a part-time student would also take this total amount of credits but spread across the programme duration). Your dissertation will then be an additional 60 credits, amounting to a total of 180 credits.
Typically for Masters programmes, over a semester there will be around 30 - 35 hours of contact time per 20 credit module, however this may differ depending on your programme.
This allows for plenty of time for self-study and the possibility of taking up a part-time job, for which we recommend no more than 15 hours a week of part-time work.
Lecture times are typically between the hours of 9:00 till 17:00. If lectures or other activities are happening outside of these hours, you will be notified by your module leader or school administrator through your University email, or on Canvas, the e-learning portal.
Who to contact
The Student Help knowledge base provides answers to common questions for all students; from administration and ID cards, to disability support and careers, as well as letting you contact the relevant teams directly.
Student Help
The University Graduate School is a gateway to advice and support for postgraduate researchers.
University Graduate School