The following table gives general information on normal entry requirements, durations, and modes of delivery and assessment for different kinds of qualification, with other notes where appropriate.

Note that the distinction between taught and research-based courses is being blurred - courses will sometimes contain elements of each.

Certificates and Diplomas

PG foundation course

Entry            Recognised overseas degree

Duration        Usually six to nine months

Delivery         Taught English language, study skills and 
                    research methods

Assessment  Continuous assessment and examinations

Comments     Intended for overseas graduates who want 
                     to pursue a UK postgraduate course but wish 
                     to improve their English and UK study 
                     methods first

PG Certificate or Diploma in various subjects - can be vocational

Entry             First degree

Duration        One year full time/two years part time

Delivery         Taught, some have project work

Assessment  Usually continuous assessment; some may be 
                    exam based

Comments    Certificate courses tend to be shorter and at a 
                    lower level. Can sometimes be converted to a 
                    Master's by project work or a dissertation

Conversion course in IT

Entry            First degree in any subject

Duration        One year full time

Delivery         Taught

Assessment  Continuous assessment/exam + continuous 
                     assessment/exam + dissertation

Comments     Awarded in over 50 institutions

PGCE

Entry            Degree in subject to be taught

Duration        One year full time/two years part time

Delivery         Taught

Assessment  Assignments and practical teaching

Comments     Essential for obtaining a job in state schools in UK

LLM/CPE/PGDip in Law

Entry            First degree or equivalent

Duration        One year full time/two years part time

Delivery        Taught

Assessment  Full time: exam and coursework 
                    Part time: exam, extended essay and coursework 
                    PGDip is slightly broader in content.

Comments    Essential for those from non-law background.

Diploma in social work (DlpSW)

Entry           First degree and experience

Duration       Two years full time

Delivery        Taught

Assessment Evaluation of coursework and report on practical 
                    work, sometimes an exam

Comments    Distance learning and work-based training 
                    possible

Master's degrees and doctorates

MA (in, for example, English, languages, history, business studies)

Entry             2.2 or above; a 2.1 or above is more likely to 
                    attract funding

Duration        One year full time/two years part time

Delivery         Taught or research

Assessment  Exam plus dissertation or thesis; sometimes 
                    coursework and oral exam or combination of both

Comments    Might include some training in research methods 
                    as preparation for further study

MSc (in, eg built environment, biotechnology)

Entry            2.2 or above; a 2.1 or above is more likely to 
                    attract funding. Sometimes experience is required

Duration       One year full time/two years part time

Delivery        Taught or research

Assessment  Exam plus dissertation or thesis; sometimes 
                    coursework and oral exam

MBA (possibly specialising in finance or European studies, etc)

Entry            First degree in any subject, or equivalent. Some 
                    courses also ask for evidence of work experience. 
                    May have to do GMAT (Graduate Management 
                    Admissions Test)

Duration        One year full time/two years part time; some courses 
                    are two years full time; some distance learning 
                    courses are available

Delivery         Taught

Assessment  Assessment of modules. Sometimes extended 
                    project work

Comments    Fees can be very high. Choose your institution 
                    carefully

MRes

Entry            2.1 or above

Duration        Two years full time

Delivery        Taught

Assessment  Thesis

Comments    Relatively new qualification. Stands in its own right 
                    as well as being preparation for PhD work

MPhil (in arts, sciences, social sciences)

Entry             2.1 or above

Duration        Two to three years full time/four to five years part 
                    time

Delivery         Mixture of taught and research or purely research

Assessment  Thesis plus oral exam

Comments     Higher level than MA, MSc. Can sometimes be 
                     used to convert to PhD

MEng (in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer systems, etc), MSci (in geology, geography, etc), MMath (in maths)

Entry            Three A-levels - typically AAB or BBB

Duration        Four years full time. Students can sometimes 
                    transfer from a BEng or BSc degree

Delivery         Can be a mixture of seminars, practicals, 
                    lectures, project work

Assessment  Exams plus some coursework

Comments    Not a postgraduate qualification, but one which 
                    confers a Master's degree. Often satisfies the 
                    educational requirements of relevant professional 
                    bodies

PhD/DPhil

Entry             2.1 or above in relevant subject/Master's degree

Duration        Three to four years full time/five to six years part time

Delivery         Research

Assessment  Thesis plus oral exam

New Route PhD/DPhil in vocational subjects such as engineering

Entry             2.1 or above/Master's degree

Duration        Three to four years full time

Delivery         Taught subject-specific courses, study and 
                    research skills training and interdisciplinary 
                    modules to enhance professional skills

Assessment  Continuous assessment, examinations and thesis

Comments    Similar in structure to a taught Master's, 
                    available in a few institutions

CATS - Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme

Some institutions offer Master's degrees and some doctorates under this scheme. It enables students to put together a programme across departments or institutions.

Courses and modules are worth a certain number of points (eg, a PgCert = 60 points, a PgDip = 120 points), which can be accumulated and transferred from one institution to another