Applying for a Postgraduate Course

A postgraduate course is usually undertaken after achieving your first university degree or if you have equivalent work experience. There are two types of postgraduate study:

• Postgraduate taught (PGT)
• Postgraduate research (PGR)

Postgraduate degrees usually start in September in any given year but some subjects will also offer alternative start months.

Postgraduate taught

PGT courses are delivered and assessed similarly to undergraduate degrees through a series of taught modules and may include independent research in a specialist area.

PGT study can lead to one of three qualifications:

• Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert)
• Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip)
• Masters degree (MA, MSc etc)

Postgraduate research

PGR represents a formal area of study that is recognised by the University. PGR study can vary in duration depending on the route you take. You can take masters degrees by research (MRes or MPhil), for which most (if not all) of the degree is by thesis and some may include an element of coursework.

Other common qualifications you can achieve through postgraduate research study are doctorates such as PhD (doctor of philosophy), EdD (doctor of education), DProf (doctor of professional practice) or doctor of health and social care practice.

If you are from the UK and want to apply for postgraduate taught study at the University of Derby, you need to apply directly to the University.

To apply directly to the University of Derby, you need to:

1. Use our postgraduate course search or browse our range of postgraduate courses to find the course you wish to apply for
2. Click on the 'Apply directly to the University' button in the 'How to apply' section on your chosen course page
3. Follow the instructions to complete and submit your application

Further guidance on the application process

If you are from the UK and want to apply for postgraduate research degree programme at the University of Derby, you need to apply directly to the University.

If you wish to study an MPhil or PhD, go to our research degrees application page.

If you wish to study an MRes:

1. Use our postgraduate course search to find the course you wish to apply for
2. Click on the 'Apply directly to the University' button in the 'How to apply' section on your chosen course page
3. Follow the instructions to complete and submit your application

Further guidance on the research degree application process

If you are from outside the UK, there are two ways to apply for postgraduate taught study at the University of Derby. You can apply directly to the University or you can apply through a country representative.

To apply directly to the University of Derby, you need to:

1. Use our postgraduate course search or browse our range of postgraduate courses to find the course you wish to apply for
2. Click on the 'Apply directly to the University' button in the 'How to apply' section on your chosen course page
3. Follow the instructions to complete and submit your application

Further guidance on the application process

To apply through a country representative

You can get help with your University of Derby application from one of our overseas representatives. We have a network of representatives throughout the world who will also guide you in obtaining a visa and making travel arrangements.

These agents will usually use our direct application process. Please note that for courses starting in September 2019 and beyond, all applicants from Ghana and Pakistan will need to register with an agent in order to proceed with your application. For Ghana, the agent is called UKEAS and for Pakistan please contact one of our agents in Pakistan.

If you are from outside the UK or EU and want to apply for postgraduate research degree programme at the University of Derby, you need to apply directly to the University.

If you wish to study an MPhil or PhD, go to our research degrees application page.

If you wish to study an MRes:

1. Use our postgraduate course search to find the course you wish to apply for
2. Click on the 'Apply directly to the University' button in the 'How to apply' section on your chosen course page
3. Follow the instructions to complete and submit your application

Further guidance on the research degrees application process

These are the international qualifications we accept for entry on to a postgraduate course. You can find the English language requirements that you will need for your chosen course on the course page.

Algeria

• Diplôme d'Etat d'Ingénieur/d'Architecture
• Maîtrise
• Magister

Bangladesh

• Bachelor of Science in Architecture or Engineering (from BUET)
• Master of Engineering and Master of Science (Engineering)

Bahrain

• Bachelors degree

Botswana

• Masters degree

Burma

• Technical Institute Diploma (three years)

Canada

• Bachelors degree (Honours)/Baccalaureat de Type Honours
• Diploma in Honours Standing

China

You will usually need a four year undergraduate degree from a recognised institution

For non-business masters:
IELTS: 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in all areas).
Pearson Test of Academic English: 60
Cambridge English Scale: B2
London Tests of English: we accept level 5 for postgraduate courses
International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
International GCSE English or English as a Second Language: Grade C.

For business school masters programmes:

IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in all areas).

Some courses have higher English language entry requirements, please check the specific course details for more information.

Egypt

• Bachelors degree (from a public or private university), or awarded by the American University in Cairo

Gaza Strip

• Masters degree

Ghana

• Bachelors degree

Hong Kong

• You will usually need a bachelors degree (2.1) from a recognised institution

Iceland

• Baccalaureatus degree

India

• Bachelor of Arts/Science (Honours/Special degree) when awarded from a central university or a recognised state university
• Bachelor of Education (four year integrated programme)
• Bachelor of Engineering/Technology (when awarded from an institute of national importance, centre of advanced study, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore)

Iran

• Bachelors degree (Licence or Karshenashi)
• Professional doctorate
• University of Technology degree

Israel

• Bachelors degree

Japan

• Bachelors degree (Gakushi)

Jordan

• Bachelors degree (with an overall score of 'Good' or above)

Kenya

• Bachelors degree

Lebanon

• Bachelors degree (from the American University of Beirut)
• Diploma of Higher Studies/Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures
• Masters degree/Maîtrise

Libya

• Bachelors degree in Architecture, Engineering or Medicine (from a university)
• Higher diploma
• Masters degree

Macau

• You will usually need a bachelors degree (2.1) from a recognised institution

Malawi

• Masters degree

Malaysia

• Bachelors degree

Morocco

• Certificat d'Etudes Approfondies

Nepal

• Masters degree

New Zealand

• Bachelors (Honours) degree

Nigeria

• Bachelors degree

Oman

• Bachelors degree

Pakistan

• Bachelor of Engineering/Science in Engineering (when studied for 4 years or more)
• Masters degree (two year) in professional fields
• Master of Philosophy degree

Qatar

• Bachelors degree

Russian Federation

• Specialist diploma (completed after 1991)
• Magistr

Saudi Arabia

• Bachelors degree

Singapore

• Bachelors degree (from public universities)

South Africa

• Bachelors (Honours) degree
• Bachelors degree in Technology (BTech)

South Korea

• Bachelors (Haksa) degree

Sri Lanka

• Bachelors Special degree
• Professional degree

Syria

• Masters degree

Taiwan

• Bachelors degree

Tanzania

• Bachelors degree

Thailand

• Bachelors degree

Tunisia

• Maîtrise

Turkey

• Lisans Diplomasi

Uganda

• Bachelors degree

Ukraine

• Dyplom Bakalavra (Bachelors degree from 2005)
• Specialist diploma (from 1991)

United Arab Emirates

• Bachelors degree

United States of America

• Bachelors degree

West Bank

• Masters degree

Yemen

• Masters degree

Zambia

• Masters degree

Zimbabwe

• Bachelors degree

If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all areas (speaking, listening, reading, writing) or we may be able to accept one of the equivalent qualifications below:

• Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT)
• Pearson Test of Academic English: 60
• Cambridge English Scale: B2
• International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
• International GCSE English or English as a Second Language: Grade C

Please note when clicking onto the Oxford English Language Level Test, you will be leaving the University of Derby website. Any data you submit to this site will be subject to that company’s privacy terms and will not sit under the University's privacy policies. Please use caution when sharing your personal data. If you have any queries, you can contact the Data Protection Officer at gdpr@derby.ac.uk.

Some courses have higher English language entry requirements and in some cases will strictly only accept IELTS, please check the specific course details for more information.

Find out more about English language testing for September 2023 entry

Please note that if you need an IELTS test for UK visa applications, you can only take them at a UKVI approved IELTS test centre. 

Find out more about student visas

If you've studied in a country where English is the first language (such as the UK, the USA, Canada or Australia) you may not need a formal English language qualification: we will look at everyone's application individually.

If you don't think you have the correct requirements, please contact us so we can check for you.