Taught courses

Taught MA/MSc/MRes/Diploma courses

Full-time MA/MSc courses last 12 months; part-time MA/MSc courses normally last 24 months. Some courses are offered both in full-time and in part-time forms.

For some MA/MSc courses there exists, as a variant, a nine-month Diploma course. In other cases, the Diploma is offered for a completely separate course.

Typically, full-time courses involve attendance at coursework over the first six/eight months followed by the production of a dissertation. Performance in coursework may be assessed continuously or by means of assignments or closed examinations.

The dissertation is on a relevant topic chosen by the candidate in conjunction with the staff responsible for the course. The word count is normally between 15,000 and 20,000 words. The dissertation is always an integral element of the course and of the assessment.

Several of the University's social science courses have recognition from the ESRC for 1+3 funding. Information about other sources of funding is also available.

MRes degrees

MRes degrees

The Master of Research (MRes) degree courses are prestigious programmes which develop research training and other skills for those intending to pursue careers in academic or industrial research, or careers in industry where an understanding of research will be useful. They are available in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environment and Mathematics, Social Policy and Social Work and several of the courses are interdisciplinary.

MRes courses are full-time and last 12 months; they involve work experience and research projects in collaboration with industry.

The MRes programmes offered by the Department of Social Policy and Social Work are also offered via a two-year, part-time route.

Vocational/professional

Directly vocational professional training courses

Courses which fall into this category are the Postgraduate Certificate in Education, which trains graduates for entry to the teaching profession, and the Master in Social Work course. Details of the former are set out in a separate prospectus which can be obtained on request to the Graduate Schools Office.

Most MA/MSc/MRes/Diploma courses start in September or October.

Visiting

Visiting students

Students registered for graduate courses at other universities may apply to spend a period (usually from one term up to one year) at York taking all or part of a master's course on a full-time basis as a visiting graduate student, before returning to their own university to complete their qualification there.