Getting into the second half of the academic year means you’re probably considering your next steps, especially if you’re in your final year.
You might want to go straight into work, but you might also be considering further education. But the thing is, there’s a lot you probably don’t know about Master’s degrees. Most people don’t know about the application, the teaching, and how a Master’s compares to undergraduate degrees. It’s surprisingly difficult information to find. I had to search for so much when applying for my MA at NTU, so here is everything I learned (England-based).
Application
The process of applying for a Master’s degree is very different from applying for an undergraduate degree. Rather than applying through an external system like UCAS, you have to apply directly to the university through their application portal. This means there isn’t a general deadline, though some universities may set them. Instead, it’s recommended you apply as soon as possible in case places fill up.
When you’re applying, you might be asked to write a personal statement describing why you want to study the course, similar to the one that you may have had to write for your undergraduate. They might ask for your CV and some references. If you haven’t gotten your degree classification yet, it’s best to also upload a transcript of your grades so far. This helps to give the administrators an idea of how well you’re doing and if you’re on track to get the required grade for the course (often a 2:1, though it does differ between universities).
Course Fees
Unlike at undergraduate level, Master’s degree fees are not capped, meaning the university can charge as much as they want. This can unfortunately make for some pretty pricey degrees. As a general rule, STEM degrees are more expensive than arts and humanities degrees, as they are usually lab-based and require more specialist equipment. A particularly expensive degree to get is a Master of Business Administration (MBA)—the 2025 MBA at London Business School is £119,950! You will also need to pay the course fees directly to the university rather than the government paying it for you. A good thing to remember is that if you continue to study at NTU, you might be able to get an alumni discount!
Loan
The biggest thing that surprised me about Master’s degrees is how different the loan is. With an undergraduate loan, you get two separate amounts of money. The first is a tuition loan that is paid directly to the university, and the second is a maintenance loan that is based on your household income. With a Master’s loan, you only get one loan to cover both tuition and your maintenance and everyone gets the same regardless of income. You then have to pay the tuition to the university yourself.
The loan amount usually increases a little each year—the 2025/26 loan is £12,858 and the 2024/25 loan was £12,471. If you are eligible to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), you can apply for this for your Master’s course too. The loan applications usually open in April or May, which is later than the undergraduate loans. The deadline for applying varies based on when you start your course, rather than a set date for everyone. You need to apply within nine months of the first day of the last academic year of your course. Personally, I found working this out quite confusing so I just applied as soon as they opened, but there is more information on this on the government website.
Studying
As a Master’s degree is more selective with applicants than an undergraduate degree, the course and class sizes are generally a lot smaller. While this may seem intimidating at first, it can be helpful as the lecturers can support each student’s specific needs more easily. I’ve really enjoyed having a smaller class (nine people are on my course) because we get to work together a lot and we each have more time with our course leader.
You’ll have fewer contact hours and classes than on your undergraduate degree and a lot more in-depth independent work. The type of work you’ll be expected to complete depends on the course you do—I study Magazine Journalism so I don’t have to do essays, but other courses will. The grading of a Master’s degree is also different. As the courses are more difficult, the pass mark is raised from 40% to 50%. The classification of the degree is also different with the levels of Fail, Pass, Commendation/Merit and Distinction, rather than Fail, Third, 2:2, 2:1 and First.
In conclusion
If you think a Master’s degree would be right for you, don’t let yourself be scared off by how different it can be to an undergraduate degree. Use this information to guide you in your decision-making process and try to view the next steps as a new adventure. Good luck!