Misinam gives us a step-by-step guide to searching for your perfect Masters course at the University of Birmingham.

There is no secret to finding a Masters course that fits you at the University of Birmingham. It is one of the most popular choices to study in the UK, with people from across the globe enrolling for the masters programmes due to its long history of academic excellence.

Higher education is as diverse as Birmingham, with a wide range of courses offered in both taught and research masters. Professional and academic skills instilled during your postgraduate degree at UoB will make you highly desirable to employers across the globe. The University was recently ranked at 90 in the world by QS World Ranking 2023. So what are you looking to learn?

The University of Birmingham course finder

Browsing through the course finder

You can browse the course finder to find a course that fits your profile and interest. If you are confused about choosing a course, you can ask yourself some basic questions like:

  1. What is the subject matter?
  2. What is the duration of the course? How many years do you want to invest in a Masters course?
  3. If the course is taught or research.
  4. What suits your situation the best? Do you want to commit to a full-time or a part-time Masters?
  5. Which job sector do you want to work in?

Once you find an answer to the above questions, you can look at the entry requirements for the course you are interested in.

Course structure and assessment

Different courses will have different methods of teaching and examination. Some popular ways of teaching are through the seminar mode of teaching, where the classroom is relatively interactive, and the traditional lecture method. E-resources and practical learning are some of the generic techniques adopted by the University. Depending on your chosen course, assessment methods can vary. They might include take-home assignments in essays and blogs, online examinations, writing a critical appraisal, in-person examinations and others. Some of the primary things that you should keep in mind are:

  1. Do you need to pass all parts of the course equally?
  2. Is there a work placement?
  3. Does the course involve any practical work?
Students working in a cafe

What are you looking to learn from the tutors?

Lastly, finding out your tutor is also an essential step towards selecting the Masters course you will choose. Knowing who your tutor will be before applying for the course is an important step that applicants often tend to overlook.

Making an effort to look into the academic background of your tutors can give you a closer look into what you will learn from different individuals, and how their experience can contribute to building your experience as a student and a professional in future. Open days are a great way to connect with your tutors directly.

Misinam is currently studying a Masters in Mental Health at the University of Birmingham