研究生分类¶
In the UK, postgraduate programs are generally classified into two categories: Taught Masters and Research Masters.
Regarding the common Master's degree, different types of Master's degrees can be further classified as follows:：
MA：Master of Arts，文学硕士
MSc：Master of Science，理学硕士
MBA：Master of Business Administration，工商管理硕士
MFA：Master of Fine Arts，艺术学硕士
LLM：Master of Laws，法学硕士
MEd：Master of Education，教育学硕士
MEng：Master of Engineering，工程学硕士
MPhil：Master of Philosophy 研究硕士
MMus：Master of Music，音乐学硕士
etc。。。
Taught Masters
Generally, Taught Masters can be further divided into two categories:
Master's Degree Programs: These programs typically last for 12 months, during which students are required to attend classes, lectures, discussions, exams, and complete assignments, including a final dissertation. Only when all the requirements are successfully fulfilled can students obtain their Master's degree. (Ten Sheng Miao reminds you that most students studying in the UK pursue this 12-month Taught Master's program, and upon completion, they are awarded a Master's degree. This degree certificate is eligible for academic credential authentication in China.)
Please refer to the image below for an example of a UK Master's degree certificate.:
Diploma or Certificate Programs: This type of program typically lasts for around 9 months. Students attend classes and fulfill other course requirements but are not required to write a dissertation or obtain a degree certificate. This type of program cannot be recognized for academic credential authentication in China. However, upon completion of this program, students receive a certificate indicating their completion of a postgraduate course, which can be used as a basis for transferring to a Master's degree program. (Ten Sheng Miao reminds you that these programs without a dissertation are not recognized for academic credential authentication in China. However, it is still possible to convert them into recognized programs. Once you transfer to a Master's degree program and complete the dissertation requirement, it can be recognized. The earlier completed courses do not need to be repeated.)
Research Masters
The duration of a Research Master's program is typically around 2-3 years. In this type of program, students generally do not attend regular classes. Instead, they engage in independent research on a specific topic under the guidance of a supervisor and complete original research and a dissertation. If you wish to pursue a Research Master's, you would need to engage in full-time research work at the university for 1-2 years, leading to the award of an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) degree. (Ten Sheng Miao reminds you that a Research Master's program is somewhat like a preparation for a Ph.D. Most UK programs follow a 5-year integrated Master's and Ph.D. pathway, where students complete a Research Master's followed by a Ph.D., ultimately earning both a Master's and a Ph.D. degree.)