Since 2017 I have been engaged in postgraduate studies through British universities. I have found that postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom are much different from those offered in the United States. From the application process to the so-called “program” of study, the two systems differ significantly. In my experience it was very helpful to receive advice about these differences from students who had experience on both sides of the pond. Now that I have five years of experience in the British system, both working in person and from a distance, I would like to pass along some information for anyone thinking about pursuing a British postgraduate degree in biblical studies.
My Background
I began my academic studies with an undergraduate and a master’s degree at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee. After completing my degrees at Welch, I began working to apply directly to a doctoral program in the UK. However, I found that, while some schools would have considered me for their doctoral programs, I needed to reconsider my path forward. The typical American path to a doctorate involves an undergraduate degree, at least one master’s degree, and then a doctoral program. The doctoral programs generally involve two or more years of coursework followed by a dissertation.
My would-be supervisor at the University of Cambridge suggested that I begin my postgraduate education with a Masters of Philosophy because, in the British education system, students begin to specialize much earlier than in the States. Therefore, a British undergraduate program is more like an American master’s program, and a British master’s program is more like the coursework for an American doctoral program. I took his advice and decided to pursue the Masters of Philosophy degree, which was a one-year program on campus at Cambridge University.
After my master’s degree, I applied for entrance to British doctoral programs. I discovered that universities were much more interested in me, and my funding opportunities were better because I was “caught up” in the British system. I was now at the same level of education as British students applying for doctoral programs, at least in the eyes of many British universities. I accepted an offer from the University of Glasgow where I have studied from a distance since 2018.
The Application Process
Prerequisites
An ideal candidate for a British postgraduate degree is one who has at least a master’s degree with a major research component. As I searched for potential supervisors, nearly all of them wanted to see some of my writing and research. I submitted my master’s thesis from Welch College as my writing sample. Having a major writing project already completed gives potential supervisors a sense of your research capabilities and your awareness of the field of study.
Supervisors
It is important to search carefully through potential supervisors with whom to study. The supervisor should have some level of expertise in your field of interest. If you do not already have someone in mind, a great place to begin looking is on academia.edu. Academia is basically a social network for academics. You can find and upload papers and resumés, as well as list your academic areas of study and find others with the same interests. When I was looking for a supervisor, this website helped me find the contact information for many of the supervisors with whom I wanted to work. University websites are also good places to find contact information for potential supervisors.
Dissertation Topic
Your potential supervisor will then help you put together a research proposal for your application. The early conversations with potential supervisors typically involve bouncing around ideas for a dissertation topic. For example, my interests were in the field of Septuagint studies. After talking with my supervisor, I then narrowed down my area of study to a particular book (the Psalms), and then even more to a particular aspect of the book (verbal syntax). At this stage, the potential supervisor is helping you decide on a subject within their field of expertise so that they can adequately guide you along the way.
Application
After finding a supervisor who is willing to oversee your project, the more familiar application process begins. This stage includes a standard application with purpose statements, references, and other formalities. A colleague told me during this process that I would be accepted if my supervisor was supportive of my dissertation proposal, but that support did not guarantee funding. That proved to be true. I was accepted to every university to which I applied since I had supervisors vouching for me.
Funding
Funding is a different conversation altogether. Like universities anywhere in the world, some have more money than others. In relation to theology and religious studies, some universities have very little funding but there is less competition. In these situations, you will not get enough money to fully fund your studies, but it may be more than you would get somewhere with a lot of competition. This is something with which your potential supervisor can help you. He or she will know of what funding is available for their department and will help you apply for it.
The Program of Study
Though the universities vary, postgraduate programs in the UK, especially doctoral programs, are, generally speaking, more research-based than those in the States. There is no coursework for a British doctorate, only a dissertation. Most universities will have some way of monitoring a student’s progress for each year of study. For example, there is an annual progress review at Glasgow. It consists of a writing sample from the dissertation, an updated table of contents with projected completion dates, a self-evaluation, a supervisor evaluation, and a viva where you defend your work before a committee. Passing your annual viva allows you to proceed to the next year of study. Again, there will be some minor variation between British universities but the general idea of not having coursework is commonplace.
Other Considerations
Family
One additional consideration for international students pursuing postgraduate degrees in the UK is your family. Visa laws are always changing. While this hurtle will not be an issue for the student who will simply apply for a student visa, attaining visas for the rest of your family can sometimes be problematic. In most cases, a spouse can apply for a dependent visa which will grant her or him permission to live and work in the UK for the duration of the program.
Accommodation
If you are single, accommodations through the university will be far cheaper than private options. Some universities have married student housing, but it is much harder to obtain, which means most married students must seek out private accommodations. Also, most private accommodations in the UK require you to visit before you can apply for a flat. This additional trip to the UK will occur approximately six months before your program begins. You will need to have several visits lined up to make the most of your trip and also be ready to put down a deposit to secure the flat.
Traditional vs. Distance Learning
Some universities allow their doctoral students to pursue their education off campus. Every student is different and thrives in different settings. But having experienced both, I can say that there were numerous benefits to being on campus. The collegiality, face-to-face meetings with supervisors, interaction with visiting scholars, and simply being able to immerse yourself in your work made a massive difference.
Most doctoral programs are designed for people who are not working outside of school and will finish their degree in three to four years. If you decide to do the program from a distance, it is imperative that you discuss with your supervisor and the university how much you plan to work and consider doing the program part-time rather than full-time. Some students may do fine working while pursuing their degree at a full-time pace, but, for students like me, it does not work so well.
Conclusion
British postgraduate programs are wonderful in many ways, but they are not for everyone. There are many practical concerns as far as accommodations and visas that may not be worth the stress for some people. At the same time, being removed from your normal environment and being able to immerse yourself fully in your study may be a good thing. The main thing to consider is whether studying in the UK is best for your field of study.
For most academic fields, there are plenty of American institutions that offer programs of study that are just as good (or even better) than what is offered in the UK, and it would not be worth the hassle of living overseas. At the same time, there are some fields (such as Septuagint studies) where most experts in the field are found in British universities and studying with them requires you to pursue a British postgraduate degree. If it is fitting for your interests and priorities, the decision to study in the UK is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor.
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