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Re-shaping Finance with a PhD from LSE

Phd in finance at lse.

Our PhD in Finance is unique in its integration of finance and economics. As one of the largest finance departments in the world, we are able to offer opportunities for research in virtually any field in finance. A PhD in Finance from LSE is highly regarded by employers, and our graduates move on to positions at world-leading institutions.

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PhD Placements

• Advanced Diploma in Economics
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Placements 2022

Xiaohua Chen Assistant Professor at Zhejiang University

Yashuang (Dexter) Ding Lecturer in Finance, King’s College London Business School

Zeina Hasna Economist Program, International Monetary Fund

Emile Marin Assistant Professor at the University of California, Davis

Lidia Smitkova Nuffield Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Oxford

Maryam Vaziri Economist Program, International Monetary Fund

Placements 2021

Michael Ashby Fellow and Director of Studies in Economics, Downing College, Cambridge

Jin Deng Keith Chan Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Jang Youn Lee Economist, at the Bank of Korea

Jason Lu Economist in the Research Department at the IMF

Minkyu Son Economist, at the Bank of Korea

Placements 2020

Maarten De Ridder Assistant Professor at London School of Economics

Oliver Exton Head of FTA Tariff Policy, Department for International Trade

Joseph Fisher Machine Learning Scientist, Amazon Alexa

Felix Grey Economic Advisor, Defra

Bowei Guo Assistant Professor at Renmin University of China

Athene Laws Economist Program (EP) at the IMF

Eoghan O'Neill Assistant Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam

John Spray Economist Program (EP) at the IMF

Alan Walsh Senior Economist at the Bank of Canada

Placements 2019

William Carpenter Analyst with Frontier Economics in London

Stephanie De Mel Research Economist, Institute of Fiscal Studies

Sihua Ding Assistant Professor, Nankai University, China

Jiaqi Li Senior Economist, Bank of Canada

Margit Reischer Post-doctoral Research Scholar, Economics Division, Columbia Business School

Ondrej Tobek UBS Investment Bank, London

Placements 2018

Yujiang (River) Chen College Teaching Officer in Economics at St. Catharine's College

Jeroen Dalderop Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame

Axel Gottfries Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Ediinburgh

Alex Harris Risk Analyst, European Securities and Markets Authority

Samuel Mann Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research

(Edward) Rafe Martyn Economist at the Department for Work and Pensions in the Civil Service

Gustavo Nicolas Paez Fellow, Myanmar Development Institute, at Naypyidaw in Myanmar

Umang Rawat Economist, IMF

Bartosz Redlicki Economist, Compass Lexecon

Ekaterina Smetanina Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Ruochen Wu Assistant Professor at Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Peng Zhang Assistant Professor at Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Placements 2017

Farid Ahmed Assistant Professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences

Anil Ari International Monetary Fund

Minarsch David Entrepreneur in Residence at Entrepreneur First (EF)

Daniel Goya Assistant Professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

Jan Kvasnicka Postdoctoral Fellow at Oxford University (Career Development Fellow)

Simon Lloyd Research Economist at the Bank of England

Haihan Tang Assistant Professor at Fudan University

Jasmine Xiao Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame

Tomasz Zawisza Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute

Placements 2016

Elcin Akcura Principal Power & Energy Economist, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Julien Gagnon Junior Associate Consultant, McKinsey & Co.

Ryoko Ito Postdoc, Oxford University

Alice Kuegler Postdoctoral Fellowship - University College London

Frederico Lima Economist, International Monetary Fund

Konstantin Matthies Associate, Alphabeta Advisors

Laura-Lucia Richter Consultant, NERA Economic Consulting (San Francisco & London)

Anand Shrivastava Assistant Professor, at Azim Premji University, Bangalore

Jonathan Smith Economist, Bank of England

Placements 2015

Philipp Andres Manager at Fintegral Consulting, London

Teodora Boneva Postdoctoral Researcher, University College London

James Brugler Assistant Professor, University of Melbourne

Erin Hengel Lecturer, University of Liverpool Management School

Cherry Muijsson Associate, BlackRock

Filip Rozsypal Postdoctoral role at the Centre for Macroeconomics, LSE

Catherine Sleeman Quantitative Research Fellow, Nesta

Stephen Thiele Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology

Placements 2014

Saleem Bahaj Economist, Bank of England

Anja Baum IMF (Economist Program)

Diego Cerdeiro IMF (Economist Program)

Daniel Da Mata Researcher: Institute for Applied Economics Research (IPEA), Brazil

Roberto Guadarrama Baena Director of Research, Instituto Para la Planeacion Del Desarrollo (IPD)

Philipp Koenig Associate Energy Economist - Goldman Sachs International

Alexandre Kohlhas IIES, Stockholm University

Povilas Lastauskas College Fellow, College Lecturer and Director of Studies at Wolfson College.

Kai Liu Assistant Professor, School of Economics, Renmin University of China.

Sylvia (Nan) Sheng Associate, FI/FX Strategy, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch

Frederik Toscani Economist, International Monetary Fund

Riccardo Trezzi Economist FED Board

Placements 2013

Oliver Baetz McKinsey & Company

Paul Baker Lecturership in Accounting at the University of Bath School of Management

Nadezda Chernenko Post-doc researcher : Lappeenranta University of Techology, Finland

Carlos Cueva Tenure track position at the University of Alicante

Nicky Grant Lecturer in Econometrics, University of Manchester

Matthias Grein Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Allianz Global Investors

Manos Kitsios IMF (Economist Program)

Zsoka Koczan IMF (Economist Program)

Oliver Latham Senior Associate at Charles River Associates in London

Daniel Quigley Associate, Commodities Research, Goldman Sachs

James Rutt Assistant Economist, Office of Fair Trading

Selma Telalagic Postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Oxford/Nuffield College

Ansgar Walther Postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Oxford/Nuffield College

Placements 2012

Philipp Brutscher Economist at the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg

Oliver de Groot Board of Governers of the Federal Reserve System

Francis Ditraglia University of Pennsylvania

Qiang Feng University of International Business and Economics, Beijing

Jimmy KiHoon Hong Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Technology, Sidney

Sisi Huang Senior Consultant, Oliver Wyman

Georgia Kaplanoglou University of Athens

Manasa Patnam ENSAE-CREST/Ecole Polytechnique

Bryony Reich Postdoctoral Researcher, University College London

Anna Watson College Lecturer, Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge

Placements 2010

Wongwachara Warapong Deputy Director, Corporate Strategy Office at Bank of Thailand

Aqib Aslam Economist, Research Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Placements 2008

Daniele Massacci King's College Business School

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PhD Economics admissions FAQs

The information below relates to 2024/5 entry and is currently being updated. please check back later for updated guidance on the process of application and admission to our mres/phd economics programme starting in 2025.

LSE has a well-established infrastructure for admitting and funding PhD students in the Department of Economics. We have a Chair and committee for both PhD Admissions and PhD Recruitment. In addition we have a dedicated professional staff at School and Department level dealing with funding and admissions. Applications are processed centrally through the  Graduate Admissions Office .

There is a strict application deadline for the PhD Economics 2024 entry. All applicants are advised to read the  MRes/PhD Economics 2024 prospectus page .

Admissions FAQs (2024 entry)

Below you will find various FAQS categorised by application , post application , funding and programme queries.

Application queries

1. when is the application deadline for the phd economics .

For direct entry to the PhD Economics programme there is an application deadline of  14 December 2023 . Complete applications must be received by the LSE Graduate Admissions Office by 23.59hrs (UK time) on 14 December 2023. We will not be able to accept any materials that arrive after the deadline; only complete applications supplied with all required supporting information by 14 December 2023 will be considered.

2. How should I apply?

Applications must be submitted via  LSE’s Online Application System  and are processed through LSE’s central  Graduate Admissions Office . All applicants are advised to read the  Department of Economics 2024 prospectus page  (for entry in 2024).

3. When should I apply?

The deadline to submit an application is 23.59hrs (UK time) 14 December 2023. Candidates are encouraged to apply early rather than wait until very close to the deadline to avoid unforeseen circumstances (eg. technical issues) preventing timely submission. Applicants who are considering re-taking the GRE test to improve their scores should do so in time to submit their new scores by the application deadline.  The Department cannot accept new GRE scores after the application deadline. 

4. What are the entry requirements? 

Entry requirements for the PhD Economics are stated on the departmental prospectus page . See also the LSE Minimum Entry Requirements including information for international students .

For details about the programme itself, see the Department of Economics Research Programmes  and the prospectus pages. See also details of the PhD Economics coursework requirements .

5. What should my application include?

Your application should include:

• An application form
• Application fee
• Statement of academic purpose
• Transcripts
• Two academic references
• Research statement (see guidance on the Research statement below)
• A separate list of all the courses you are currently taking and/or will be taking (if you are currently undertaking a degree programme)
• English language test scores (if applicable - see English language requirements )

For a full explanation of what you need to supply, please see Graduate Admissions advice on  How to Apply and guide to Supporting Documents .

6. How can I get help with the application process?

Questions about the mechanics of the application process should be submitted to LSE’s central Graduate Admissions Office . See how you can Contact the Graduate Admissions Office . A full range of Graduate Admissions guidance and information is available via their Graduate Knowledge Base  page. If you do not find the answer to your question there, please follow the “ I Need Help ” link which allows you to contact the Graduate Admissions Office by email or Live Chat.  

7. Do I need to submit a written sample? 

No, applicants to the PhD Economics are not required to submit a sample of their written work. We will, however, require a research statement.

8. Do I need to submit a Statement of academic purpose as well as a Research statement? 

Yes, the Statement of academic purpose is a school-wide requirement as it helps our academic selectors understand your personal motivation for undertaking the programme and gives you the opportunity to explain your academic strengths, relevant interests and tell us what you can bring to the programme. This Statement can be brief (ideally not exceeding 1000 words). 

9. What should my Research statement contain? 

Your Research statement should be submitted in place of the Outline research proposal, along with your application form and other required supporting documents, via the LSE online application system.

Please answer the following questions clearly and concisely. Max 200 words per question.

• Why do you want to do research in economics?
• Can you explain how your studies and experience make you suitable to do research in economics?
• Which aspect of the PhD do you think you will like the most? Which will you dislike the most? Why?
• Tell us about your favourite paper in economics. What do you like about it? How would you improve it?
• Write a comment for a general audience on ONE of the following topics (i) Is inequality good for growth?   (ii) Do immigrants take the jobs of native workers?   (iii) Is CEO compensation excessive? (iv) Is universal minimum income a good idea? (v) Overall, has central banks' move to inflation targeting been a success? (vi) Is culture an important determinant of differences in income per capita across countries? (vii) Markets function well as information is aggregated efficiently through prices. (viii) Elections are effective at disciplining politicians who do not have the public interest as their main goal.

10. How can I demonstrate research potential?

If you have served as research assistant for an economist please ask that person to write a letter focussing on your research skills and describe your experience – reference point 2 (above) of the research statement.

If not, please list any evidence you think would be valuable. Examples include but are not restricted to: experience working autonomously under stress without any guidance, demonstration of creativity in any form, experience of writing original research.

11. Should my application include a diversity statement?

LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university, a vision the Department of Economics fully supports. We believe strongly in expanding the diversity of our graduate student body and invite you to share your experiences, values, perspectives, and/or activities that shape you as a PhD candidate and align with these commitments as part of your statement of academic purpose.

Should a candidate submit a diversity statement as part of their statement of academic purpose the information provided will help the selection committee to contextualise the application; however, it will not play a part in assessing a candidate’s suitability for the MREs/PhD Economics programme. 

12. Can I contact faculty in advance, with a request to be my PhD supervisor? 

This is neither necessary nor desirable. Applicants must submit a complete application by the published deadline. There is a formal review process whereby the Department will decide if we can offer candidates a place on the programme. The allocation of a supervisor is done after completion of Year 1 of the programme, based on each student's area of interest and availability of faculty. There is no presumption that a student will be allocated the supervisor of their own choice, or any member of faculty they may have contacted before/during the application process.

13. Do I need to submit a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score? 

All applicants must have taken the GRE General Test  and must include the test score with their application. For details of how to take the test, see the ETS website. The GRE has three sections: Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical. High GRE scores, especially in the Quantitative section, will further strengthen a good application. Most successful PhD Economics applicants have scores of 166 or more in the quantitative section. Applicants must enter their full and percentile GRE scores for all three sections. The test scores should be less than five years old on 1 October 2024.

14. Can I request an exemption on the GRE score requirement? 

GRE is a compulsory requirement, irrespective of the MRes/PhD Economics applicant’s academic background. Normally, no GRE waiver is possible.  However, applicants faced with exceptional and  unavoidable  circumstances may submit a waiver request by email, with relevant supporting information, to the Department’s admissions team .  The Selection Committee will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis and the GRE waiver cannot be guaranteed. NB. Please note that booking a late GRE test date will normally not be considered sufficient grounds for a waiver.

15. Can I submit an application solely for the MRes?

No, the MRes is an integral stage of the PhD Economics programme, and may only be taken by students who are committed to completing a PhD, subject to satisfying progression requirements.

16. Can I transfer from a PhD programme at another University?  

Applicants who commence/are already undertaking a PhD programme in another institution will not normally be allowed to transfer directly into a later stage of our PhD Economics. Such applicants would be expected to submit a full application to the programme like any other candidate and, if offered a place, would be required to undertake all parts of the course from the start of the programme, i.e. they would be registered as MRes students and undertake both years of the taught MRes programme along with the rest of the cohort. Exemption from parts of the PhD Economics, on grounds of having studied certain topics at a previous institution, will not normally be permitted.

17. Who should I contact for further information and advice?

If you have a query about our postgraduate Economics programmes that is not addressed above, or on the departmental website, contact the  Department of Economics postgraduate admissions team .  Please note that we are not able to reply to questions that constitute a request for an informal assessment. Applicants who have questions about their eligibility should consult the   Department of Economics prospectus page .

All enquiries about the application process must be addressed to LSE’s central  Graduate Admissions Office .

Post application queries

18. do you hold an open day.

As part of our recruitment process successful offer holders are invited to attend an Open Day where they will be able to meet and network with faculty and current MRes/PhD Economics students.

Applicants are, of course, very welcome to visit LSE on their own and attend a guided or self-guided tour – see more details about a visit to LSE . 

LSE also has many  public events  which are often open to all, although some do require a ticket.  There are also LSE Virtual Open Day events - for more information and to register your interest please visit the LSE Webpage .

19. What happens to my application after I click submit?

During this phase, the Graduate Admissions team conducts checks to ensure you have included all of the required documents with your application. Please note, the Department will not receive your application until you have supplied all of the required documents, which must be submitted by the application deadline. 

Once the deadline passes and the Department receives all complete applications the Selection Committee begins its review of all applications, until they arrive at a final shortlist of candidates. This process usually takes around 4 weeks at the end of which the Committee holds its final meeting to decide on who to make an offer to.

NB: The Department of Economics does not hold interviews as part of its selection process. 

After the Selection Committee meeting, all applicants who are offered a place on the PhD Economics programme are reviewed by the Funding committee for consideration of all funding at our disposal. The Department cannot guarantee that all of those offered places to study will also be offered funding. 

From early March onward, formal offers will be sent out by the LSE Graduate Admissions Office after carrying out its standard checks. The Department will also contact candidates to whom we wish to offer a place on the PhD Economics. At that stage, each candidate will be advised if they have been awarded funding, waitlisted for funding or have not been allocated funding at all. 

Candidates who are unsuccessful will be informed of the final decision by the Graduate Admissions Office. We typically expect this decision to be communicated to you around the beginning of March. 

20. When will I get my decision on my PhD Economics?

Admissions decisions will be made by a committee in the Department of Economics. Applicants will be informed of the decision by early March 2024. If your application is successful, we expect you to let us know by 15 April 2024 whether you are planning to enrol.

21. What are my chances of admission?

The admission committee reviews all applications and offers a place to those candidates with sufficient research potential.

Applicants who have questions about their eligibility for applying to research programmes at LSE should consult the  LSE Minimum Entry Requirements   and the  programme-specific  page for the programme to which they intend to apply. Also see  additional information for international students . Meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission. In fact, most successful candidates exceed one or more of the requirements.

We regret that we cannot provide any further information or comment on an individual's chances of admission prior to receiving a complete formal application. The committee will make their decision based on all the information submitted with the application, which should be submitted online to the central  Graduate Admissions Office .

Funding queries

22. is there a separate process to apply for phd economics funding.

There is no separate process to apply for any funding which is administered and awarded by LSE - as a matter of normal procedure, all applicants who are offered a place on our PhD Economics would be considered for all types of funding at our disposal and for which they are eligible, on the basis of the information submitted in their application - see  Costs and financial aid  

As competition for places is very high and competition for funding is even more intense, we may not be able to offer funding to all PhD Economics students, hence applicants are advised to actively explore all sources of potential funding – see information in the School's  Financial Support Office  pages  (please check regularly for 2024 information updates) . 

23. Will there be funding options available once I've started the PhD Economics

Offer holders are expected to only take up a place on the PhD Economics if they have funds in place to finish their degree; please be aware that it's very unlikely there will be any funding available from the Department of Economics to fund PhD Economics students after they have started their degree. While there might be limited sources of funding at later stages of the PhD, e.g. from teaching or research assistant positions, these cannot be guaranteed nor can specific amounts (if any) be estimated at this stage. 

24. Will my financial status be a factor in the selection process?

Admissions decisions are made on the basis of academic merit alone, without any reference to an applicant’s financial situation. Applicants who are able to fund themselves or succeed in securing a scholarship or sponsorship from any source will be considered for entry to the programme in exactly the same way as applicants who have no funding in place. The same procedures and standards apply to all applicants competing for entry.

Programme queries

25. What can you tell me about the structure of the programme?

See the prospectus page for the PhD Economics programme – section “ Programme structure and courses” . The PhD Economics programme is grounded in two years of coursework through the MRes component followed by three to four years of research through the PhD.

Also see the LSE A cademic Calendar  for all Research Students at LSE, where clicking on “Programme Regulations” and “Research Course Guides” will give you detailed insight into the topics covered in each programme of study. 

26. Is the PhD Economics offered on a part-time basis?

The PhD Economics is only offered on a full-time basis.

27. How does the programme differ from the US and European programmes?

The programme has the standard structure of top US programmes with compulsory coursework in the first two years and research thereafter.  As in most US programmes, students take core courses in year one and field courses in year two.

28. Can I progress to the PhD Economics via an MSc programme at LSE?

There will no longer be automatic and direct progression from any LSE programme into our MRes/PhD Economics from the 2024/5 academic cycle.  Students registered in the LSE Department of Economics during the 2023/4 academic year, who wish to be considered for 2024 entry to the MRes/PhD Economics would need to submit the standard full application package by the deadline for 2024 entry (14 December 2023).  All applicants - including LSE students - will be given equal consideration, as part of the MRes/PhD Economics' standard process for admission as well as funding.  

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Postgraduate Study

What could taught postgraduate study do for me.

The most common form of taught postgraduate study is a master’s course. They usually take one year to complete, involving a mix of lectures, seminars, self-study and practical work, and either lead to a Master of Science (MSc), Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

If you don’t want or need to take a full master’s degree, a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) will often cover the same material but takes less time – usually two terms – and doesn’t require a dissertation. A postgraduate certificate (PGCert) is an even shorter option – usually one term.

There are several ways in which postgraduate study can enhance your development and your future. A key consideration is whether a postgraduate qualification is a necessity or will give you a significant advantage in the career area that interests you.

If a postgraduate qualification is not required by your future employers, there are other advantages to be gained, such as:

the opportunity to expand your network. Other students on your course, lecturers, visiting speakers etc. all have the potential to be useful in your future career.

a chance to build your confidence and enhance your subject specific and transferable skills, including project management, analytical skills, networking and team work.

learning more about a subject that you enjoy in a stimulating academic environment.

Even if your qualification doesn’t enhance your chances of securing an entry level job in your chosen sector, your additional knowledge and experience may help you progress more quickly through an organisation once you are in.

Is it the right direction for me to take?

To help you to decide whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are several questions you can ask yourself. Start with:

Do I have to do it to progress in my chosen career?

Will it give me an advantage in my chosen career?

If the answer to either of those questions is yes, your next step is to explore your options further. Talk to people in the professions that interest you and find out if there are any subjects or courses that they recommend. Look for relevant networking opportunities on CareerHub or research your chosen career area in the  employment sectors  section of our website.

If the answer to both those questions is no, or you don’t yet know what career you might choose, there are other equally valid reasons for selecting this path:

Do I love my subject and want to learn more about it?

Do I thrive in an academic environment?

Do I want to continue to build my study skills, e.g. in critical thinking and analysis?

Do I want to study abroad and gain international experience?

Find out more about studying overseas on our  Studying abroad  page.

Finally, the following questions need honest answers if you are to make the right decision for the right reasons:

Am I using this as an excuse to put off making career decisions?

Does the job market scare me?

If your answer to either of those questions is yes, talk to a Careers Consultant before making your decision. Postgraduate study is not an easy option and can be expensive. There will be other ways to build your confidence and skills.  You can book a one to one appointment on  CareerHub .

How do I choose the right course?

There are several things to think about when choosing a course. As with your undergraduate course, you need to consider the institution, its location, social and support networks, style of teaching, course content, assessment methods etc., but in addition, you might also want to consider:

the reputation and connections of the department  – for example, are there any leading researchers you could work with, do they have visiting speakers from organisations you’d like to work for in the future, etc.? To investigate the leading researchers in your chosen field – look at relevant academic journals and see who is publishing work that interests you. Where are they based? Or talk to academics in your own department.

where students find employment after the course  – are they in jobs/organisations that interest you? The admissions tutor for each course should be able to provide that information, or you might find it on the institution’s website.

what do professionals in the careers that interest you think of the course/institution?  Attend networking events, talk to LSE alumni etc. to find out.

When it comes to choosing your subject of study, there will be many options open to you. Will you decide to specialise, or would you rather combine two or three subjects? If you’re looking for courses in the UK, visit the  Prospects Postgraduate Courses  database. For overseas options, try  FindAMasters .  

Talk to your course tutor or supervisor and find out what they think would suit you. They may be able to provide useful feedback to help your decision making.

For more information, visit our  Researching postgraduate courses  page.

How can I fund my postgraduate study?

Obtaining funding for postgraduate study can be a challenge. In many cases, students combine funding from a variety of sources. There are several options you might explore:

Start with the University you wish to study at and find out whether they offer bursaries or scholarships, e.g. for disadvantage or academic excellence, etc. Charities, foundations and trusts can also be a source of this type of funding. Use resources such as Trustfunding.org.uk or the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding to identify relevant organisations. Some courses, e.g. teacher training, may offer government bursaries.

Postgraduate study loans are available from the UK government, offering a contribution towards tuition fees and living costs. Sums vary depending on your country of origin, i.e. England, Wales, Scotland or N. Ireland. If you are not a UK citizen, find out whether your home country offers something similar. Make sure you look at the eligibility criteria and conditions. There may also be Research Council grants available – check with the University you plan to apply to.

Many LSE students take part-time jobs, often choosing to study part-time to enhance their flexibility. When considering this option, remember to check your visa stipulations (where necessary) and also see the LSE’s ISVAT guide to working during your studies . Relevant work experience can give you a significant advantage in the job market, so finding part-time work that complements your studies and career ambitions is an excellent way to fund your learning and enhance your CV.

Some employers offer sponsorship for postgraduate study, but you will usually have to be employed by them already and may be tied in for several years post qualification.

This is not an easy option and is likely to take up a lot of your time, but it may be a way to raise a proportion of the funding you need, to add to finances received from other sources. If you don’t need to obtain a master’s qualification to support your career plans, a PGDip or PGCert are usually cheaper options as they are shorter courses. To find out more about different methods of funding, visit the Prospects funding postgraduate study pages.

How do I apply for postgraduate courses?

Applications are made directly to the University. Some set specific deadlines and others take applications throughout the year. Make sure you know the application process for each course that interests you.

You can apply for as many courses as you want, and it is recommended that you start your application between 6 months to 1 year in advance of the course start date. An early application is particularly important if you’re hoping to secure funding. You’ll also need to factor in time for academics or employers to write references.

A typical Master’s application includes:

• a personal statement
• academic transcripts

Some may also require a portfolio or research proposal.

International students will also need to provide:

• a copy of your passport
• proof of your language proficiency, if you're not a native speaker. 

For more information, visit the Prospects Applying for a Master’s degree page.

Applying for a PGDip or PGCert is a very similar process. The Prospects page on Postgraduate diplomas and certificates provides further details.

Useful websites

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study

https://www.postgrad.com/

https://www.postgraduatesearch.com/

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