A Pre-Masters program is a 1.5-2 semester-long program that you can undertake after your Bachelor's. It will help you better understand the subject you have already chosen for your Bachelor's and help you prepare for your Postgraduate studies. An added advantage is that your career prospects will increase because of your broader academic knowledge. According to your chosen discipline, the duration can be from ten weeks to twelve months. Several UK universities offer pre-masters, like the University of Newcastle, University of Surrey, Oxford Brookes University etc. There is no strict entry requirement for a pre-masters course. Also, the eligibility asked by the universities can differ from one to the other.
- You need to pass your Bachelor's from a recognised university.
- The minimum IELTS score required for admission is 5.5.
These are the basic entry requirements for a pre-masters. There can be minor differences, and it is better to consult the universities' official websites to get explicit knowledge. You can apply from the official websites of the respective universities and pay the application fee online. You can read the blog further if you wish to know more about pre-masters in the UK.
Why Study Pre-Masters in UK?
A pre-masters program is always good to take and has its advantages as well. A few reasons as to why you should study pre-masters are given below.
- You can experience a new culture and improve your English language skills.
- You can communicate with other people who share the same interests as you.
- You can improvise your knowledge of your Bachelor's degree.
- You can experiment with different subjects which can benefit your career.
- Your career prospect will improve with better academic qualifications.
Pre-Masters in UK: Course Facts
It will be helpful for you to get a glance into some of the essential facts related to pre-masters in the UK. As such, the same is given below.
Course duration
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6 weeks - 12 months
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Fees
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GBP 4500
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Minimum age requirement
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21 years
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No. of semesters
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1.5 - 2
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Entry month
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1.5 semesters - March
2 semesters - September, November, January
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Exams Required to Apply for Pre-Masters in UK
If you wish to apply for pre-masters in the UK, you need to satisfy a few requirements. They can vary from one university to another. Nonetheless, you will definitely need to get a good English Proficiency Test score. You can take either a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) or another accepted alternative equivalent assessment if you meet all the other entry requirements. The test should be taken within 24 months. A few of the UKVI-approved SELTS are
- Pearson PTE Academic UKVI
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English UKVI
- PSI Skills for English UKVI (4 components)
- IELTS Academic for UKVI
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
There are a few other alternative tests accepted. They are
- Duolingo
- Oxford Test of English
- IELTS Academic (non-UKVI)/IELTS Academic Online
- Pearson PTE Academic/Pearson PTE Academic Online
- LanguageCert International ESOL
- TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Cambridge ESOL/Cambridge Linguaskill
- Password Skills Solo
- Academic English Skills
List of Universities Offering Pre-Masters In UK
There are several prominent universities in the UK that offer pre-masters courses, and it will be beneficial for you to know about them in detail. Learning about the tuition fee, admission process, and eligibility for admission to these universities can even help you finalise which university to choose. As such, a list of some famous universities and their details are given below.
- London Metropolitan University: The London Metropolitan University ranks in the #801 position in the QS World University Rankings and partners with the Education Centre of Australia to offer several skill-acquiring programs to international students.
Entry requirements
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Bachelor’s from a recognised university
5.5 IELTS score
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Tuition fees
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GBP 10,000
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Admission process
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Apply directly through the official website by uploading all the necessary documents
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- Northumbria University: It is ranked #401 in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE). The popular pre-masters programs are graduate certificates in Business and in Technology.
Entry requirements
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UG degree from a recognised university
IELTS score of 6.0
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Tuition fees
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GBP 7000
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Admission process
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Download the application form from the website and submit it after filling up, along with the IELTS score. The application for the January intake ends by September
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- Oxford Brookes University: it is ranked among the 50 young universities in the world by QS and has four-month pre-masters. The course usually starts in January.
Entry requirements
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UG degree equivalent to a UK Honours degree
IELTS 7.0 score
Minimum 21 years old
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Tuition fee
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GBP 6400
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Admission process
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Apply online by September. You will receive an official email confirmation once you are selected
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- Queen Mary University of London: Queen Mary University is one of the finest places to study pre-masters and is ranked in the 19th position in the QS World Rankings.
Entry requirements
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- Full-time Bachelor’s degree
- IELTS - 5.5/TOEFL - 72
- Basic Mathematics & Statistics for Finance & Economics stream
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Tuition fee
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GBP 10,000
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Admission process
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The intakes will usually be in September & January. You can apply with all the documents online.
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- University of Newcastle: It is ranked #134 in the world and conducts the course in two trimesters. The first trimester improves your English Language skills and soft skills, and the second trimester increases your skills in the chosen subject.
Entry requirements
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- Bachelor’s degree with at least 50%
- IELTS - 5.5/TOEFL - 50
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Tuition fee
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GBP 25,000 for both trimesters
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Admission process
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The intakes are in January, May & September. You can apply online
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- Liverpool International College: It is ranked #155 among the best global universities by US News. They follow a one-to-one teaching system, which is beneficial for the students.
Entry requirements
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- Bachelor’s degree equal to UK degree
- IELTS score of 5.5
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Tuition fee
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GBP 20,000
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Admission process
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The application for January intake starts in September, and you can apply online
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- University of Brighton: It is ranked #55 in the QS World Rankings and offers pre-masters courses in Tourism, Finance, Engineering, Business, Design, Media etc.
Entry requirements
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- Bachelor’s degree
- 5.5 score in IELTS
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Tuition fee
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GBP 14,500
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Admission process
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You can apply online & application will be open 4 months before the commencement of the course. You will receive an offer letter if selected
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University of Surrey: THE (Times Higher Education) ranks it in the #201 position. There are pre-masters courses in English language preparation and study skills, and admission to the university is highly based on your English skills.
Admission requirements
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- A UG degree equivalent to UK Bachelor’s
- 6.0 IELTS score
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Tuition fee
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GBP 15,000
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Admission process
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Download the form from the website and submit it by filling up completely
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Popular Pre-Masters Courses in UK
There are several pre-masters courses in the UK, and you can choose from all the universities. The courses available are also dependent on the universities, and it is better to check the programs offered by the universities before applying. A few popular pre-masters courses are listed below for your reference.
- Film and Media
- Computing and Engineering
- Law, International Relations and Social Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Fintech
- Business, Management and Finance
If you feel that you need more information and details about studying pre-masters or any other course in the UK or any other country, you can contact AECC. We have trained professionals to help you with your queries and aid you through the application process.
FAQs
Is it possible to change universities after a pre-masters course is completed?
Yes, you can pursue your pre-masters in one university and Master's in another. These are called "transfer students", and you must follow some criteria to be eligible for it.
Is pre-masters mandatory in the UK?
No, it is not mandatory to pursue a pre-masters in the UK. However, it can benefit you in a few ways if you take up the program.
Are there any online pre-masters courses available?
Yes, there are several universities, like the University of Strathclyde, that offers online pre-masters. The most significant benefit of it is that it is less expensive.
What level is pre-masters in the UK?
A pre-masters is in between Bachelor's and Master's programs. As such, it is higher than a UG degree and lesser than a PG degree.
What is the difference between pre-masters and Masters?