Applying for postgraduate study

The information and advice below is based on my own experience, as academic advisor to students applying for postgraduate study, and as Programme Director of the MSc in Mathematical Sciences here at the University of Liverpool. It is not endorsed in any way by the University, or by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Important general rules

There is no centralised system for postgraduate applications in the UK. All universities have their own rules and requirements.

• Check the programme website in the first instance.
• Contact the programme director if anything is unclear.
• Information on sites such as findamasters.com may be out of date.

MSc or PhD?

If you decide to pursue further study after completing your degree, you should first decide which type of programme to apply for. In mathematics, the usual options are MSc or PhD.

• An MSc is a one year taught programme, composed from advanced modules and a dissertation. However, structures differ from one programme to another; e.g. students on the mathematics MSc here in Liverpool do more project work than most because they complete a preliminary dissertation before starting their main dissertation.
• A PhD is a research degree which usually takes three to four years. Students must write a thesis that makes a substantial original contribution to the literature. Often there are other requirements during the early part of the programme: taught modules, training courses, etc.

If your undergraduate degree is an integrated master’s programme (MMATH, MPHYS, etc.) you can usually go straight to PhD if you stay in the same subject. With a BSc this is possible, but unlikely. Some universities will only accept PhD applicants with a master’s degree, and competition for places is always tough. An applicant without a master’s degree is likely to lose out. Going directly from BSc to PhD may leave gaps in your background knowledge which need to be filled in later. An MSc is also helpful if you decide to change the direction of your studies (e.g. move from mathematics to computer science, engineering or physics).

What’s important in an application?

Most postgraduate programmes require you to submit your transcript of marks achieved so far, one or more references (letters of recommendation) and a personal statement. There may be other requirements as well, so check carefully before submitting your application.

Transcript

Your transcript is the most important part of your application. The programme director is unlikely to accept a student if (s)he thinks there is a risk they may not pass exams, or may fail to complete the programme. If your marks don’t meet the requirements for entry, contact the programme director to ask if your application will be considered. If your marks are too low, your references and personal statement need to contain strong evidence that you can improve. If you want to move into a different subject area then you need to show that you have the relevant background knowledge.

References (letters of recommendation)

Ask your academic advisor (personal tutor) for a reference. Providing you with a reference is part of your academic advisor’s job, and the programme director may think it strange if you don’t have one from him/her. If there is anything unusual (e.g. your performance was adversely affected by health problems), consider asking your academic advisor to mention this in the letter. If you need more than one reference, consider asking your project supervisor (if you have one) or a lecturer who taught you, especially if you did well in their module(s).

If you would like a reference from me, please read this before getting in touch.

Personal statement

Keep this short; it should be no more than one A4 page in length, in 11 or 12 point type with sensible margins (at least 2cm). The programme director will not want to read a five page essay about how your grandfather inspired you to study mathematics. Briefly explain why you want to undertake postgraduate study, and why you have applied to this particular programme. If your marks don’t meet the entry requirements, explain why you think this isn’t a true representation of your ability, and what you are going to do to improve your performance. You should also include relevant skills and personal qualities that you have. Think carefully about your experience and why it is relevant. Don’t list everything you have ever done and expect the programme director to pick out the important items — this is your job — and don’t write vague and unjustified statements such as “I’m a keen and committed student”. Anyone can say something like this; it doesn’t prove anything and won’t impress the programme director. Stick to verifiable facts (e.g. if you have never missed a lecture, you might write “I’m a keen and committed student, as shown by my 100% attendance record as an undergraduate”). Other useful things to mention might include:

• Skills you learned as part of your degree programme that are not evident from your transcript, such as computer programming from numerical analysis courses, teamworking from group projects, writing and presentation skills from your dissertation etc. Link these back to your transcript by stating which modules required them.
• Relevant work experience. This can include internships and other work that is directly related to the programme for which you are applying, but in fact most jobs will give you something useful; just make sure you explain what this is. For example, working in a shop might teach you about teamwork, interpersonal skills (from dealing with customers), and shows that you are reliable (turned up on time!) and trustworthy (if you handled significant amounts of money or valuable goods). All of these are useful to postgraduate students.
• Sport and other interests. If you have gained useful skills through involvement in leisure activities (teamwork, organisational skills, etc.), then you should mention these as well.

However, if you can’t find a reason why something is relevant, then it is probably irrelevant!

Finally, make sure the English in your personal statement is free from spelling and grammar errors. If you are not confident, ask someone who is (e.g. your academic advisor) to check it.