Postgraduate research degrees
| > Master of Science (MSc), Master in Education (MEd), Master of Arts (MA) are mostly taught courses with a structured programme that may include a short research project – minimum 1 year full-time. These are often done part-time or as distance learning courses. |
| > Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is a postgraduate research degree that is completed in 1 year of full-time study. |
| > Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are both postgraduate research degrees, but the main differences are time and funding: MD minimum 2 years, PhD minimum 3 years full-time. |
| > It can be difficult to obtain research council funding and larger charitable grants to undertake an MD. |
| > If you are considering a future career in a clinical academic post, there appears to be a growing tendency for universities to ‘prefer’ to appoint individuals with a PhD. |