Postgraduate Taught Application Process

Final year Swansea undergraduates

The Admissions Office contacts final year Swansea undergraduates who are on-track to achieve a 2.2 or better with an invitation to apply for a taught postgraduate programme. Invitations are sent to Swansea email accounts in December and March. A further email is issued after results are known in July. As we already hold information on your academic performance, you don’t have to provide a transcript of your marks to date. You will be asked to nominate a referee although this will not usually be requested. You will normally receive a decision from us within two working days.

Apply online

Applying online is the quickest way to apply and receive a decision on your application.

Document checklist:

Your application may be delayed if you fail to provide the following documents (where appropriate):

• clear copies of qualifications you’ve gained, e.g. Bachelor degree certificate and transcripts (showing the subjects taken and your grades). If you’re still studying, provide a transcript of your results so far
• if your qualifications are in a language other than English, please provide official translations, in addition to the copies of the documents in your original language
• if English is not your first language, please provide a Swansea University recognised English language test certificate (if appropriate), for example IELTS
• If available, open references/letters of support. Alternatively, please provide details of your nominated referees including full and correct email addresses so that the Admissions Office can contact them directly.
• a copy of your sponsor letter/scholarship award (if appropriate/available) 
• copies of any other documentation to support your application such as a CV, Personal Statement, Portfolio (MA Creative Writing, for example)

To apply via medium of welsh, click on 'Cymraeg' tab.

If you are unable to apply online, please contact postgraduate.admissions@swansea.ac.uk

International students who have not met the direct entry requirements for a postgraduate course have the option of studying a Pre-Master’s programme at The College, Swansea University, located on our Bay Campus.

Please see our country-specific entry requirement section for information about grades required from your country.  You can also visit your country page where you can find out about tuition fees and moving to Swansea. 

There is more in our International Section.

Final year Swansea undergraduates

The Admissions Office contacts final year Swansea undergraduates who are on-track to achieve a 2.2 or better with an invitation to apply for a taught postgraduate programme.  Invitations are sent to Swansea email accounts in December and March. A further email is issued after results are known in July. As we already hold information on your academic performance, you don’t have to provide a transcript of your marks to date. You will be asked to nominate a referee although this will not usually be requested. You will normally receive a decision from us within two working days.

Apply online

Applying online is the quickest way to apply and receive a decision on your application.

Document checklist:

Your application may be delayed if you fail to provide the following documents (where appropriate)

• clear copies of qualifications you’ve gained, e.g. Bachelor degree certificate and transcripts (showing the subjects taken and your grades). If you’re still studying, provide a transcript of your results so far
• if your qualifications are in a language other than English, please provide official translations, in addition to the copies of the documents in your original language
• if English is not your first language, please provide a Swansea University recognised English language test certificate (if appropriate), for example IELTS
• If available, open references/letters of support. Alternatively, please provide details of your nominated referees including full and correct email addresses so that the Admissions Office can contact them directly.
• a copy of the personal details page of your passport
• a copy of your sponsor letter/scholarship award (if appropriate/available)
• copies of any other documentation to support your application such as a CV, Personal Statement, Portfolio (MA Creative Writing, for example)

If you are unable to apply online, please contact postgraduate.admissions@swansea.ac.uk

Detailed information can be found on our A-Z course pages.

A taught postgraduate degree is a structured degree of study consisting of a number of modules in specialist subjects which can prepare a student for a particular professional career.

• Taught programmes are designed to develop knowledge in specialised subjects previously studied more generally.
• A few Master's programmes act as "conversion courses", allowing students to change or develop their area of specialisation from that undertaken at undergraduate level.
• Undertaking a taught receive will often involve attending lectures and seminars or possibly working in the lab if undertaking a science-based course.
• Assessment is usually exam-based and through written assignments at the end of each module. To gain a Master's degree, students are often expected to complete a dissertation.
• Taught degrees typically last 1 year full-time, or 2/3 years if studying part-time.

A research degree provides students with the opportunity to research a specific area or topic in depth.

• Research degrees are more focused on independent study.
• Some research degrees do involve a taught element, particularly Master's by Research (including EngD) degrees.
• Research students are provided with guidance and support by their supervisor and the facilities to conduct their research. Their research should result in a unique piece of work involving new knowledge in their chosen subject area.
• Assessment is based upon a student's final thesis and an oral examination (viva-voce).

Research degrees vary in duration. MRes and Master's by Research degrees are typically pursued over 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. PhDs last at least 3 years full-time, or 6 years part-time.

If you are on track to obtain a 2.2 or above, an email will be sent to your student account (usually December or March) inviting you to submit an online application for an appropriate master’s course. We will not require a transcript of your marks to date as we already hold information on your academic performance. You will be asked to nominate a referee although this will not usually be requested.

Applying online is the quickest way to apply for postgraduate study and receive a decision on your application.

Please note that the following courses have different application processes:

• Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC)/LLM Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting and Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE). FULL-TIME applications must be submitted via the Central Admissions Board (CAB).

• MSC Computational Mechanics (Erasmus Mundus) Applications must be submitted to our partner institution, Universitat Politecnica Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

• MSC Social Work and MBBCH Medicine (Graduate Entry) Applications must be submitted via UCAS.

• MA Journalism, Media and Globalization (Erasmus Mundus) Applications must be submitted to our partner institution, Aarhus University in Denmark.

Some Colleges have fixed closing dates for their courses - see the individual courses for details. Applicants for other courses are encouraged to apply by 31 July to ensure that vacancies are still available.

You can find entry requirements for all postgraduate programmes on the individual courses - find your course on the A-Z list of Postgraduate Taught programmes. EU and international candidates should view our country-specific guidance. If you can't find the information, or you are unclear what the entry requirements are, you can contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office by email postgraduate.admissions@swansea.ac.uk or telephone: +44 (0)1792 295358.

Enrolment for the majority of taught Master's courses takes place in late September.  A small number of professional part-time programmes have a January or March start date – please contact postgraduate.admissions@swansea.ac.uk for further information.

• A copy of your current or final academic transcripts (and official translations, if not in English)
• A copy of your Bachelor and/or Master’s degree (and official translations, if not in English)
• Personal statement outlining the reasons you wish to pursue your receive of study
• Curriculum vitae (if you are applying on the basis of experience)
• IELTS test report form (if English is not your first language)
• Copy of the personal details page of your passport (non-EU applicants only)

No. We do not accept this as proof of your results. We need an official transcript from your University, which you should be able to get from your University’s Academic Office/Registry. If it is your final transcript, it needs to state your final overall result.

We will need an official translation of your documents into English if they are not printed in English in the first place. We will not be able to process your application until we have received a copy of your original documents and their official translation. The original translation will be required when you apply for your Tier 4 Visa.

References can be supplied as follows:

• You can attach "open" letters of support to your online application form; or
• Submit full details of your nominated referees on your online application form (please make sure that you type your referee's email addresses carefully, without mistakes). The Admissions Office will then contact your referees directly via the online form.
• If you receive an offer conditional upon receipt of a satisfactory reference, it is your responsibility to follow up any outstanding letters of support.

Postgraduate Reference Form

You can find details of the tuition fees on each individual postgraduate taught course page. Please also see our tuition fees web page for information about how to pay your fees and the University's refunds policy.

Yes. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries web page.

1. Credit Transfer: It may be possible to admit you to a taught master's with advanced standing on the basis of M-Level modules studied elsewhere in the UK during the last five years. Please apply using the standard application form and note in the personal statement section that you wish to be considered via the University’s Credit Transfer policy.  Do ensure that you include your previous academic transcripts plus a copy of the course syllabus giving details of learning outcomes and credit weightings so that the request can be considered alongside your application.
2. Experiential learning: Applicants who wish to be granted exemption on basis of previous experience are encouraged to contact the relevant programme Admissions Tutor for an informal discussion prior to submitting an application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit evidence in support of their claim for experiential learning.  Applicants must demonstrate that relevant learning experience has been gained. This could be via one or more of the following, as determined by the relevant Admissions Tutor: 

a. undertaking one or more approved assessments for each module (this could be standard assessments or supplementary examinations; or specifically designed and approved assessments etc.); or

b. submitting a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that they have met the learning outcomes of the module(s) and the applicant's personal reflection of how the experience has furthered his/her understanding of the relevant subject area: this may include confirmation from line managers of the job description/ responsibilities and applicant’s abilities.

On submission of the portfolio the Admissions Tutor will determine if the evidence provided demonstrates that an applicant has met learning outcomes of the Swansea modules for which exemption is sought and make an experiential learning recommendation to the University’ Matriculation Panel. These applications can take up to 10 weeks to complete.

If the outcome of the experiential learning has been deemed successful, applicants should then submit a standard application via Apply with email confirmation of their approved application for RPL.