Postgraduate taught study
Across the College's six Schools, our diverse programmes range from traditional disciplines to the emerging technologies of the 21st century.
Our programmes
Why study a Postgraduate Taught programme?
A Postgraduate Taught programme, such as a Masters or Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate, offers students the opportunity to develop and hone their existing knowledge and skill-set in order to specialise in specific areas of science and engineering. We understand the important link between your chosen academic discipline and your future career, and therefore provide you with world-leading experts in your chosen field who will share their own expertise, challenge you intellectually, expand your understanding, and help you to apply what you have learnt beyond university.
Our programmes provide students with the necessary skills and expertise that are required for a successful career in industry. We offer a range of Postgraduate Taught programmes that meet industry skills gaps within Scotland and the UK, and globally.
How are our programmes delivered?
Our postgraduate taught programmes encompass a range of learning and teaching styles that include; tutorials, seminars, lab and practical workshops, lectures, guest lecturers, project work (both individual and team), field trips and e-learning.
Collaborative Programmes
We offer a number of unique Masters programmes that have been created through university collaborations. These programmes include the jointly taught MSc Sensor and Imaging Systems with the University of Edinburgh and the MSc in Product Design, administered through Glasgow School of Art. These collaborations encourage students to explore different learning environments, and ensure teaching quality and academic support from both institutions.
Postgraduate Research
Our Masters students are able to draw on the research strengths of our academics and active research groups across all Schools within the College. We have expertise in areas including research in digital economy, energy, healthcare technology, sensors and intelligent imaging, sustainable high value manufacturing, and underpinning capabilities. Masters students also have access to their School Research Groups. For example, a Chemistry Masters student must carry out a three month full-time project from June-August alongside one of the School's existing research groups. The student will share the daily life and experiences of a researcher and gain the opportunity to work on a piece of substantially independent research.
How are our programmes relevant to industry?
Our Masters programmes are often created with industry requirements in mind. Some of the courses within our programmes are easily mapped onto specific sectors, or have been created collaboratively in order to meet skills gaps. For example, the MSc in Geospatial & Mapping Sciences within the School of Geographical and Earth Sciences is an industry-sponsored programme. It has been developed in close collaboration with industry to meet global demand for professionals in this field. Furthermore this programme meets the academic requirements for membership of relevant professional bodies and is accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.
Accreditation
Many of our Masters programmes are accredited by the relevant professional bodies. Please see the PGT programme list for the full list of accredited programmes within the College of Science and Engineering.
Industrial Partner Engagement
Schools often combine their strong industry links with programme creation and delivery to provide students with relevant and practical learning experiences. The School of Computing Science for example has extensive contacts with industrial partners who contribute to several of their taught courses, through active teaching, curriculum development and panel discussion. Recent contributors include representatives from IBM, J.P. Morgan, Amazon, Adobe and Red Hat.
How are our programmes relevant to a career in academia?
All our Masters students benefit from the excellent research that is carried out across all seven Schools within the College. Many of our students decide to continue in academia and study a Postgraduate Research degree after their Masters. The MRes in Human Geography for example, is recognised by ESRC and quota awards are available for 1+3 studentships (i.e. one year MRes followed by three years’ PhD study).