Ways to study

Below is a glossary of the various options available for postgraduate research at The University of Manchester.

Click on the list below to find out more:

Full-time

Many postgraduates study on a full-time basis. An advantage of this is completing an MPhil in one year, or a PhD course in three to four years. This enables the student to quickly gain all the expertise and knowledge required.

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Part-time

Many postgraduate research courses can be studied on a part-time basis and their duration varies - for details refer to the individual course entries.

Overseas applicants from non-EU countries should note that the terms of entry into the UK will normally prevent studying a course on a part-time basis.

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Distance learning

A number of Schools offer postgraduate courses delivered via distance learning. This is also known as distributed learning or e-learning.

Distance learning allows the student you are sponsoring to learn through self-study, using printed materials and web-based resources.

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Continuing professional development (CPD)

Continuing professional development is the process is of ongoing development during your career in order to maintain competence and increase professional proficiency and expertise.

Designed specifically for the business sector, Manchester's CPDs run at varied lengths, ranging from two-day non-assessed courses to modular masters courses studied on a full or part-time basis.

For more information on Manchester's CPDs please see the Professional Development pages in our Business section.

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Split-site PhDs

It is possible to study for a PhD on a split-site basis which involves a student undertaking a significant part of their research away from this University at another institution.

Split-site PhDs lead to a University of Manchester award and mostly involve some form of collaborative arrangement requiring a formal institutional agreement between the University and partner organisation.

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Validated postgraduate courses

The University of Manchester validates a small number of postgraduate courses in other institutions, both in the UK and overseas.

In these cases, the courses are designed and supported by The University of Manchester, but students carry out their research at another institution. The course structure and supervision reguirements are the same as those at Manchester.

These arrangements enable students who are unable to study at Manchester, for whatever reason, to obtain a University of Manchester degree.

General enquiries about validated Manchester courses should be directed to The University's Teaching, Learning and Support Office.

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