How to apply for postgraduate study

Initial enquiries should be directed to Course Enquiries team or the Admissions Office, who can provide details on how to apply and Course information.

At the University of Northampton, we offer a number of PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) courses. When making your PGCE application, this should be done through UCAS.

If you are interested in pursuing a taught postgraduate course, such as a Master’s, you must complete an online application for all courses. Additional documentation may be required, as listed below.

Entry Points: Fixed entry points for full courses are in September/October, January/February, and May/June, as stated on the course web pages and term dates page. We recommend applying as early as possible, at least one month before the course start date, to avoid disappointment. Popular courses may close to applications earlier or have set closing dates, so please check your chosen course page for specific application deadlines.

Conditional Offers: You do not need to wait until you have your undergraduate degree certificate to apply, as we can make conditional offers. Ensure you list your qualifications clearly within your application.

Required Documents:

• Personal Statement: Highlight your reasons for joining the course.
• Qualifications: Photocopies or scans of your undergraduate degree certificate, transcript, and any professional qualifications.
• Change of Name Document: If your application and certificates are in different names.
• Passport or Driving Licence: Acceptable if you are a UK National.
• English Language Evidence: If English is not your first language.
• References: Some courses require one or more references. It is your responsibility to obtain these. We cannot accept references from the Admissions tutor of the programme you are joining. Academic or employer references are preferred, but personal references (not from family members) may be accepted in some cases. Check the course information page for specific reference requirements. Reference forms are available on the additional document page listed below.

You can find information and the documents to download on the PG and CPD additional documents and interview information page.

This is your opportunity to shine and make your case for joining the course. We recommend including some of the following information:

Introduction

• Start with a hook: Capture the reader’s attention with a unique anecdote or a strong statement about your passion for the field.
• Briefly introduce yourself: Mention your current academic status and your interest in the specific Master’s course.

Relevance of Your Degree

• Highlight relevant coursework: Discuss specific courses or projects that have prepared you for the Master’s course.
• Showcase achievements: Mention any academic awards, honors, or publications.

Knowledge and Awareness of the Subject Area

• Demonstrate your understanding: Demonstrate your knowledge and awareness of the subject area through examples from your academic experience.
• Current trends and issues: Discuss any current trends or issues in the field that interest you.

Reasons and Motivation for Studying the course

• State your reasons: Clearly articulate why you want to study this particular course.
• Personal and professional goals: Explain how the course aligns with your short-term and long-term goals.
• Specifics: Ensure you mention the specific course, university, and country you are applying to, especially if you are an international applicant.

Reasons and Motivation for Studying at Master’s/Level 7 Study

• Importance of advanced study: Discuss why you are motivated to pursue Master’s/Level 7 study.
• Career aspirations: Explain how this level of study will help you achieve your career aspirations.

Relevant Work or Voluntary Experience

• Detail your experience: Mention any internships, jobs, or volunteer work related to your field of study.
• Skills and competencies: Highlight skills you’ve developed that are pertinent to the course.

Professional Qualifications and Registration

• Professional qualifications: Mention any professional qualifications you have obtained that are relevant to the course.
• Professional registration: Include any professional registrations or memberships in relevant professional bodies.

Personal Qualities

• Unique attributes: Highlight personal qualities or experiences that make you a strong candidate.
• Overcoming challenges: Share any obstacles you’ve overcome and what you’ve learned from them.

International Perspective

• Cultural insights: Discuss how your international background provides a unique perspective and how it will contribute to the course.
• Adaptability: Highlight your ability to adapt to new environments and any experiences living or studying abroad.
• Credibility interview considerations: Mention any intentions to stay in the UK post-study, as this may require a credibility interview.

Conclusion

• Reiterate your enthusiasm: Summarise your passion for the field and your eagerness to join the course.
• Thank the reader: End with a polite thank you for considering your application.

Additional Tips

• Be concise and focused: Stick to the word limit and ensure every sentence adds value.
• Word limit: Your personal statement should be no more than 1,000 words.
• Review our Tips and Tricks webpage: Tips and Tricks for Writing Your Personal Statement.
• Proofread: Check for grammar and spelling errors.
• Seek feedback: Have mentors or peers review your statement.

Note: Some courses ask for specific information to be included within your personal statement. Please refer to the course page for this information.

We’re committed to providing a study and work environment that is led by our values of equality, diversity, and inclusion in higher education. You can read about our commitment to equal opportunities.

We encourage postgraduate applications from all sections of the community, regardless of:

• sex
• marital status
• age
• responsibility for dependents
• socio-economic status
• race
• colour
• ethnic or national origin
• sexual orientation, or
• disability.

We work hard to ensure that, as far as possible, students with disabilities are able to study successfully with us.

If you have additional needs for your postgraduate study, we advise that you contact the Additional Student Support and Inclusion Services Team (ASSIST) or course tutor as early as possible. You can discuss your needs and visit the University to assess the facilities if necessary.

Our Applicant with Criminal Convictions Policy details how we handle our applicants who have criminal convictions. This includes:

• Which applicants need to declare criminal conviction(s)
• What happens if you are applying for a DBS programme and declare a criminal conviction(s)
• How we assess DBS check outcomes and self-declaration of criminal conviction(s)

The below also provides additional information on what you may need to consider if you are making a postgraduate application and have a criminal conviction(s).

Non-DBS Programmes

If you are applying for a Non-DBS Programme (e.g. the programme does not require you to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check) and have a criminal conviction:

• You will not need to declare any criminal convictions during the admissions/application process
• You may be required to declare criminal convictions during other processes (e.g. accommodation application). However, this falls outside of the admissions process
• You must do your own research to determine whether your criminal conviction may prevent you working in your chosen profession. This might include contacting relevant professional bodies, regulatory authorities or accreditation bodies

We encourage you to contact us on admissionsconfidential@northampton.ac.uk if there is anything about your conviction/ licence/probation rules etc which we may need to take into account. We won’t need to know the details of your conviction. However, we might need to know the rules or requirements surrounding your conviction/license/probation. This is so we can consider whether we can make reasonable adjustments so that you can study with us. This may include (but is not limited to):

• You can only attend on certain days/times due to release or probation requirements/rules
• You are not permitted to access certain resources or the internet

DBS Programmes

If you are applying for a DBS course (e.g. the programme requires you to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check) and you have a criminal conviction:

• You will need to declare yes on your application (UCAS or Direct Application) if you have a criminal conviction which would appear on an enhanced DBS check. If you answer yes, we will send you a letter detailing how we will handle your declaration
• If you receive an offer from us and make us your FIRM choice, we will contact you to complete a DBS check prior to enrolment. Upon receipt of your DBS outcome (or if we ask you to self-declare e.g. due to a late application), a Criminal Convictions Panel will make an assessment of your criminal conviction(s) and whether you can study with us

We also advise that:

• You must do your own research to determine whether your criminal conviction may prevent you working in your chosen profession. This might include contacting relevant professional bodies, regulatory authorities or accreditation bodies
• You may be required to declare criminal convictions during other processes (e.g. accommodation application) however this falls outside of the admissions process

Additional information about your university application

If you need additional support or information then you may wish to consider contacting Unlock or Nacro. They will provide support and information for individuals with criminal convictions.

Once an application is received, the Admissions team will make necessary registry checks including checking whether minimum entry requirements have been met. The postgraduate entry requirements vary so please check individual courses for details.

Where the candidate’s first language is not English, evidence of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) must be presented.

Generally for Master’s degrees (Level 7) study we require the following: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other band (or equivalent)

Please be aware that some courses, such as, MSc Advance Occupational Therapy etc, have specific English language requirements (normally IELTS). Where this is the case, it will be shown under the English language requirements on our course pages.

English Language requirements must be met prior to joining the programme.

In addition to Qualification checks, there may be additional non-academic based entry requirements you will be asked to adhere to depending on the programme you wish to join.

Any subsequent offer of a place on a Postgraduate programme is subject to provision of evidence of qualifications, English language scores, NMC/ HCPC PIN proof (if relevant) and any outstanding conditions of offer. These must be provided to the Admissions Office prior to enrolment.

If you do not meet the Postgraduate entry requirements

We would still welcome an application from you. We welcome postgraduate applications from everyone, and we know that relevant experience is just as valuable as qualifications. Whether experience is from your work, voluntary activities, or independent study we still want to hear from you.

Some of our postgraduate programmes require applicants to attend an interview as part of the application process. If your programme requires you to attend an interview, then this will be specified in the entry requirement section of your course page.

Interviews may be group or individual based. Some programmes require applicants to carry out interview tasks or submit portfolios of work prior to the interview day. Depending on your programme, your interview will either be carried out virtually or face-to-face on our Waterside Campus.

You can find information and the documents to download on the PG and CPD additional documents and interview information page.

If all entry requirements have been met, the Admissions Office will make a formal offer to the student in writing, including links to the relevant Admissions policies. Candidates will be asked to confirm their understanding and acceptance of their place. Failing to accept your offer may result in you missing out on further information from the University.

If the candidate has been unsuccessful at this stage, the Admissions Office will formally advise the student that they have been unsuccessful in writing.

The University’s APL Policy shall apply to students wishing to use relevant previous study to allow for possible Module exemption.

Once an applicant has accepted their offer and provided proof of qualifications, English language scores and met any other conditions, they will be eligible to enrol. At this stage, fees will become payable. Please contact our Finance Office at income@northampton.ac.uk, regarding any fee related enquiries.

The Admissions Office is responsible for inviting students to complete Pre-enrolment. This must be completed for a student to enrol at the University.

Applicants will also be invited to book onto a relevant enrolment session and will be sent webpage links setting out the induction programme. It is worth noting that some programmes to do not allow students to enrol late, therefore you should always try to make your specific enrolment session or enrol at Welcome Weekend.  Courses which do not allow late enrolment will state this within the entry requirements of their course information page.

Applicants who are Unconditional or Unconditional Firm are eligible to attend enrolment. Applicants at other stages of the application process or Enquirers who are yet to make an application may be turned away from Enrolment and Induction.

Enrolment is overseen by the Student Information Team. Induction programmes are the responsibility of the Programme Leader and the Faculty Manager, these can be found on the New Student pages.