Postgraduate UK 2013

Journalism How to ﬁnd and publish stories in the digital age

Geoengineering Science tackles climate change

Great British events Weird and wonderful things to see and do Postgraduate UK 2013

Grasp the challenge UK robotics researchers are creating automatons to make our lives easier www.educationuk.org

INSIDE © David Parker/Science Photo Library Parker/Science © David Postgraduate UK

If you’re reading this then you are probably considering Managing editors coming to the UK to study for a postgraduate qualification. Lisa Grundberg Helen Tiffany Well, you’ve come to the right place. As you’ll discover Editor from reading the features in this issue of Postgraduate UK, Sam Noble the UK is at the heart of cutting-edge research in a variety News editor Ann Morgan of inspiring industries. Profiles editor Richard Lloyd We turn the spotlight on a variety of subject areas, ranging Subeditors from translation (page 30), fashion (page 40), journalism Dominic Graham Katie Shimmon (page 52) and international development (page 44), to more Design technical fields such as geoengineering (page 48), robotics Matt Hadfield (page 34) and sensory science (page 56). Traditional or Picture editor modern, academic or hands-on, we’ve included a broad mix Veneta Bullen of articles to inform and interest you. Once you’ve decided on the subject area you want to specialise in, where should you apply? Towards the back of the magazine you’ll find university profiles, as well as students’ accounts of their time at those institutions. We hope Postgraduate UK 2013 will help you make the choices that are the next step towards an exciting and influential career.

www.britishcouncil.org MUSIC IS

Postgraduate UK 20122013 | www.educationuk.org 4 INSIDE INSIDE contents 16 26 30

6 Postgraduate UK news 40 Rags to riches Directory 34 40 44 All the latest developments in the By introducing business to the creative 61 Institution guide postgraduate research world from mix, a new breed of UK fashion courses This section of the directory profiles universities across the UK is giving students more real-world skills institutions and the various facilities they offer. These are followed by 16 Great British events 44 A force for good overviews of specific subjects (listed We take a look at some of the must-see Why international development degrees below), interviews with current sporting and cultural events for every are proving a popular option with and newly qualified students, and postgraduate student’s calendar students keen to give something back departmental profiles

22 How to budget for your studies 48 Preserving the planet Subject and departmental Whatever you choose to study in the Could geoengineering intiatives such 67 Pre-master’s UK, a wide range of funding options as space mirrors and artiﬁcial trees 71 Arts and humanities and support services are available combat the effects of climate change? 77 Business, management and MBA 85 Science, technology and engineering 26 Scholarships for the talented 52 In search of the story 91 Social sciences and law If you think you can’t afford to study in How UK journalism courses are the UK, think again – the UK scholarships adapting to prepare students for the 98 Fact ﬁle system is here to help you radically changing digital landscape 102 Advertiser index 48 52 56

30 Bridging the language gap 56 A sensitive issue Studying translation or interpretation Why research into how our senses work could lead to a key role in international has led to exciting new technologies, as cultural and political relations well as bionic aids for the impaired

34 Rise of the machines? UK scientists are pushing the boundaries of robotics with research into emotional, creative automatons

4 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 5 >> ‘Wimbledon is the oldest tennis >> ‘Consumers in growing economies News tournament in the world, and the will be intent on buying stylish fashions only grand slam still played on grass’ at a competitive price’ All tomorrow’s parties, page 16 Rags to riches, page 40

Finance Medicine Life in the UK Global links reveal business secrets UK’s Department of Health Explore the UK with new interactive map imply that entrepreneurs can be trained,’ pledges £100m to fund he says. ‘Entrepreneurial education is most effective in the workplace or contexts that provide individuals with opportunities to more clinical research apply what they have learned.’ Clinical research students could soon beneﬁt cement the NHS’s reputation as a world-class Academics at Oxford’s Said Business School, from even better facilities and opportunities, organisation for medical research. ‘These however, are discovering that personality thanks to £100 million of investment in the researchers will push forward the boundaries also has an effect on entrepreneurship UK’s National Health Service. of what is possible,’ he said. and business decision-making. Nir Vulkan, Reader in Business Economics at the school, The money will fund the development of Hospitals partnered with universities to win is working with Sabrina Boewe, a Research new treatments for common diseases such the investment, which will facilitate new and Associate at the Institute for Entrepreneurial as cancer, diabetes, stroke and dementia, ongoing research. In Manchester, for example, Studies at Humboldt University in Berlin, as well as rare conditions. Provided by the three hospitals working with the University on the project. Their preliminary results UK’s National Institute for Health Research of Manchester (collectively known as the demonstrate differences in the personalities (NIHR) over the next ﬁve years, it will be Manchester Academic Health Science Centre) Researching which UK university or college is right for of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, spent on new facilities, research nurses and have won more than £12 million for research you is now easier than ever before, thanks to a new online with entrepreneurs scoring more highly in technicians at 19 of the UK’s National Health into the treatment of disorders and diseases resource on the British Council’s Education UK website. measures of personality characteristics such Service (NHS) Trusts and boost links with their such as cancer. as openness and extraversion. university partners. The Education UK Interactive Map provides a The centre’s Director, Professor Ian Jacobs, student’s-eye view of life in the UK. As well as markers

© University of Nottingham © University Vulkan said that, in the current economic According to the UK’s Secretary of State who is also Dean and Vice-President of showing a range of some of the UK’s education climate, a higher than average proportion for Health, Andrew Lansley, the funding will the University of Manchester’s Faculty of institutions, it contains pictures and information from British universities have begun a series of Above The of the university’s students are starting Medical and Human Sciences, explained more than 200 tourist attractions and landmarks across University of international projects to find ways to tackle Nottingham’s their own businesses, so would benefit from that the university and hospitals will work the UK. These include beauty spots like Rutland Water and the economic problems facing the world. Ningbo entrepreneurial education. ‘Even those who together to conduct trials on a large scale. Dartmoor, as well as cultural highlights such as Bestival campus where researchers are end up working for corporations need to be ‘An extraordinary level of collaborative and Norwich Market, so you can plan out how to use your exploring what A €10 million research project led by the makes a good a lot more entrepreneurial,’ he said. working has been achieved,’ he said, spare time before you’ve even left home. University of Leeds is one of the biggest entrepreneur © Science photo library adding: ‘This funding will lead to new ventures. It brings together 14 higher Left Students Among the many other UK universities healthcare innovation.’ In addition to the information markers, the map also ponder a map © Green Shoots Communication/Alamy © Green education institutions from various countries of the City of and colleges with strong international features comments from international students in the UK to examine the increasing dominance of the London, one partnerships, two institutions in Manchester In Sheffield, £3.1 million will be invested at the moment. One American who recently contributed of the world’s financial system over the global economy. financial centres have established links with China. In in a state-of-the-art NHS Clinical Research her views to the map is University of Manchester English November 2011, Manchester Business Facility that will support clinical researchers Language BA student Meaghan Couture. Project leader Malcolm Sawyer, an Economics School and the Antai College of Economics at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and the Professor at Leeds, said: ‘We need to know has been looking at how businesspeople and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Sheffield, allowing them to ‘I love it,’ she said. ‘I think it’s really fun. The UK is kind of what can be done to make the financial become successful. ‘There is a debate over University launched a joint Doctor of undertake more studies. an enigma to people who are not from here. You know system work for society, the economy and the whether you can teach someone to be an Business Administration (DBA) programme. In about London and Big Ben, but that’s about it. You don’t environment and not the other way round.’ entrepreneur,’ said Thomas Wing Yan Man, addition, the business school at Manchester ‘This investment will enable our experts think about what’s in Bristol or Cornwall. Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship Metropolitan University has signed an to continue their pioneering research and The team will produce more than 200 and Innovation at Ningbo. agreement to work with the Guangdong develop new treatments,’ said Professor Keith ‘It’s good to get a picture of places from students who are reports on topics including regulation and Academy of Social Sciences. The two Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of there,’ she continued. ‘It’s an interactive guidebook.’ governance for policy-makers. He conducted interviews with 12 Hong Kong institutions will collaborate on research bids, Sheffield. ‘I am delighted with the benefits entrepreneurs who had built up profitable projects and publications, and may develop the revolutionary Clinical Research Facility To explore the Education UK Interactive Map for yourself, Meanwhile, a team at the University of companies, and found a correlation between joint degree programmes and exchanges for will bring, not just to the community, but go to map.educationuk.org Nottingham’s campus in Ningbo, China, learning and business success. ‘The results staff and students. nationally and internationally.’

6 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 7 >> ‘The team was preparing for the RoboCup >> ‘With millions of pounds at stake, News championships – an international football companies rely on translators to competition for robots’ help them broker watertight deals’ Rise of the Machines, page 34 Bridging the language gap, page 30

Internet Ecology Climate change Fossilised forest unlocks carbon story UK universities lead green research

An international team of researchers, including an academic from Cardiff University, has unearthed and The University of Nottingham, England’s studied a fossilised forest dating back 385 million years most environmentally friendly university, has in upstate New York in the US. recently come top of an international ranking of universities globally. The Greenmetric of The Gilboa Fossil Forest in the Catskill Mountains is World Universities, produced by the University © MHK Photography generally considered to be the world’s oldest fossil forest. of Indonesia, judges institutions according But until recently, it could only be investigated using to their energy management programmes, museum specimens and small pieces found in nearby sustainability-related teaching and research, streams. Hundreds of large tree-stump fossils were waste and water management, percentage of discovered in the 1920s during excavation of a quarry, green space on campus and the application

© AFP/Henghameh Fahimi/Getty Images © AFP/Henghameh Fahimi/Getty but little information was recorded about them before the of eco-sustainability policies. quarry was backﬁlled. However, in May 2010, when the quarry was partially emptied, it was discovered that the Professor Karen Cox, Nottingham’s Debate site goes live roots and positions of the trunk bases had been preserved. Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Environment and In a breakthrough paper published in Science, Infrastructure, said: ‘Previously Nottingham they report the potentially revolutionary Dr Chris Berry of Cardiff University’s School of Earth and was ranked number two in the Greenmetric effects of criegee biradicals, invisible A multilingual inititative inviting people around More than 30 graduate students and Ocean Sciences explained: ‘For the ﬁrst time we were able league table, so it’s very pleasing that our molecules that are powerful oxidisers of the world to debate the opportunities and researchers are studying the results and to arrange for about 1,300 square metres to be cleaned continuing work has been recognised with pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and limits of free speech has been launched by the university’s Bodleian Library will digitally off for investigation. A map of the position of all the plant a move up into the top position.’ sulphur dioxide, and can naturally clean Oxford University. archive the content. fossils preserved on that surface was made.’ up the atmosphere. The university is keen to go even further. It The project, run by the Dahrendorf The project is being led by Oxford Professor The research shows Gilboa trees were up to 10 metres has submitted plans for three wind turbines ‘Although these chemical intermediates were Programme for the Study of Freedom at of European Studies Timothy Garton Ash. in height, resembling palm trees or a tree ferns. The close to the River Trent in Nottingham, which, hypothesised in the 1950s, it is only now that Oxford’s St Antony’s College, began in January ‘Our project aims to contribute structure, researchers also found ground-running trunks of another if approved, would supply green electricity we have been able to stage the reactions,’ 2012. Its website (www.freespeechdebate. depth and detail to this global debate, as well type of plant, previously known only from its upright to its University Park campus. The turbines said Dr Carl Percival, Reader in Atmospheric com) features 10 draft principles to guide as openness to the views of netizens from branches, and a large example of a tree-shaped club would meet one-third of the campus’s Chemistry at the University of Manchester the transcultural discussion, as well as different cultures and perspectives,’ he said. moss, the type of tree that commonly forms coal seams electricity needs, reducing the university’s and one of the authors of the paper.

explanations, case studies and commentaries in younger rocks across Europe and North America. carbon emissions by 7,000 tonnes per year. Associates Harding Boethling/Still Pictures/Robert © Joerg by prominent figures such as Indian ‘We estimate that our content should be ‘Criegee biradicals are part of the natural writer Arundhati Roy, former Formula One linguistically accessible to more than 80 per Dr Berry said: ‘All this demonstrates that the “oldest Meanwhile, at Durham University Energy The UK has invested £2.9 billion into the Above Grameen atmosphere, so what we are saying is that the Bank and NGO Association President Max Mosley and Iranian cent of the roughly 2 billion people online. forest” at Gilboa was a lot more ecologically complex than Institute, Professor Richard Davies and International Climate Fund, but, according to Srizony install biosphere is working even harder than we cleric and activist Mohsen Kadivar. It also In this way, we hope to use the possibilities we suspected, and probably contained a lot more carbon his team are working with the Midlands Davies, money is not enough. ‘It is important micro-credit thought to offset things like climate change. financed solar carries an interview with Wikipedia founder of the internet to enable people speaking locked up as wood than we previously knew about. This Consortium, Sussex University, Imperial that UK academics and UK industry get home systems We’ve figured out that the reaction is 1,000 in villages Jimmy Wales (pictured). in different tongues in different parts of the will enable more refined speculation about the way in College and UKERC (UK Energy Research involved in helping developing economies in Bangladesh times faster than we thought, which has a world to communicate,’ he added. which the evolution of forests changed the Earth.’ Centre) to help developing economies create go through a transition into low-carbon major impact in making atmospheric aerosol, Above right A team consisting largely of Oxford graduates low-carbon energy. energy,’ he said. Nottingham’s which has a cooling effect,’ he continued. Environmental translated the website content into Arabic, The knowledge gained from this research will contribute Education Chinese, English, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, to the overall picture that scientists around the world ‘The UK has some of the best energy While the Low Carbon Energy for Centre Unfortunately these molecules won’t solve Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, are building of the impact of any potential climate and researchers in the world,’ said Davies. ‘We Development Network is working to reduce all our problems immediately. ‘As soon Turkish and Urdu, so the project could environmental changes. ‘It’s very clear from the things are using this expertise to come up with global carbon emissions, researchers at as you make it, it falls apart – so you couldn’t incorporate a diverse range of views. People that occupy scientists at the moment in terms of climate innovative solutions.’ The project is called Manchester and Bristol universities working just get a load of it and shove it up into from different countries and cultures were © Nadine Rupp/Getty Images change, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and so on, the Low Carbon Energy for Development with Sandia National Laboratories in the the atmosphere,’ says Dr Percival. ‘But just invited to visit the site to respond to the that these things are very important and they’ve been Network and the first workshop was with US have uncovered a naturally occurring because the concentration of it in the featured content. The debate, which ran for important in the past as well,’ Dr Berry concluded. Bangladeshi researchers on the subject of molecule that may clean up the emissions atmosphere is small, it doesn’t mean that six months, continues as an online resource. solar cells and biofuels. already in the atmosphere. it’s not important.’

8 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 9 >> ‘The company has developed a >> ‘Most students have already News product that can turn any solid secured interviews before they surface into a touch screen’ leave the course’ A sensitive issue, page 56 A force for good, page 44

International collaboration Facilities British academics win Chinese awards London campuses broaden choice

Chinese ofﬁcials have commended British Below Abden a 10-month China-focused festival, and its Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Karen Stanton, Vice-Principal and Pro- House, home of universities for their efforts to promote the the Confucius various lecture series, exhibitions and Medicine an award for excellence. Vice-Chancellor at GCU, said opening Institute for

Chinese language and culture in Europe. language classes for the public. © Mat Wright a London campus was a way to reach the Scotland at the University Launched in 2006, the institute promotes international student market and to help of Edinburgh The Confucius Institute, a non-profit, Chinese ‘Chinese students in Edinburgh will benefit Chinese culture, language and wellbeing in GCU, which already has campuses in Oman Government-aligned network of cultural from the services of the Confucius Institute schools, the university and the community, © Robert Stainforth/Alamy and Bangladesh, build its name as an centres, held its sixth global conference in and the support of the university,’ said in partnership with institutions such as international university. Beijing in December last year, and awarded Natascha Gentz, Professor of Chinese Studies Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine Edinburgh University Principal Timothy at Edinburgh. and Harbin Normal University. Unlike UEA and Coventry, GCU has O’Shea a gold medal for encouraging decided to concentrate on postgraduate education, business and cultural links London South Bank University (LSBU) was ‘We aim to become a centre of excellence for students, offering master’s-level between Scotland and China. also recognised at the conference. Yuan the Chinese culture,’ says Min Liu, Executive qualifications in Business and Finance, Guiren, the Chinese Education Minister, gave Director of LSBU’s Confucius Institute for The desire to establish closer links between Risk Management, International Fashion The university has relationships with more Traditional Chinese Medicine. university business schools and the City Marketing, and the first MBA in Luxury than 50 leading Chinese universities, of London’s strong financial sector, and to Brand Marketing. It also offers master’s

including a stem-cell research partnership @Credit The institute offers several courses, including increase students’ opportunities for work courses in International Human Resource with Peking University, a radiotherapy an undergraduate degree in Integrated experience, have prompted the moves. Management, Construction Management, project with eight Chinese institutions and a Chinese Medicine and an MBA in Chinese and Travel and Tourism. multi-faceted collaboration with Guangzhou Business Practice. It also organises events Richard Harvey, Dean of UEA’s London Medical University. In 2005, it opened a such as the Chinese New Year Road Shows; campus, said: ‘A lot of customers for business Around 82 per cent of students are Beijing ofﬁce. Chinese Wellbeing Month, which promotes schools are in London. UEA is very well known from overseas, coming from 43 different traditional Chinese medicine; a range of for student satisfaction so we didn’t just want countries, with large cohorts from China, Edinburgh University also hosts the conferences; and workshops that introduce to have a sterile research centre.’ Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. But it Confucius Institute for Scotland’s extensive children to aspects of Chinese culture such also has a growing cohort of home and cultural programme. Recent activities as dragons, kites, calligraphy and painting, The campus, in London’s Spitalﬁelds, now has European students.

have included a photographic exhibition, © Confucious Institute, Scotland chopsticks, martial arts and photography. more than 1,130 students, of which around only 100 are home students, and has proved The expansion of London campuses comes as Students keen to study a course offered by Above London so successful that the university hopes to a global survey of new universities shows UK Funding bases such as a UK university outside London now have a the University expand it and broaden its course portfolio. institutions leading the field. The Times Higher chance to live in the capital, after a range of of the Arts Education’s Top 100 Under 50 global university London’s Universities offer more international student scholarships British universities opened facilities there. new Central This area has become a hub for new rankings saw 20 British universities making the Saint Martins campus are campuses. Coventry, one of the largest list – more than from any other nation. A growing range of scholarships at universities is These opportunities build on a vast range scholarships, we’re looking to help students from Coventry University, Glasgow Caledonian giving students providers of business-related courses more choice making it possible for more international students of funding options that exist to keep developing countries. Students who have arrived University (GCU) and the University of East than ever before in Europe, launched its campus close The UK universities founded in the last 50 to study in the UK than ever before. attracting the world’s most promising here with next to nothing now work in jobs with Anglia (UEA) have all recently established to Liverpool Street Station in 2010. It years that made the top 100 included Brunel, students to the UK. Several of these do government or business.’ London campuses, while Bangor University, emphasises employability, guaranteeing Bath, Newcastle and Stirling. Five British New opportunities that have launched this year not necessarily require applicants to have which is based in Wales, has just launched an internship or work-related project for institutions – York, Lancaster, East Anglia, include Queen Mary, University of London’s outstanding academic records. You can find details of more than 3,000 UK a London offshoot of its leading Business all students and including employability Warwick and Essex – appeared in the top 20. International Science and Engineering Excellence scholarships and 150,000 courses on the School, offering full-time MBAs in Banking and in the curriculum. Awards, which are open to outstanding ‘We look for academic potential rather than Education UK website (www.educationuk. Finance, and Islamic Banking and Finance, as The survey used the same criteria as the undergraduate and postgraduate students from academic excellence,’ said Colin Matheson, org). And for stories from some of the people well as a Chartered Banker MBA. Janet Hannah, Chief Executive of Coventry’s Times Higher Education World University non-EU countries, and Cardiff University’s new Director of Scholarships at the University of who’ve already benefited from funding London campus, said it had been designed Rankings. The only difference in the International Scholarship fund, which is open to Westminster, which has run an International programmes in the UK, see our feature There are rumours that more institutions to reflect a workplace rather than a assessment was that less weight was university students at all levels of study. Scholarship scheme for 10 years. ‘For our full on scholarships on page 26. could follow, with Newcastle University classroom, and its partnership with employers given to academic prestige, as this takes reported to be considering a London base. ensured that the teaching was cutting edge. time to build up.

10 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 11 >> ‘This is a very secure environment >> ‘UK universities are helping the News in which to experiment and ﬁnd world’s most promising postgraduates your voice as a journalist’ pursue their ambitions’ In search of the story, page 52 Scholarships for the talented, page 26

Initiatives Digital technology Technology Olympic legacy boosts Course explores role of UK higher education robots in development

Students at UK universities and colleges Right The logo ‘This programme is a once in a lifetime Plymouth University has unveiled a unique Mel Siegel, Associate Research Professor for the London will benefit from a range of initiatives 2012 Olympic opportunity to achieve an unprecedented transatlantic postgraduate course in robotics at the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute © Greg Harding Photography/Marketing Manchester Photography/Marketing Harding © Greg launched after the London 2012 Olympic and Games on a level of cultural collaboration between that emphasises the discipline’s potential to added: ‘The course will also teach students countdown Paralympic Games. The six-week event, which clock in universities in the UK,’ said Dr Seymour contribute to global development. how to develop and execute a practical, Trafalgar Square saw athletes from 205 countries competing Roworth-Stokes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the Media campus builds end-to-end project and report its in the British capital last summer, has created Below An event University for the Creative Arts. ‘It will open Run in conjunction with the outcome in multiple contexts, at the Olympic many new collaborations, opportunities and Stadium on up the cultural resources and assets of our television alliance Carnegie Mellon University in including those appropriate London’s new education facilities across the country. Olympic Park campuses, providing greater access to world Pittsburgh, US, the two-year for attracting investment for in the run up to leading, practice-based research in the A new university campus next to the homes of two of the course will be the first of its kind development and marketing.’ the 2012 Games Education was at the heart of the event creative and performing arts.’ UK’s biggest television broadcast companies looks set to in Europe. Students will spend from the moment London won the bid give students more access to cutting-edge techniques. time at both institutions and receive Robotics is moving rapidly from the to host the Olympics in 2005. This was The opportunities offered by the Olympics two master’s degrees upon graduation. realm of fantasy into the real world (see demonstrated by global projects such as have attracted many international students Launched in October 2011, the University of Salford’s ‘Rise of the Machines?’ on page 34). Last International Inspiration, which saw UK sports to the UK in recent years. In a survey by MediaCityUK campus is described by its academic ‘Each institution has specialist knowledge year, US president Barack Obama visited professionals and the British Council helping Study London in May 2010, 32 per cent of director Dr Andrew Cooper as ‘a space where science and a different value system the Robotics Institute to launch a to develop sports teaching in 20 countries international students said that the Olympic and creativity collide to deliver the big digital ideas of the – a more caring, supportive $500 million initiative. around the world, as well as national events. Games had been a factor in choosing to future’. Facilities at the site, which stands next to the new environment in the UK and More than 1,000 students helped test study in the capital. headquarters of BBC North and ITV, include television a more competitive edge in ‘Personal robotic helpers the Olympic Stadium in May 2012, when it and radio production suites and studios designed to keep the US,’ said Guido Bugmann, are an old dream,’ said was the site of the British Universities and Future students will also benefit. A range pace with emerging digital technology. Associate Professor at Bugmann. ‘But robotics Colleges Sport championships. of exciting legacy programmes look set Plymouth’s School of is also a necessary step

to enrich higher and further education for Images Ltd/Alamy © Loop The campus is home to more than 1,500 undergraduates Computing and Mathematics. to survival. As products Sports students were not the only ones to many years to come. These include brand and postgraduates studying 30 different courses. become more sophisticated, benefit. Universities launched projects across new facilities such as the University of East have expressed an interest in establishing Although the focus is on creative media subjects – with The transformative potential precise work with miniature all academic disciplines to celebrate the London’s £21 million Sports Dock and Surrey new campuses in London near the site. These master’s courses offered in subjects such as journalism, of the technology is one of components requires robotic event, while 12 universities joined together University’s Surrey Sports Park, which hosted include University College London (UCL), animation and documentary production – students from the reasons why Bugmann technology – not necessarily to for the Creative Campus Initiative. This saw Team USA during the Games. Birkbeck College, and the Universities of other disciplines can use the facilities. believes the course is particularly replace workers, but to provide more than 100 art and research projects Newcastle and Loughborough. relevant for students from them with additional skills.’ commissioned in its first phase. ‘Our priority will be to ensure long-term Two new postgraduate courses, in media psychology and emerging economies. relationships with new sporting partners,’ The Olympics has also seen partnerships digital performance, were launched with the new campus, Indeed, the technology’s said Selena Bolingbroke, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, between UK universities, schools and and more new programmes are planned. Meanwhile, the ‘Students are encouraged real-world applications seem Strategic Planning and External Development colleges and organisations in the rest of the university’s links with media organisations include a pilot to conduct projects endless. Bugmann continued: for the University of East London. ‘This world rise by 20 per cent, according to a project in which the BBC looks at how higher education they can take home ‘The role of robots in the car will ensure community benefit from the recent survey for Podium, the Further and could use its archive. Another recent development is to contribute to local industry is well documented, Olympic infrastructure and that our students Higher Education Unit for the 2012 Games. the University of Salford’s journalism newsroom being industry and society,’ but the food industry is also continue to participate and perform in Examples include the Universities of Bristol’s sponsored by editing software company Avid, which also he said. ‘For example, at the cusp of a revolution. university sports.’ links with Kenya, which have already seen offers six-month internships to Salford students. in many developing Robots allow smaller many students and staff travel there to help nations there is a lack businesses to consider The Olympic Park will also have a part to build sports facilities, and the University of ‘The sponsorship means students are directly connected of doctors – robots automation. They can play in many people’s studies. All the plans Gloucestershire’s Sport Malawi. This was with the company,’ said Dr Cooper. ‘The students will get can help diagnose prolong independent being considered for the press and broadcast set up in 2008 and has seen many students to test new products before they are launched. This allows human, animal and living and mobility of centre involve using it for higher and further participating in trips to the sub-Saharan us to rework the curriculum to keep up.’ plant diseases in the elderly and provide © Rex Features © Rex © Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images © Jason Alden/Bloomberg education. In addition, several universities country to help train sports volunteers. remote locations.’ basic care in hospitals.’

12 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 13 >> ‘Ideas include creating sunblocking >> ‘It’s a good idea to work out a News mirrors in space, covering deserts, and budget before your studies begin growing shinier crops’ and plan how much you can spend’ Preserving the planet, page 48 How to fund your future, page 22

Psychology Linguistics English language Public monkey study probes social skills Dictionary shows the rise of UK slang The world’s ﬁrst cognitive study centre for a Below ‘These critically endangered animals are ‘Understanding more about their social A macaque rare species of Indonesian monkey is set to comes face studied very little, but have an interesting interactions will allow us to understand The latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary launch, following a collaboration between the to face with and complex social organisation,’ said Bridget how and why primates, including humans, has been launched, proving that the English language a researcher University of Portsmouth and a wildlife charity. at the University Waller, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the have evolved such good social skills,’ continues to change quickly. of Portsmouth and Marwell University of Portsmouth. she added. ‘We hope to highlight the The glass-walled research facility will operate Wildlife’s importance in making comparisons Updated every three months to reﬂect rapid changes in new centre in full view of visitors to Marwell Wildlife’s park Sulawesi crested macaques employ between species to understand the the world’s most published language, the online edition in Hampshire, and has been built beside its sophisticated and subtle communication evolution of cognition.’ of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) contains all the existing island for Sulawesi crested macaques. tools, relying on many different facial most recently created English words. The 1,200 new and expressions, body positions and vocalisations Waller also hopes to pave the way for revised entries in the December 2011 update included to make themselves understood. In their more research that considers animal terms such as ‘earworm’ (a catchy tune or piece of music enclosure at the park, the animals will have welfare. ‘The animals take part in studies which persistently stays in a person’s mind, especially to voluntary access to a computer touch screen voluntarily, can leave whenever they want, the point of irritation), ‘footfall’ (the number of people who

and be trained to take part in tasks that will and the studies provide enrichment,’ she Stoddart/Getty Images © Tom enter a particular shop or shopping area in a given period allow scientists to investigate fundamental said. She added that the decision to conduct of time) and ‘dataveillance’ (the collection or monitoring aspects of their cognition, such as memory, the studies in public view came from the of data relating to personal details or activities). communication and emotion. team’s desire to demonstrate how interesting Language grant funds and complex non-human primate cognition But how did the dictionary editors decide what qualiﬁed ‘We present them with images, such as facial can be, so that visitors can engage directly Tibetan research as a new word? ‘It is really all about the evidence,’ said expressions, which they then match to other with the science. Fiona McPherson, Senior Editor of the OED’s new words images,’ said Waller. ‘The studies will give us Two researchers from the School of Oriental The team believes the resource will reduce group. ‘The OED requires several independent examples a better understanding of how the macaques James Cretney, Chief Executive of and African Studies in London have been the cost of developing language technologies of a word in use, and also evidence over a reasonable communicate their perception of the world, Marwell Wildlife, agreed. ‘It gives our granted more than £500,000 to develop a in Tibetan such as text-messaging, spell- amount of time, to demonstrate that it has reached a level and their emotions and social relationships. It guests, including a large number of young digital set of one million syllables of Tibetan checkers, auto-completion, screen-readers of general currency.’ allows us to ask scientiﬁc questions that can’t people, a great opportunity to see science text, which they hope will radically alter the and machine translation tools.

© Marwell Wildlife © Marwell be addressed by observational studies alone. in action,’ he said. way the language is used. They also looked for a word to be used in a natural way: They also hope it will be a valuable resource ‘We need it to be used with the expectation that it will be Health The Arts and Humanities Research Council has for scholars, since it will offer access to, understood, and won’t be followed immediately with an given Ulrich Pagel from the Department of the and comparison across, texts from different explanation of its meaning,’ she added. Study of Religions and Nathan Hill from the periods, regions and genres. World set to reap tomato DNA code-cracking benefits Department of the Languages and Cultures If you want to improve your knowledge of new words of China and Inner Asia £542,000 for the ‘It will also provide an important foundation and phrases in English, you can check out the British An international team involving ‘Tomatoes are one of the most important The sugar research was led by Moses three-year ‘Tibetan in Digital Communication: for work on a comprehensive, rigorous Council and BBC’s exciting new English language teaching UK scientists has cracked the fruit crops in the world,’ said Graham Murandu, a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing Corpus Linguistics and Lexicography’ project. dictionary of Tibetan,’ added Pagel. programme called Word on the Street, which looks at how genetic code of the tomato, Seymour, Professor of Plant Biotechnology at the University of Wolverhampton’s School English works in everyday life and presents lively aspects paving the way for healthier crops at Nottingham University. ‘Understanding of Health and Wellbeing. His six-month study Working with Edward Garrett, a programming ‘I know how far computational linguistics has of British youth culture. for people all over the world. this genome will help us unravel the revealed that filling wounds with a 25 per cent and linguistics specialist, Pagel and Hill will come for better-studied languages, and of molecular circuits that give them their sugar solution kills off the bacteria that often create a comparative corpus of Tibetan texts. the huge social and economic impact of such You can watch the episodes free and find other Bringing together more than health-promoting properties.’ slows the recovery process. Further trials They will also develop two pieces of software: research,’ says Hill. ‘I hope that by using these useful language tools and resources on the British 300 scientists from 14 countries, have since taken place and the technique one to identify word breaks in Tibetan text methods on an understudied Asian language Council’s Learn English website: learnenglish. including researchers at Imperial The news comes in the wake of several may soon be rolled out across the UK. and the other to identify parts of speech. we will inspire and facilitate others to do britishcouncil.org/en/word-street College and the University of other UK-based discoveries concerning the similar work on Mongolian and Burmese.’ Nottingham, the multibillion-dollar medicinal properties of foodstuffs. These The findings may have been surprising to ‘This research will bring the scientific project sequenced the domestic include a 2011 study showing that eating many of his colleagues, but they were not description of the language to a new level,’ The project is scheduled to begin in tomato’s 35,000 genes. Contributors hope fibre could cut the risk of bowel cancer and news to Murandu. He came up with the idea said Hill. ‘Most importantly, it will facilitate September 2012 and conclude in August the findings will help geneticists engineer research into the healing properties of sugar for the research after thinking about remedies the use of Tibetan as a language of daily 2015. The resource will be made freely

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1. London Fashion Week 2. StAnza Poetry Festival The crowd enjoying Bestival in London St Andrews September 2011 February March

The trend-setters of the global fashion The only regular festival dedicated to poetry industry flock to the UK capital in February to in Scotland, the five-day StAnza festival is an see creations from the world’s top designers. opportunity to engage with a wide variety Organised by the British Fashion Council, the of literary art and hear world-class poets extravaganza sees leading fashion houses reading from their own work in exciting and such as McQ Alexander McQueen, Burberry atmospheric venues. You can also participate and Calvin Klein revealing their collections in poetry workshops and watch cabaret, at Somerset House on the Strand. With music, film and dance performances. more than 50 official catwalk shows, there’s something for everyone. www.stanzapoetry.org

www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

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3. The Boat Race London March

This rowing race between teams from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge sees up to 250,000 spectators crowding the banks of the Thames in south-west London, between the start of the race in Putney and the ﬁnishing line in Mortlake. Much more than just a race, the event is a symbol of the intense competition between these two universities. Great British www.theboatrace.org © David Fisher/Rex Features; © Gruber/FWDPHOTOS/SIPA/Rex Features; © StAnza; © Richard Heathcote/Getty Images © StAnza; Richard Features; © Gruber/FWDPHOTOS/SIPA/Rex Features; Fisher/Rex © David Antonia Windsor gives you the lowdown on some of the UK’s events annual must-see cultural highlights

3 © JSN Photography/WireImage/Getty Images; © JSN Photography/WireImage/Getty

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4. Grand National 7. Royal Highland Show 9. The Proms Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool Edinburgh Royal Albert Hall, London April June July to September

The Grand National is the world’s most-watched Any city dweller will be impressed by a visit to The BBC Proms is the world’s largest festival of classical music and aims to horse race, with a worldwide television audience Scotland’s unique Royal Highland Show. This present the widest possible range of music to the largest possible audience. of more than 600 million – but there’s nothing huge country fair sees the sale of livestock ‘Promenade’ concerts originate from the 19th century when new audiences like being there in person. The race has a fine and machinery share the same stage as show were attracted to classical repertoires with cheap tickets and the opportunity pedigree – the first run at Aintree was held in jumping, a Scottish food exhibition, a flower to walk around during the concert. These cheap standing tickets still make the 1839 – and expect the excitement among the show and a craft fair. Proms accessible to all. Expect queues, especially for the last night. 60,000-strong crowd to reach fever pitch as the leading horse crosses the final jump. www.royalhighlandshow.org 7 www.bbc.co.uk/proms www.aintree.co.uk/pages/grand-national

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5. Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts 6. Glastonbury Festival Hay-on-Wye, Powys Worthy Farm near Pilton, Somerset

May/June June 8

There’s a secondhand bookshop on almost The world’s largest green-field festival, 8. Wimbledon every street of this little town on the Wales- Glastonbury is a performing arts spectacle London England border. Hordes flock to Hay-on-Wye that attracts about 175,000 music-lovers. June to July every year to attend the readings and events The vast tented city that springs up out of of what has become a world-renowned literary nowhere is a sight to behold, and most years Almost as famous for strawberries and cream and unpredictable weather as for festival. A tented village springs up outside the the mud is as memorable as the music – so tennis, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and the only town where top authors discuss and debate, much so that the wellington boot is now a grand slam tournament still played on grass. Each year, spectators consume and there’s also a programme of workshops, summer fashion accessory in the UK. about 28,000 kgs of strawberries, helped down by nearly 7,000 litres of cream. film previews, late-night comedy and musical A number of tickets are made available each day – but be prepared to queue performances. It’s a festival for thinking people. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk for them … and take an umbrella.

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www.hayfestival.co.uk www.wimbledon.com Images; Fireman/Redferns/Getty © Kathy deWitt/Alamy; Tabatha Images; © VisitBritain/Grant Pritchard; Yates/AFP/Getty © Andrew Features; © Rii Schroer/Rex © Glynn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images; VisitBritain/Jasmine Teer Highland Show; © Royal

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11. Edinburgh Festivals 13. Cowes Week Edinburgh Isle of Wight August 3–10 August

A medley of arts festivals merge into one One of the world’s longest-running regattas, sea of creativity in Edinburgh in August. Cowes Week sees yacht lovers from across The Edinburgh International Festival stages the globe descend on a tiny corner of the top-class opera, theatre, dance and music Isle of Wight, an island off the south coast from around the world, but is swamped of England. There are about 40 race starts by the Fringe that has grown up around it. a day and more than 1,000 boats take part, Thousands of performers take to makeshift ranging from expensive ocean racers piloted stages throughout the city to present theatre by professionals to modest self-skippered and comedy in all its forms. This is one festival cruising yachts. The island teems with visitors that literally has to be seen to be believed. and the parties last late into the night.

www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk www.cowesweek.co.uk

10 11 13 13 © Philip Silverman/Rex Features; © Matt Cardy/Getty Images; © Steve Ilston/Alamy; © Jeff Morgan 06/Alamy; Ilston/Alamy; © Jeff Morgan Images; © Steve © Matt Cardy/Getty Features; © Philip Silverman/Rex © Homer Sykes/Alamy Jensen/PA; Images; © David © Rick Tomlinson/Getty

12. The National Eisteddfod of Wales 15. Lewes Bonﬁre Night Wales Lewes, East Sussex August 5 November

If you want to get to the heart of Welsh The fifth of November, otherwise known as culture, then a visit to the National Eisteddfod Guy Fawkes Night, is celebrated throughout should do the trick. Dating back to the 12th the UK with bonfires and fireworks that century, it has expanded from a tournament commemorate a failed plot to blow up the of poets and musicians to an eight-day arts Houses of Parliament in 1605. In Lewes,

10 festival and celebration of Welshness. More 14 seven bonfire societies hold torchlit costume than 6,000 competitors battle it out for prizes parades through the town carrying models 10. Bristol Balloon Fiesta in verse speaking and recitation, while tents 14. Bestival of Guy Fawkes and other hate figures, along Bristol are filled with live music, theatre and dance. Isle of Wight with 17 burning crosses to remember martyrs August In addition, the Gorsedd of Bards, a druid September burned at the stake in the 1550s. A burning sect, is involved in ceremonies in a stone tar barrel is thrown into the river Ouse to Bristol is the world’s largest manufacturer of circle, and it is the Archdruid’s job to crown One of the final music festivals of the season, symbolise the fate of magistrates who tried to hot-air balloons and the ballooning capital the best poet of the competition as the ‘bard’. Bestival is a celebration of the end of summer stop bonfire night revellers in 1847, and the of Europe, so it makes sense to hold the The Eisteddfod takes place in a different on the holiday island. The four-day festival event culminates in a number of bonfires and International Balloon Fiesta here each year. location each year and in 2013 will be held attracts big-name musicians but one of fireworks displays. It’s a pretty sight as more than 150 balloons at Kilford Farm near Denbigh. Bestival’s attractions are the quirky extras, of all shapes and sizes take to the skies above such as the roller disco and the Bollywood www.lewesbonfirecelebrations.com the historic estate of Ashton Court. At night www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english cocktail bar. A fancy-dress theme each year the tethered balloons fire up in time to music. gives rise to some extraordinary costumes. www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk 12 www.bestival.net 15

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How to budget for your studies

With money tight, ﬁnancing your postgraduate studies can seem challenging. But, says Howard Gossington, there are plenty of opportunities and initiatives out there to help you get maximum value out of your time in the UK

etting a place on a study at a British university can often work postgraduate programme at out cheaper. a British university is a great achievement. But if you’re going The fees you pay depend on your nationality.

to make your dream of studying If you are a national of the European Bamber/Alamy © Roger Gin the UK a reality, you need to make sure you Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you have the money to pay for it – and be able to pay the same fees as UK students. If you are prove this to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) – a citizen of most other countries you pay to qualify for a visa. Luckily, there are plenty of international fees. UKCISA has a useful series things you can do to make sure your ﬁnances of information sheets at www.ukcisa.org.uk/ add up throughout your time as a student. student/index.php

How much will it cost? Fees also vary depending on the course The ﬁrst step to creating a practical budget you study and the university you attend. is working out exactly what you will need Programmes in great demand such as Flat rate Day-to-day expenses If your university to spend. This will depend on a number of MBAs or science courses charge the highest does not provide Course fees are one thing, but you also need factors, including whether you are paying fees, while English language courses may accommodation, to make sure you can afford daily living costs. ﬁnding a place ‘home’ or international fees, the length of cost less. to live will be As well as paying for your accommodation, your course and where you are studying. one of your food and utility bills, you should budget for priorities when You might also need to buy equipment, you arrive in a television licence and travel. It would also The good news is that, as many UK textbooks or research materials – or rent the UK be a shame to come all this way and not take postgraduate programmes are a year studio space if you are doing a creative arts advantage of the many cultural highlights shorter than comparable courses in countries course. Check with your university before you the UK has to offer, so don’t forget to allow such as the US and Australia, choosing to start so you know what to expect. money for entertainment too.

These costs vary depending on where The good news is that, as many UK courses are you are in the UK, but you can use the shorter than programmes in the United States, international student calculator (international. studentcalculator.org.uk) to get a rough idea

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need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student Balancing act Money-saving ideas Postgraduates visa, you will have to show that you have need to find an Before taking a job There are also plenty of ways that you can the money to pay for your tuition fees for at effective way to keep your costs down on the basics. If you combine study least a year and cover your living costs. At time (below) and Check your visa need textbooks for your course, it’s likely the time of writing, the money required for domestic life If you’re in the UK on a visa, make sure you have a visa sticker in your passport that enables students in the years above will have bought (right) living costs was at least £800 a month (or you to work. See www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visa-immigration/working them too – keep an eye out for second-hand £1,000 a month if you plan to study in central book sales or check auction websites such London). Check the UKBA website (www. Check your working hours entitlement as eBay (www.ebay.co.uk) for bargains. ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/ Confirm the number of hours your visa entitles you to work with UKBA. studying) for the latest rules. Local markets are a good source of affordable Apply for a National Insurance (NI) number food, and you can often find good quality Arranging your finances This ensures your contributions to the UK’s social insurance programme are recorded. secondhand clothes in charity shops for a Once you’ve worked out how much your See www.direct.gov.uk/nationalinsurance for details of how to apply. fraction of the price that you would pay to studies are likely to cost, you can start to buy them new. plan how to finance them. The solutions Look at your schedule to this are almost as varied as the students Make sure your timetable will allow you to take a job without compromising your studies. If you are planning to call home regularly, it’s taking the courses: while some people opt worth downloading Skype, an internet service to supplement their incomes with a part-time that lets you call computer-to-computer free job or by working during the holidays, others it allows you to work. Postgraduate students Some postgraduate taught courses and of charge. If you and your family have web find funding through scholarships or various on a Tier 4 (General) student visa may be research places come with funding attached, cams, it even lets you see the people you’re grant-making schemes. There are also allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during and are known as studentships. You can find talking to, bringing home closer than ever. plenty of cost-cutting ideas and student term time and full-time during the holidays. details of these on a number of websites, discounts that you can take advantage of including www.postgraduatestudentships. © Chris Batson/Alamy And if you are planning to get a mobile to make sure you get maximum value out You should also make sure that you are paid co.uk and www.scholarship-programs.org, or phone, make sure you check the details of the of your time in the UK. a fair wage for any work you take. The UK’s from individual universities. have particular financial difficulties (see our Student discounts contract carefully – you may be surprised by minimum wage in 2012 was £4.98 an hour for article on Scholarships for the Talented on Whether you get funding or not, the UK offers the savings you can make with the right deal. Working while you study workers between the ages of 18 and 20 and For other postgraduate places, you may be p26 for more details). plenty of schemes to help students save Doing paid work can be a great way to meet £6.08 an hour for those aged 21 or over. It is able to get help from grants and scholarships. money on daily living costs and the extra With so many options available, it should other students, improve your English and illegal for an employer to try to pay someone These range from awards offered by individual As well as this, many charities and trusts treats and entertainments that will help you be possible to fund your way through your top up your finances. From working in the less than the minimum wage and you should universities to prestigious annual programmes provide postgraduates with funding. You make the most of your student days. studies without worrying so you can focus on students’ union bar to helping out in local never agree to work for less. such as the British Chevening Scholarships can find out more information about gaining the knowledge and experience that shops and restaurants or in the university IT scheme (www.chevening.com), which offers these charities and trusts at libraries, An NUS (National Union of Students) extra money alone simply can’t buy. ! service, there are lots of opportunities for The careers advice centre or students’ union funding to cover all or part of the cost of a online, by ringing the Educational Grants card, which costs just £11 a year, gives you students keen to add to their incomes. at your university will be able to help you find one-year postgraduate course for students Advisory Service’s student advice line discounts on things like books, clothes, sports " FURTHER INFORMATION a job to suit your requirements. They will also from more than 120 countries. +44 (0)20 7241 7459, or by sending an email equipment, CDs, travel, computer equipment, Always make sure you know your rights before give you help with essentials such as writing to [email protected] cinemas, concerts and much more. Education UK Scholarship search you take a job. If you are in the UK on a visa, CVs and job applications, and preparing for Some scholarships exist to support students www.educationuk.org/scholarships you must check with the UKBA to see whether job interviews. researching particular subject areas. The You can also ask your Ministry of Education If you’re looking for entertainment closer to International Student Calculator Royal Society Fellowships, for example, are or local British Council office about funding home, you’ll find plenty to do at the many international.studentcalculator.org.uk Scholarships and funding open to postdoctoral applicants planning to options. They will have information about clubs and societies at your university. Ranging British Council – Funding your studies UK universities are keen to attract the do scientific research. You can find details UK and country-specific award schemes. from cultural groups to sports teams, these www.britishcouncil.org/learning-funding-your-studies best students to help them keep up their of the scheme and a list of participating If that’s not possible, try the British embassy, organise a huge variety of social events and Scholarship programmes reputations for world-leading academic institutions on the Royal Society’s website consulate or high commission. trips that you can take part in for little or no www.scholarship-programs.org/positions/united-kingdom

© David Levene/Guardian © David achievement. This means they make a lot of (royalsociety.org/grants). money at all. UKCISA Information Sheets on financial support for funding available to help talented applicants And for information at your students overcome any financial barriers they might There are also scholarships that are open fingertips, why not search With lots of Britain’s museums www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php face to studying in the UK. to students from certain countries or who Education UK’s online database of and galleries offering free Hotcourses Scholarship Search more than 3,000 UK scholarships entry, and many nightclubs, www.scholarship-search.org.uk (www.educationuk.org/ restaurants and theatres International Education Financial Aid UK universities make a lot of funding scholarships)? It can be sorted by providing generous student www.iefa.org available to help talented applicants overcome course and nationality to help you discounts, the only dilemma UK Border Agency find the opportunities that best suit you’ll have is how to fit all the www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying any financial barriers to studying in the UK your needs. activities into your schedule.

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Many UK institutions award scholarships to talented students who cannot otherwise afford Scholarships for to study abroad. Kate Bassett reports on how students are putting their knowledge to good use

the talented ivesh Bathija was 22 before he was ﬁrst able to venture outside his home country of India. ‘I grew up in Mumbai and funded myself through college and university Dby tutoring in my spare time,’ he says. ‘But postgraduate education seemed impossible; I simply couldn’t afford it.’

When Bathija heard about the University © M4OS Photos/Alamy of Westminster’s international scholarship scheme, however, he applied for an MSc in for the past 10 years and has benefited more Main picture The University of Edinburgh, for example, UK scholarships Investment and Risk Finance. Here was his than 2,500 international students in that time. give many launched its Global Development Academy chance to continue his studies overseas but, ‘We look for academic potential rather than children master’s programme in 2010 and now makes opportunities crucially, without the fees. Happily, Bathija was academic excellence,’ says the university’s to study their four scholarships available each year to offered a full scholarship, which covered the director of scholarships Colin Matheson. parents could students who wish to study international only have cost of flights, tuition, visas, accommodation ‘For our full scholarships, we’re looking to dreamed of development. Two of the places are and living expenses. In September 2010, he help students who could not hope to study specifically aimed at postgraduates from boarded a plane to London. abroad without our help. Indeed, many can’t developing countries – from Afghanistan even afford to study locally. We’ve helped or Angola to Zambia or Zimbabwe. Robert Bathija says the scholarship was life-changing: students who have arrived in the UK with Lawrie, head of the university’s scholarships ‘Studying in the UK was certainly eye-opening. next to nothing get high-powered jobs with and student funding services, says his The global exposure has broadened my government or business.’ department has received almost 800 horizons and given me an edge over other applications for these scholarships over the entrepreneurs in India. When I returned Scholarship selection past two years alone. home I launched a business called Dinasim The University of Westminster’s international Learning, which helps young minds to better scholarship scheme, with its total purse of Uganda-born Gertrude Feza, one of the understand core subjects such as maths £4 million, is the largest scheme in the UK University of Edinburgh’s scholarship winners, and English.’ He also works as an analyst – but it’s not the only one. With money tight is currently studying an MSc in Africa and at commercial property firm Cushman & and the global economic situation making the International Development. Before starting Wakefield in Mumbai. cost of further study challenging, universities her postgraduate course, the 26-year-old was up and down the country are helping the a research assistant with the Department for The University of Westminster has been world’s most promising postgraduates pursue International Development (DFID) in Uganda running its international scholarship scheme their ambitions. – a country that has been transformed into a fast-growing economy in just 20 years. However, poor infrastructure has My skills are helping two developing African nations. restricted the country’s progress; so Feza has And I’ve realised my dream of having an international concentrated her research efforts in this area. In the war-torn north, for example, poverty © Chris Noble/Aurora/SpecialistStock career in the fight against HIV and Aids levels are nearly twice those seen in the rest

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and living expenses. The conditions are that from outside the EU rose from 280,760 in applicants ‘must show leadership qualities 2009/10 to 298,110 in 2010/11. This has led and have two years’ relevant work experience, to a keenness among British universities with a commitment to returning home to to extend their scholarship portfolios. contribute to their country’s development,’ ‘A university education shouldn’t be limited

explains Jacobs. RF/Alamy © Corbis Premium by financial constraints,’ says Vincenzo Raimo, © Christophe Boisvieux/Corbis director of the international office at the Scholarship students come to Manchester University of Nottingham. for full-time, taught master’s courses that are unavailable in their home country, but fill a skills The University of Nottingham has been gap. This can be anything from engineering running its Developing Solutions scholarship and medical sciences to educational leadership scheme since 2001. It provides full and and international development. partial bursaries to postgraduate students time to settle in to this new system of from developing countries, and prioritises education. It’s also important to meet fellow Ethel Nakakawa, 29, completed her MSc those studying health, food, science, the home students around the campus and to in Medical and Diagnostic Virology at the environment and technology. Raimo says take the opportunity to share what you know University of Manchester in 2009 and now the university has awarded around 1,000 with students from other cultural and social works as a teaching assistant at Makerere scholarships in the scheme’s 10-year history, backgrounds. This is your big chance to follow University back home in Uganda. with the majority of recipients coming from your dream in an international setting.’ ! India, Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan. He adds ‘There are a limited number of virologists that former student Dr Steven Malinga " FURTHER here so outbreaks of viral diseases usually exemplifies what the scheme is all about. INFORMATION © Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images mean importing expertise, but now I can help reduce this need by training people,’ she After Uganda-born Malinga completed his A useful source of postgraduate of the country. ‘My work experience with DFID invest in skills, knowledge and educational Above says. ‘I hope to have an impact not just on Master’s in Public Health (thanks to the scholarship information on the British Disabled inspired me to find out more about poverty opportunities in the most needy parts of the children in individuals but on my whole nation.’ university’s scholarship), he began raising Council’s Education UK site eradication and development in Africa,’ she world,’ she says. The university introduced Palestine are awareness about HIV/Aids in South Sudan www.educationuk.org/scholarships benefitting explains. ‘I wanted to learn skills that would Equity and Merit scholarships for its master’s from work done Hisham Arabkabeya, meanwhile, from Jenin – a country devastated by war – in addition Guidance notes for international students help me contribute to the development courses in 2007, working with partners in by students – a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank – to supporting health teams, and training and from the UK Council for International awarded UK process of my country.’ developing countries to identify candidates scholarships completed his postgraduate studies in the UK On returning to Jenin, Arabkabeya worked mentoring people, so that they could continue Student Affairs with academic potential. in 2009. Wanting to improve the quality of care for the Palestinian Paralympic Committee the work after he left. www.ukcisa.org.uk Below Feza had only been to the UK once as a child. Studying for his country’s disabled community, he chose (PPC), co-ordinating the project’s activities The National Postgraduate Committee ‘Edinburgh has a very multicultural community. Initially targeting Uganda, the scheme now subjects such as to study at the University of Southampton as it in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and Malinga now works in Swaziland in Southern has put together a postgraduate funding virology allows It’s a welcoming and comfortable place to includes Bangladesh and Rwanda, with four international is one of the few universities to offer an MSc in preparing national teams to participate in Africa. The country, with a population of about guide for international students study,’ she says. ‘But I’m blown away by the scholarships per year available in each students to help Health and Rehabilitation. the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He 1.2 million, has one of the highest rates of www.npc.org.uk/funding improve the sophisticated infrastructure here – I come country. All students’ costs are covered: lives of people also volunteers with the Local Committee HIV/Aids in the world: 26 per cent of the adult Prospects has handy tips on paying for from a country with one of the worst road the university waives the tuition fees while in their own ‘I’d been working full time for the Local for Rehabilitation of the Disabled, where he population is infected and tens of thousands of further study countries networks in the world.’ donations by alumni cover airfares, visas Committee for Rehabilitation of the Disabled implements new rehabilitation projects and children are orphans. ‘My skills are helping two www.prospects.ac.uk/funding in Jenin, providing therapy sessions for helps to obtain new funding. developing African nations,’ he says. ‘And I’ve The Commonwealth Scholarship The university’s Global Development children with disabilities,’ explains Arabkabeya, realised my dream of having an international Commission covers funding Academy Master’s Scholarship paid Feza’s full 29. ‘The role was full of challenges in terms of ‘I had the best experience at Southampton,’ career in the fight against HIV and Aids.’ opportunities for postgraduates from the tuition fees. When she finishes her course, finding and providing the best treatment for says Arabkabeya. ‘The course was tough but Commonwealth she plans to return to Uganda and apply her my clients. Without advanced practice skills it gave me a much deeper understanding of Brian Jared Wamubeyi from Kenya is another http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk newfound knowledge and skills to home- or clinical reasoning, I couldn’t progress.’ social-care systems and equipped me with the student benefiting from the University A listing of international scholarships grown developmental projects that will help proper tools to deal with any challenges in the of Nottingham’s Developing Solutions specifically for people from developing improve the lives of her people. Arabkabeya received a full Southampton field of rehabilitation. The scholarship covered scholarship. He is currently mid-way through countries

© James Cavallini/Science Photo Library © James Cavallini/Science University-partnered Karim Rida Saïd my course fees and living expenses. Without an MSc in Geographical Information Science, www.scholars4dev.com A ‘proper’ thing to do Foundation scholarship. The scheme is aimed it, there’s no way I could have got this far.’ and he has advice for other international International Graduate’s basic guide Joanne Jacobs, senior international officer at students from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, students: ‘Get as much information and on sources of funding for international at the University of Manchester, believes Palestine and Syria who have a good first No constraints guidance as possible from other students students UK universities have a ‘moral obligation’ to degree, are under 40 and can demonstrate According to the Higher Education from your home country,’ he says. ‘Buy food www.internationalgraduate.net/ help talented students benefit from a top- that their chosen master’s degree will benefit Statistics Agency, the number of under- and and clothing from the most affordable stores funding.htm quality education. ‘It’s right and proper to the development of the Middle East region. postgraduate students studying in the UK to avoid financial stress, and give yourself

28 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 29 TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

Main picture debate), she decided to take a closer look. Delegates listen to their Her research led her to stay on for the interpreters second master’s – an MA in Conference during a United Nations Human Interpreting and Translation Studies. ‘I had Rights Council very little knowledge about what interpreting session actually is,’ she says. ‘I went to the mock Left conference and it was amazing. The [people Tony Blair on Bridging the ofﬁcial duty at there] were students but they could do the European simultaneous interpreting: listening and Parliament in 2005 when he talking at the same time.’ was UK Prime Minister Xu’s PhD supervisor and MA course director Dr Gracie Peng says some students don’t language gap realise the range of skills that interpreting – and the related written discipline of translation – involve. ‘Most people think that

© Mark Renders/Getty Images © Mark Renders/Getty as long as they have languages they can Translation and interpretation courses offer students with become interpreters or translators, which is solid language skills unique opportunities to help bridge t’s the 2016 United Nations (UN) Climate quite deceptive,’ she says. ‘You might be able Change Conference. Delegates have to run but that doesn’t mean you can run for national, cultural and linguistic divides. By Ann Morgan gathered from nearly 200 member the Olympics. We need people who have very states. A hush falls as your country’s solid language skills to begin with. This is not a representative walks to the podium. language course.’ I She opens her mouth to speak. And it’s up to you to interpret her words into another Required to have a high level of competence language so the rest of the world can in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, understand what she’s got to say. Japanese, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish – and an IELTS score of at least 7.0 if English Such a scenario is all in a day’s work for is not their mother tongue – to get on to Vivian Xu. Now a freelance interpreter the course, interpreting students at the and lecturer at China Foreign Affairs University of Leeds learn a wide range University in Beijing, she recognises that of specialist skills. Along with research the communication skills she learnt from two techniques and single or bidirectional master’s courses at the University of Leeds simultaneous interpreting, these skills include were very valuable. She graduated from the detecting the needs of clients, mediating second in 2005, but was so fascinated by the between different cultures, global awareness subject that she returned to the university in and solving linguistic problems on the spot. 2012 to pursue a PhD in Interpreting Studies. The course began in 2001 and previous course Xu might never have discovered her love graduates have found jobs with incredibly of interpreting if she hadn’t heard about high-proﬁle yet diverse organisations, including it from friends while she was studying her the UN, the BBC, the World Bank, Nissan, ﬁrst master’s – in translation studies, which Google and Microsoft. As such an impressive focuses on written work. Intrigued by the list of alumni career paths indicates, the course’s regular mock conferences (where skills the course offers are highly valued. students test their skills at relaying speech Some companies even attend its assessment from one language to another as delegates exercises to headhunt future employees.

I am convinced that I wouldn’t have been able to write speeches for the president of the European Commission

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Nevertheless, the translation of written translators, particularly those with English as work brings with it an equally wide array of a first language, who, it appears, are in short Find your niche challenges. At University College London supply. This shortage has led to a range of (UCL), Professor Theo Hermans supervises initiatives to encourage more native English The increasing number of collaborations PhD Translations Studies students as they speakers to train as translators and build links between scientists and corporations tackle what may be the largest single piece with employers, including the UK government- around the world is opening up a wealth © Michael Regan/Getty Images © Michael Regan/Getty of work of their lives. The thesis topics of funded Routes into Language Programme and of opportunities for translators and his current cohort vary widely, ranging from © Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images the National Network for Translation. interpreters who can combine linguistic translated plays staged in London in 2005 to expertise with a decent knowledge of translating postcolonial novels into Polish. Yet Schaeffner explains that the range of particular fields. To cater for this market, in order to achieve these feats, each of his employment opportunities is broader than a range of specialist courses is springing students has to develop certain skills. many realise. ‘When you talk about translation, up at universities around the UK to give was keen to get a more thorough grounding Above people think of something they had as part students the tools to work in these niche Former England ‘The main skill is a sense of cultural in the English and American legal systems so football of their foreign language classes at school, areas. These include programmes such difference,’ says Hermans. ‘Students deal with that she could trade off her ability to translate manager Fabio sitting there with the text and the dictionary,’ as Imperial’s MSc in Scientific, Technical Capello (centre) texts that have been relocated or redeployed. complex legal concepts accurately. ‘Like any speaks to the she says. ‘But in the translation industry you & Medical Translation and the University All the words acquire a different connotation job, if you really want to deliver good work media with his have dubbing, subtitling and people working of Surrey’s MA in Business Translation translator on because they have been used in a different you have to specialise,’ she says. ‘I thought his left as project managers too.’ with Interpreting. setting. That’s what makes it interesting.’ it might be a good idea to specialise in legal translation and it was.’ Zimbabwean graduate John Matipano In 2010, the University of Portsmouth Compare and contrast discovered the course had value for less launched its MA in Translation and For Marlies Gabriele Prinzl, an Austrian An expanding market directly related ambitions. Having completed Technical Communication in response to student whose PhD focuses on the linguistic As well as the solid training in legal concepts Aston’s MA in Translation Studies in 2008 – industry feedback on the career paths differences between nine different translations she was looking for, Hellmann found the during which he focused on the translation open to many translators. of the same novel, the choices translators course gave her a valuable global network of marriage metaphors in The Bible into his face as they navigate between language of colleagues and led to regular work for the first language (Shona) – he found the skills he ‘The majority of translation done globally worlds are particularly clear. Using corpus European Union (EU). With many companies learned served him well in his work teaching is technical writing,’ says course leader linguistics – a computerised process that willing to pay £70 to £80 per page of legal English for Academic Purposes. ‘Translation Stephen Crabbe. ‘We were hearing allows the digital comparison of texts – she translation – roughly five times as much as develops your analytical perspective,’ he says. increasingly from manufacturers is able to analyse the differences between literary translators charge – there can be ‘You get to understand things differently; things internationally that their technical writing the editions more closely than ever before. other advantages to training in this field too. you always apply when you are teaching.’ and translation departments were housed ‘It’s been very interesting,’ she says. together. We felt that giving translators a ‘Something may not strike us as being very Career prospects are also flourishing for European Commission speechwriter Ubaldo grounding in technical writing would not innovative on a linguistic level, but if you start translators and interpreters in other areas. Stecconi goes further still. Having taught only give them that edge in the interview comparing it you can see [it] is very different Above danger is that people think, “Oh yes, I know With the expansion of the EU, and more translation for 15 years, he began a part-time, process but could subsequently improve Argentinian from all the others. One particular translator President what this means” and translate it accordingly and more companies, organisations and distance-learning PhD with UCL’s Professor their chances of being promoted.’ changes the grammar a lot more than the Cristina but don’t quite realise the consequences.’ governments launching global collaborations, Hermans in 2001 shortly after starting Fernández de others and seems to be doing it as a reaction Kirchner speaks there is a growing call for people who can his full-time role in Brussels. His aim was Russian graduate Olga Terentieva, who to the other translators.’ with US Vice- This need for specialist knowledge prompted help bridge cultural and linguistic divides. to consolidate a mass of material he had studied on the course in its first year, President Joe Biden (right) as Delaney to set up City University’s Legal gathered during his time as a scholar and found that this grounding in writing for This scope for different renditions of the same her translator Translation MA course in 2008. Designed to At Aston University, Professor of Translation develop a sound theoretical foundation for specific audiences, as well as file formats

© The Art Archive/DeA Picture Library Picture © The Art Archive/DeA leans over to text can have significant practical implications, assist accommodate working translators, the course Studies Christina Schaeffner gets frequent the definition of translation as an independent and computer-assisted translation tools, particularly when it comes to legal breaks down into eight intensive four-day phone calls from companies looking for trained academic discipline. In practice, he found that gve her a distinct advantage when it came Left documents. With millions of pounds riding on The Rosetta segments, which can be spread over one or the programme gave him more than he hoped. to looking for freelance translation work contracts and cases that often rest on the Stone, an two years. This enables the students – roughly for accounting firms. ancient Egyptian interpretation of a single word, companies rely inscription. half of whom are non-UK nationals – to ‘I am convinced that I wouldn’t have been Its translation If you want to deliver good on the skill of their translators to help them provided continue working anywhere in the world and able to write speeches for the president of ‘It is about presenting information in a way broker watertight international deals. But, the key to fly in to attend lectures when required. the European Commission if it hadn’t been for that is more user friendly,’ she says. ‘The the modern work you have to specialise. as barrister and translator Richard Delaney understanding the PhD,’ he says. ‘It keeps you alert all the main goal of any author is to make his or explains, excellent translation skills alone are of Egyptian Germany-based translator Sabine Hellmann I thought it might be a good time. And this is exactly what someone who her information interesting and useful. This hieroglyphs not enough. ‘In order to be able to translate took advantage of this flexibility when she idea to specialise in legal works closely with text all the time needs.’ ! course is about how to write in a way that legal texts you need to understand the legal began the course in 2009. With 20 years’ will attract your readers.’ concepts in both languages,’ he says. ‘The experience working as a translator, Hellmann translation and it was Search for language courses at educationuk.org

32 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 33 ROBOTICS ROBOTICS NTI Media Ltd/Rex Features NTI Media Ltd/Rex Rise of the machines?

Robots have been doing our most menial, back-breaking tasks for years. Catherine de Lange looks at how UK universities are ﬁnding new uses for automatons

n 1910, French artist Villemard painted a Main picture Forget having robots to clean the ﬂoor: The i-LIMB series of postcards depicting his vision range of today, robotics researchers are working of the future. Looking forward to the year bionic hands, on machines that can see and feel, have developed 2000, he imagined a world where people by Scottish emotions and creativity, and replicate many and vehicles travelled through the sky and company Touch of the facets of human cognition. ‘The interest Bionics, was I robots did all the manual labour. is in how we can make robots that are more launched in 2007 useful and integrate better in the real world,’

He wasn’t alone in his vision. The idea that Above says Professor Mehmet Karamanoglu, who robots will do our dirty work for us has been a Paraplegic Radi heads up the Product Design and Engineering Kaiof descends mainstay of science ﬁction for decades. After a set of stairs department at Middlesex University. all, who wouldn’t want their own robot servant using the revolutionary to do the chores? ‘ReWalk’ Another surprise is where this research is exoskeleton. happening. Japan and the US are best known Designed in A hundred and twelve years on, Villemard’s Israel, the bionic for robotics research, but when it comes device was vision has yet to come to fruition. Robots unveiled in the to cognitive robotics and human-robot certainly have their uses in manufacturing, but UK in 2011 interaction, the UK is world class. Step into we still spend much of our time working and labs across UK research centres and you doing our household chores. could meet robots that are on the way to accomplishing astonishing things. And May So what happened to his robotic utopia? 2012’s announcement of a £16 million boost Far from failing to live up to their potential, to robotics research, thanks to a government- robots’ capabilities may go way beyond the industry partnership, will surely enhance the

imagination of futurists such as Villemard. UK’s expertise in this ﬁeld. © Philippe Psaila/Science Photo Library

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The UK’s strength is its education system and the freedom it provides in exposing people’s minds to problem solving as opposed to just learning ©The Art Archive/Kharbine-Tapabor At the University of Edinburgh, Subramanian of university,’ says Mehmet Ali Erbil, a PhD Right Ian Reid, Ramamoorthy, an assistant professor in student from Middlesex University. He will a Scottish the School of Informatics, leads a team soon be travelling to the US to take part in firefighter, became the of PhD students that is training robots to the final stage of UAVForge, an international first user of the play football. As Postgraduate UK went to competition to design unmanned air vehicles. wireless i-LIMB Pulse prosthetic press, the team was preparing to travel to hand in 2010 Mexico for the RoboCup championships – an Breaking through the barriers Above A broad approach Below A policeman international football competition for robots. Because the robotics industry revolves around Intuitive Surgical controls the In fact, as robots become increasingly the ability to think creatively and come up introduced air traffic in versatile, so the field becomes ever more the da Vinci the year 2000 Of course, RoboCup represents much more with novel solutions, a keen sense of curiosity Surgical System with the aid multidisciplinary, requiring input from a range than a few games of football. The competition about how things work is essential for anyone in 1999, an of a winged of areas. Antonio Espingardeiro, a researcher early pioneer of robotic machine was set up as a way to make serious progress wanting to break into the field. Karamanoglu robotic-assisted – according who develops robots that interact with in the field of intelligent robotics and believes there’s no better place than the UK minimally to early 20th the elderly, points out that advances in his invasive surgery century French Ramamoorthy insists that important advances to develop this inquisitive streak: ‘The UK’s artist Villemard field would be impossible without expertise can come out of the time his PhD students strength is its education system and the from a less obvious source. ‘In terms of spend on preparing their team – called freedom it provides in exposing people’s minds artificial intelligence we are still dependent Edinferno – for the contest. ‘I think of Robocup to problem solving as opposed to just learning.’ on neuroscience and biology as we need to as a test-tube problem for all the issues we understand how the brain works.’ are trying to tackle in the lab,’ he says. This can be a challenge to international students, he adds, whose classes may not Professor Yaochu Jin from the University One of the problems he's grappling with have demanded that they think creatively of Surrey, who specialises in so-called is how to design robots that can make before. ‘It can be a shock and can take them morphogenetic robots (which simulate decisions and understand the intentions of a while to break into the UK system. But the development of organisms and neural others in a constantly changing environment. once they have been exposed to that way of networks), agrees that interdisciplinary If an algorithm could be developed that working they develop and gain confidence.’ research is vital. ‘With the rapid advances in

enabled a defending robot to mark an Features Ferguson/Rex © Murdoch computational biology and computational attacker – in other words, if it could anticipate Middlesex University’s robotics courses are neurosciences, there is an increasing need for what that attacker intended to do next – it based in the department of product design In fact, courses that combine both product For others, the attraction of UK courses is the students and professionals who possess an could have implications well beyond the and engineering, and Erbil thinks that the design and engineering – both important calibre of the teaching staff. ‘People come in-depth knowledge of the cross-disciplinary football pitch. ‘The process of building a good combination of these two skills will help for robot design – are hard to ﬁnd in other to Edinburgh because we have a very long areas of computing, systems biology, football player already includes a lot of the him progress in his career. ‘There is a great countries, which makes the UK even more history in artiﬁcial intelligence and the staff computational neuroscience, bioscience and issues that will show up in other robotics demand for people who have this mix of attractive for students from abroad, argues here are world leading,’ says Ramamoorthy. cognitive neurosciences,’ he says. problems,’ says Ramamoorthy. skills,’ he says. ‘On an international scale there Karamanoglu. ‘It’s one of the things we do ‘If you come here as a master’s student and are great opportunities.’ best in the UK,’ he says. you are not quite sure what you want to do, The University of Surrey is launching a new

Does he believe, as several scientists do, that Photo Library Parker/Science © David you can be reasonably certain that, whatever MSc in Computational Intelligence and a robot football team could beat the human you get interested in, there will be somebody Computational Biology in the autumn of 2012. World Cup holders by 2050? 'One day robot really good who can teach you.’ As well as graduates in computer science, footballers will be better than humans,' says mathematics, electrical engineering and Ramamoorthy, ‘but I may be retired by then.’ Although there are many students who, like physics, the course is open to those who

Erbil, come from engineering backgrounds, Left come from a more biological background, It’s also important to remember that there are plenty of opportunities for other A robot welds such as neuroscience. on a car competitions such as RoboCup don’t just types of graduates to forge a career in production lead to better robots – they also generate robotics. According to Ramamoorthy, most of line. The vast In May 2012, the University of the West of majority of cars fantastic opportunities for PhD students. ‘You the robotics PhD students in Edinburgh have a in the developed England in Bristol and the University of Bristol build networks with people in the ﬁeld, and it computer-science background, while a number world are now joined forces to open the Bristol Robotics produced by

© 2012 Intuitive Surgical, Inc/da Vinci ® Surgical Systems Inc/da Vinci ® Surgical Surgical, Intuitive © 2012 looks great on your CV when you come out also come from mathematics and physics. robots Laboratory, the largest Robotics lab in the UK.

36 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 37 ROBOTICS

The facility is alive with cutting-edge robots, Right Humanoid ranging from autonomous aerial vehicles robots compete to robots modelled on biological systems. in a soccer match at Shrewbot, for example, feels its way around RoboCup 2009 using whiskers. Another team at the lab is in Graz, Austria

working on robotic ﬁngertips, which will allow Below robots to interact much more closely with Japanese robot dog toy humans and their environment through touch. AIBO (Artificial Intelligence Robot) has a One of the fastest-growing interdisciplinary video camera areas for robotics is in healthcare – in in its head and sensors particular surgery, where robots are beginning enabling it to to perform delicate, life-saving operations respond to physical and with a precision beyond human capabilities. visual cues from its owner To meet the need for professionals in this ﬁeld, Imperial College London’s Hamlyn Centre launched a new MRes in Medical Robotics in 2011, which is open to both engineers and medics with suitable experience. © Leonhard Foeger/Reuters © Leonhard

Perhaps surprisingly, robots also help psychologists to better understand human Building a good robot footballer already includes a lot behaviour and abilities. Professor Simon of the issues that show up in other robotics problems. Colton at Imperial College London hopes that creating robots that can produce original One day robot footballers will be better than humans artworks on their own might help us to better understand human creativity. such robots are likely to be used to care for interactions with humans – in particular to Meanwhile, the Intelligent Robotics Group at the young and the old.’ assist the elderly. His robots can accomplish the University of Aberystwyth has developed an astonishing array of skills: tell jokes; a childlike robot called iCub that may shed Espingardeiro is one researcher working on recognise people by their faces; remind new light on the way children develop and making that vision a reality. After completing people to take their medication; and follow learn. The Adaptive Behaviour Research his engineering degree in Portugal, he people around carrying their shopping. Group at the University of Shefﬁeld – which decided to come to the UK to do an MSc offers an MSc in Cognitive and Computational in Robotics and Automation at the National Espingardeiro believes that when robots do Neuroscience that is open to both life science Advanced Robotics Research Centre at the become our daily companions, they can be and physical science graduates – also University of Salford. ‘The UK has much more than mere house cleaners – and operates in this area. a strong education system that to reduce them to carrying out simple that provides not only functions would limit their potential. ‘Socially Tomorrow’s world? technical knowledge but assistive robots make people much more Building robots that can be teaches values, attitudes relaxed, communicative and active during The source of creativity creative, have emotions and and multicultural policies their daily lives,’ he says. sense the world in a similar way that are absolutely essential to to human beings could mean that become successful in any area,’ Whatever area of robotics excites you, the Villemard’s vision of robot servants says Espingardeiro, who founded industry is one that will continue to generate is back on the agenda. ‘By 2025, his own Assistive Robotics Lab in interest and debate. And there can be few for around the price of a car today, 2010 with the support of the IEEE, career choices as engaging or rewarding a family will be able to purchase an international association for the for inquisitive students. As Espingardeiro a robot to help around the house,’ advancement of technology. says: ‘I develop robots but I also create says Christopher Barnatt, Professor experiences that inﬂuence people’s lives.’ ! of Computing and Future Studies He now works on at the University of Nottingham developing robots that For more information on robotics courses visit @ GustoImages/Science Photo Library Business School. ‘In particular can perform complex educationuk.org www.educationuk.org 38 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org FASHION FASHION © Iain Masterton/Alamy © John Alex Maguire/Rex Features Maguire/Rex © John Alex Rags to riches

As the fashion industry becomes more global and competitive, postgraduate degrees in the UK are emphasising business acumen as much as style. By Antonia Windsor

or decades, the UK has been a so at a dramatic speed. The facts speak for Top left Visitors flock breeding ground for innovative, themselves: luxury brands – traditionally a to the London world-class fashion designers. staple of the industry – account for just five College Of Fashion The mere mention of renowned per cent of global fashion sales, while the more Catwalk Show names such as Sarah Burton (who affordable high-street brands provide the vast at The Studio in Paddington Fdesigned that wedding dress for new royal bulk of the purchases. The required skill set has Kate Middleton), Stella McCartney, Burberry’s changed too. Technical skill, innate creativity Main picture Shoppers are visionary CEO Christopher Bailey and and a hearty slice of luck were once key to embracing Malaysian-born Jimmy Choo is enough to success. These days, however, a business cutting-edge global fashion leave precocious young fashion designers the brain that understands the significance of designs world over dizzy with excitement. What do all research methodology, brand management these names have in common? They are all and marketing is equally important. graduates from prestigious UK art colleges. As the industry has become more complex Although much of the fashion industry’s and professional, it has also become more appeal is linked to the glory days of haute international. Of the £790 billion generated by couture – exclusive and glamorous custom- the global fashion industry each year, China made clothing – the truth is that the fashion currently accounts for about £40 billion (CNY world has changed, and continues to do 400 billion), with China’s sales having tripled

Global fashion is experiencing a great rate of growth, and the need for managers with a sound understanding of the industry’s challenges is self-evident

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in size over the past decade. This trend shows You need people’s creativity – but creativity is nothing Emerging trends no signs of abating: China is set to become In the 10 years that McColl has been lecturing, the world’s second-largest fashion market by unless you’ve got a business sense to go with it and she has seen a dramatic shift in the emerging 2020 and will account for about 30 per cent of markets fashion industry. ‘The rise of the Features © Rex the global market’s growth over the next five the ability to carry out a commercial strategy “value” retailers has had some interesting years, according to a report by management effects: a deflation in pricing, a decline in the consultancy firm Boston Consulting Group. Right the market. They will produce fashion Coventry University has also responded to middle market, and a huge increase in luxury The Team GB kit for the 2012 graduates who are creative and demand for a more business-oriented fashion. The trend is towards people buying It’s a similar story of growth in India and Brazil. Olympics was innovative, yet business- fashion course. Its recently luxury and mixing it with cheaper garments.’ designed by The number of affluent consumer households acclaimed UK minded and savvy. launched MBA in International As the middle classes grow in these emerging in these rapidly urbanising countries will designer Stella Fashion Management has economies, however, McColl predicts a swing McCartney increase dramatically in the next decade, Paresh Parmar, leader proved popular with students back towards the middle market. ‘It’s only and they will be intent on buying stylish and Below of the MBA in Fashion from a wide range of countries, really now that we are seeing the likes of Students work cutting-edge fashion designs at a competitive on their ideas Brand Management at including Thailand, Korea, the Topshop move into China,’ she says. ‘Benetton price. In short, fashion is now a real business in for Muslim the University of Central United Arab Emirates, India is becoming an Indian success story and Zara fashion at the these emerging nations. London College Lancashire, says his course and China. ‘Global fashion and Clarks are proving successful in Brazil.’ of Fashion was set up after a British is experiencing a great Made to measure Council recruitment fair rate of growth, and the Sonya Jose, who graduated from Glasgow UK institutions have taken note of the in India. ‘It was clear that need for managers with a Caledonian’s MSc in 2012, believes the retail changing fashion landscape. New courses these students were sound understanding of market in her home country of India is just have been devised at UK universities that seeking an MBA from an the industry’s challenges is opening up to foreign direct investment, and are tailored specifically to the dynamics of international institution that self-evident,’ explains course chose her course accordingly. ‘With so many India or handle the Indian marketing for an Above develop his own company, La Belle Échoppe. Sarah Burton’s would give them the edge in this competitive director Ella Sharp. international brands vying to enter India in international brand.’ royal wedding ‘I wanted a programme that would give me the industry,’ he says, before emphasising that the the near future, I felt a specialised course that dress design tools to build my company, while giving me on display at course is run as a collaboration between the ‘Our classes encourage students to analyse focused on international fashion marketing The London College of Fashion’s MA in Fashion Buckingham important access to a network of graduates School of Fashion and the School of Business. all aspects of the fashion industry – especially would add value to my overall experience,’ Entrepreneurship aims to turn students into Palace and current students as well as resources,’ he ‘You need people’s creativity – but creativity the understanding of the psychology of she says. ‘It has helped me understand a entrepreneurs who can create and sustain explains. ‘It’s the dream of a lot of designers is nothing unless you’ve got a business consumption. This then enables them to think number of global brands and their respective their own fashion businesses. ‘The course to create their own products but they don’t sense to go with it and the ability to carry creatively about business and apply their marketing strategies, which I hope will prove was created because we recognised and always know how to control the business side out a commercial strategy with specific and knowledge practically. For example, they beneficial if I have to launch a brand in anticipated the need to increase the pool of of things. At the same time, every entrepreneur measurable objectives. That is what we are can compare and contrast the feasibility of constantly trying to reinforce in our students.’ launching a British high-street brand as a This is a good time to be a fashion entrepreneur niche product in China and Brazil, which will The course has now been running for three help them exploit the exciting opportunities as there is increasing consumer demand for niche years and nearly all of its students have available in emerging markets,’ she adds. been international, with the majority coming fashion labels and innovative design concepts from China, India and Thailand. ‘The one Glasgow Caledonian University, meanwhile, thing these students are captivated by is offers a very popular MSc in International business-minded people in the fashion and wants to create their own company, but few online sales and the integration of fashion Fashion Marketing. ‘The course has been creative industries – people who could notice have the skills to design a collection. This with online facilities,’ continues Parmar. ‘A running since 1998 but a couple of years ago new opportunities in global markets,’ says course is a great place to find a business lot of our students want to set up their own we decided to run it in London as well, as the course director Chitra Buckley. partner and create a company together.’ business. One girl went back to India and set city is a fashion capital in its own right,’ says up her own fashion house. When she came senior lecturer Julie McColl. ‘This is a good time to be a fashion Whatever your area of interest in fashion – she knew the design aspect but didn’t know entrepreneur as there is increasing consumer be it traditional design, brand development, everything else that went along with it.’ ‘At least two thirds of our students are demand for niche fashion labels and innovative marketing, entrepreneurship, or a combination international, many of whom come from design concepts,’ she adds. ‘Young businesses of these – the emphasis of these new courses

Indian student Konica Sehgal graduated China, Taiwan and eastern Europe. There’s are able to grow organically and quickly by Left will be strictly on business. And as the global from the MBA last year. ‘The most important been an interesting change in the course’s using social media platforms such as Facebook Hong Kong-born industry becomes more sophisticated, UK Nova Chiu thing for me was understanding the variety proﬁle over the past few years, because there and Twitter to communicate with a broader celebrates universities are ensuring their graduates are of brands and the role a brand analysis or are these emerging economies that have a range of consumers than in the past.’ winning creative enough, talented enough and shrewd Collection of the manager can play in their growth,’ she says. growing fashion industry, combined with the Year at the 2011 enough to cut it at the highest level. ! ‘I am now keen to start a brand of my own, added demand for well-trained professionals French student Laurent Meyrignac used the London College of Fashion © Alex Lentati/Associated Newspapers/Rex Features Newspapers/Rex Lentati/Associated © Alex

© Mark Tillie; Rex Features © Mark Tillie; Rex specialising in textiles for interiors.’ to enter and lead the industry,’ she adds. MA to gain a higher degree while continuing to Catwalk Show Find business courses at educationuk.org

42 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 43 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

orking to improve sanitation in overcrowded slums; helping to build new schools and train teachers in under-serviced rural areas;W empowering women to make decisions for themselves and live independently; arranging loans to help farmers grow and sell crops. While careers in international development span a huge range of sectors and disciplines, they have one thing in

common: unparalleled job satisfaction. Images; Directo/AFP/Getty © Jay Singh/Majority World © Supreeta

International development is nothing new: Above on the University of Westminster’s MA in Farmers drying since the 1950s, developed countries grains in central International Development Management. have had systems in place to help improve Bangladesh ‘We can get good people to come and living standards in some of the world’s speak to the students and there are poorest areas. But over the past 10 years enough professional experts here to really it has become increasingly popular as add value. We work in collaboration with a discipline in itself, with a growing number them, inviting them to add a practical ﬂavour of postgraduate courses offering the to what we do. All this makes the UK a very opportunity to specialise in this area. viable place to study.’

Students tend to have completed an The University of Westminster offers students undergraduate degree in their home the opportunity to apply for internships with country before embarking on international institutions such as Health Poverty Action, development postgraduate study. Common Oxfam and the Fairtrade Foundation. ‘We have undergraduate degrees include geography, a journal of job placement opportunities and law, business, public policy and economics, most students have already secured interviews and students come from all over the world, before they leave the course,’ says Sholarin.

We collaborate with professional experts and invite them to add a practical ﬂavour to what we do. All this makes the UK a very viable place to study

particularly from developing countries in Brazilian student Alessandra Furtado, 34, Latin America, Asia and Africa. Graduates is currently enrolled on the programme typically go on to work for government after studying business and finance in her departments, charities or non-governmental home country as an undergraduate. Since A force for good organisations (NGOs) following their studies, graduating eight years ago, she has remained and many return to their home countries to there, working for the United States Agency look for work. for International Development (USAID), As students search for more selfless career options, international the European Commission, and the Nature Many international NGOs have their head Conservancy, a US-based NGO that has development degrees are growing in popularity. Femke Colborne offices in the UK, which makes it a popular branches in 30 countries. Despite her wealth explains why UK universities are the ideal starting point destination for students. The UK also has a of experience, however, she still feels she thriving charity sector, providing full-time Main picture needs more specialist training to progress work for around 650,000 people – about A Filipino boy further in her career. scavenges for 2.3 per cent of the total workforce. ‘The UK items to sell to is without doubt a very strong institutional trash dealers ‘I wanted to be more focused and specialised,’ in Manila, the base,’ says Ola Sholarin, course leader Philippines she explains. ‘My undergraduate degree was

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very focused on the for-profit world, so I felt I study does not guarantee you a job. ‘In some Right mission is to help vulnerable children in Villagers in needed more theory and understanding of how kinds of work, that is the expected path. But Eritrea build Uganda]. That confirmed what I wanted to do.’ development works.’ Furtado also felt it would with development work it is helpful to have a rainwater collection be valuable to see things from the perspective prior experience. Volunteering, internships dam with Like many students, Mugabe was attracted to of a developed country. ‘In my years of work I and any relevant professional experience will aid from the the fact that many MA courses in the UK can be Lutheran World have seen there is a big gap in understanding improve your chances of being admitted.’ Federation, completed in one year, while courses in other between developed and developing countries,’ a global countries, especially the US and Canada, can communion she says. ‘Developed countries often don’t The Manchester course offers six different of Christian take two years. When she graduates, she says understand the realities of funding and why pathways: social policy and social development; churches she intends to return to Uganda to improve their goals and targets sometimes can’t be poverty, conflict and reconstruction; Below slum conditions in urban areas. ‘But I would achieved; the developing world, meanwhile, politics and governance; environment and Indonesian also like to work with women and vulnerable fishermen sometimes doesn’t understand why the development; economics and management examine tools children, letting women know their rights.’ donor is saying that things have to be done of rural development; and development received through international aid Open to all programmes I have seen the conditions people are living Although experience is helpful, most institutions also accept applications from in, with no access to education. I want to help students straight from undergraduate study. The University of Sheffield has been running improve conditions for those people an MA in International Development, an MSc in International Development and Environmental in a certain way. I felt that if I was exposed to management. Within each pathway there are Change and an MPH (Master of Public Health) the other side of things then it would help to opportunities to specialise in different sectors an internship at the Permanent Mission of in International Development for the past

narrow the gap between those two worlds.’ (such as sanitation, construction or education) Ecuador to the United Nations. She then three years. ‘Quite a few people do have World © Shahidul Alam/AUW/Drik/Majority University; Metropolitan © London but the emphasis is on providing a broad worked for Ayala Consulting in Quito on some professional experience but some also Prepare your path introduction to perspectives on development, development projects for a year before come straight through,’ says Chasca Twyman, advanced statistics, health needs assessments Above Like most international development Students at the Experience such as Furtado’s is priceless, approaches and research methods. securing a job with the Ministry of Urban course director for the MA. ‘We are happy to and even languages, so they can really build Asian University students, Azhar has always been motivated says Philip Woodhouse, course leader on Development and Housing, also in Quito. consider both. Experience can help with the up their CVs. We are very strong academically for Women in by the desire to improve the lives of people Chittagong, the MA in International Development at the Estefanía Mantilla, 25, is currently enrolled learning experience, but if you have been out but we also try to bring in workplace skills.’ Bangladesh, in the world’s poorest areas. Whether it’s University of Manchester. He says students on the social policy and social development Like Furtado, however, Mantilla felt she needed of the university environment for a while then which opened managing building projects, allocating in 2008 need to understand that going straight into pathway. After studying economics in her a postgraduate degree before she could it can also take longer to adjust.’ All Sheffield students take part in a core loans, researching development methods or international development postgraduate home country of Ecuador, Mantilla completed climb to the next level. ‘I wanted to apply for field class (last year’s was held in Kenya) Below left lobbying governments, there are numerous London a better-paid job and I felt I was lacking the Like the Manchester MA, the Sheffield courses as well as completing a work experience- Metropolitan ways to make a difference. ‘I have always knowledge to progress further,’ she says. offer a broad foundation in development based dissertation. ‘We organise placements University been interested in international development,’ students meet ‘If you want to go higher they won’t accept practice with the opportunity to specialise in through partnerships with institutions in the with Kachhpura he says. ‘I have family in a rural area of you without further study. I knew I wanted to areas such as gender issues, climate change UK, Europe and developing countries,’ says locals in Agra, Pakistan and I have seen the poor conditions India, as part come to Europe, and as English is my second and health, and water and sanitation. ‘There Twyman. ‘Students do six to eight weeks of a project to people are living in, with no access to language I decided to apply in the UK.’ is an academic and professional mix,’ says of research and then write about it, so it is raise hygiene education. I want to help improve conditions awareness in Twyman. ‘Students can learn skills such as academic work but also practical experience.’ the village for those people.’ ! For 26-year-old Fiona Mugabe, who is studying bid writing, geographic information systems, on the economics and management of rural Muneeb Azhar, 26, who completed the MA " FURTHER INFORMATION development option, the path to international programme in 2011, chose to do his placement development has been less conventional. She in the UK – at the Development Education Course search on Education UK completed a BA in economics at the University Centre in South Yorkshire. Previously, Azhar www.educationuk.org of Alberta in Canada before returning to her had studied development studies as an Directory of courses relating to international development home country of Uganda to work as a product undergraduate in Pakistan, before working www.studying-development.org analyst for Citibank. with the Pakistan Haemophilia Patients Welfare UK-based guide to the development sector Society. Since graduating from the MA he has www.experiencedevelopment.org However, she soon began to feel frustrated. returned to his home country and completed a General advice website that includes a section on ‘I realised that working in the banking sector short-term contract as social media manager international development wasn’t really for me,’ she says. ‘Some of my for the Pakistan People’s Party. He is now www.ethicalcareers.org friends were working in development and looking for work in research, monitoring and Network of UK-based international development NGOs I thought I would like to give it a go. So I evaluation or project management in the field www.bond.org.uk volunteered at UCOBAC [an NGO whose of education or poverty relief. © Adek Berry/Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; © Heldur Netocny/Lineair/Still Pictures Organization & Agriculture © Adek Berry/Food

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Earth’s atmosphere or by making the surface of the Earth more reﬂective.

According to Alan Gadian, a research scientist at Leeds University, some existing theories are better than others. ‘The problem with the

sulphate particles idea [Spice] is that it doesn’t Photo Library © Jim Reed/Science Preserving actually cool the poles preferentially – plus it would be extremely expensive,’ he says.

His alternative would be to use a boat to inject a fine spray of sea salt from the ocean surface into the clouds. ‘This would reduce the size of the planet the water droplets, making them whiter [and, therefore, more reflective of the sun’s rays]. The experiment is reversible, easily controlled and relatively cheap,’ he says. Geoengineering initiatives have the potential to reverse A more grounded SRM approach is to increase the effects of climate change, but more research needs the reflectivity of roads and even people’s more reflective deserts approach would cause Above Meteorologists roofs. ‘This idea has comparatively few the Indian and African monsoons to fail.’ to be done to convince the pessimists. Dave Hall discovers from the US- negative consequences and cools locally,’ based Severe Thunderstorm that UK universities are leading the charge for change says Dan Lunt, a senior research fellow at the Perception problems Electrification University of Bristol and a leading authority on The professional consensus seems to be and Precipitation Study (STEPS) geoengineering. ‘So the US eastern seaboard, that more research is needed – and an prepare to he Spice project (Stratospheric the causes. One idea is to reduce the risk of Right for example, could be cooled by around two investigation into the public’s perception of launch a NASA satellite weather balloon Particle Injection for Climate hurricanes by sucking cold water from the image indicating degrees using this method. The problem is geoengineering supports this view. The report, into a storm Engineering) sounds like something bottom of the oceans to the surface – cooling how the Earth’s that it doesn’t have a huge global effect.’ called for by the UK’s Engineering and Physical cloud tops have straight out of the movies. A football the ocean and calming the weather. Another been lowering Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and stadium-sized balloon is sent 20km is to flood the deserts with rising seawater over the past Other SRM ideas include creating sunblocking carried out by the Integrated Assessment of decade, which Tup into the air. Its mission? To spray a fine (although sceptics point out that any gain could be mirrors in space, covering deserts with plastic Geoengineering Proposals (IAGP), found that blanket of sunlight-reflecting sulphate particles would be negligible, should the water simply affecting global sheeting, and growing shinier crops. But even while very few people were ‘unconditionally temperatures into the atmosphere, thereby reversing global seep back to the oceans). SRM advocates admit its methods, while quick positive’ about the idea, most thought that a warming and saving planet Earth. Below and convenient, are expensive – and only scaled-down test of the Spice project should Meteorologists The bulk of research activity, however, is survey tornado form part of the overall solution. ‘If we were be pursued. damage to a The Hollywood-style happy ending may not directed towards SRM and CO2 removal. The to use [stratospheric sulphur] aerosols [which Texan home be a reality just yet – we’re talking about theory behind SRM solutions is to reflect have a dimming effect on the sun’s rays], for Gadian, meanwhile, is worried about the science after all, not science fiction – but the back some of the sun’s radiation, either by example, they must be replenished,’ says Dr consequences of any success. ‘The irony is methods are very real. Spice, a collaboration increasing the reflectivity (the albedo) of the Naomi Vaughan, a senior research associate at that if these initiatives work we’re in trouble, between the universities of Bristol, Cambridge, the University of East Anglia. ‘If they aren’t, you because that will tempt governments to avoid

Edinburgh and Oxford, is just one of the many could bring on very rapid warming – in, say, 20 reducing CO2.’ And most scientists agree projects UK universities are currently involved years instead of 100.’ that these type of solutions simply don’t in to mitigate the causes of climate change. tackle the root of the problem – human-made And SRM can have unintended consequences greenhouse gas and its effects, such as ocean

‘Geoengineering’ – the collective term for too, according to Lunt: ‘The mirror proposal CO2 acidiﬁcation. ‘It’s no good reﬂecting methods by which we can consciously alter would cool the equatorial regions too much sunlight if the volume of greenhouse gas is still the environment for the better – comes in and the polar regions not enough, while the increasing,’ argues Vaughan. many forms, but projects broadly fall into three categories: adaptation; solar radiation management (SRM); and CO2 removal. There is no silver bullet. We need to insulate more, use

Adaptation solutions attempt to lessen the less energy, and develop more efﬁcient sources, without ©NASA/JPL-Caltech effects of climate change, rather than attack Images Star-Telegram/MCT/Getty Worth © Paul Moseley/Fort creating energy poverty in parts of our society

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So why aren’t we trying to remove the greenhouse gases themselves? Well, attempts The irony is that if these initiatives work we’re in trouble are being made – from bizarre concepts such as it will tempt governments to avoid reducing CO2 as artiﬁcial CO2-scrubbing ‘trees’, which would capture CO2 in the atmosphere and bury it underground, to carbon capture and storage project is the Tyndall Centre for Climate and government on climate science issues. Right Melting icebergs (CCS) ideas that would catch the CO2 at source. Change Research, which brings together International students are always encouraged, threaten polar researchers from eight UK universities says Lunt, who points out that in his small bears’ existence

‘CCS involves capturing CO2 at the power plant (Sussex, Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle, department at Bristol about half the applicants

or industrial complex, where it is compressed, Southampton, Oxford, Cardiff and the UEA) and are from outside the UK. ‘More and more © Johner Images/Alamy transported [via a pipeline or vessel] and one from China (Fudan University). people are entering this field,’ he says. then safely stored deep beneath the earth in pessimistic scientists feel we’ve already depleted gas and oil fields or saline aquifers Fortunately, funding for such initiatives No easy answers passed the tipping point and have created a [that are unconnected with drinking water],’ is available via many different channels. Prospective students should not be in any ‘feedback loop’. In other words, the warmer says Jon Gluyas, a professor in geoenergy at Durham’s groundbreaking work, for example, doubt as to the scale of the challenge facing it gets, the less ice there will be to reflect Durham University. ‘It is currently estimated is well supported by industry, while other them. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate sunlight. This will cause permafrosts to that the CCS process requires 30 per cent institutions rely on grants from research Change (IPCC), for example, predicts global melt which, in turn, will release locked-up more fuel than simply letting the CO2 escape councils such as the Natural Environment warming of between one and four degrees by methane, causing even more warming – in to the atmosphere; however, this method will Research Council (NERC) and the National 2100 – if we stop using fossil fuels now. This short, we could see a runaway greenhouse become far more efficient [in the future]. The Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS). Some would equate to a 59cm rise in sea levels – effect emerge. As geoengineering blogger fact is we need to curb CO2 emissions and CCS international students support themselves, enough to submerge most of Venice. Sam Carana puts it: ‘[Action has] to be taken is very important in this because it helps with although the UK-based Collaborative immediately by world governments if there is the transition to a low-carbon economy.’ Awards in Science and Engineering funds ‘There is no silver bullet,’ says Gluyas. ‘We any faint hope of preventing the human race students alongside industrial partners such need to insulate more, use less energy, being boiled like lobsters.’ Another approach, says Gluyas, is the as the Met Office. Indeed, many research capture and store our used carbon dioxide bioenergy with carbon capture and storage scientists from UK universities go on to work safely, and develop more efficient wind, Even if it were possible to rebalance the Earth’s

(BECCS) concept. ‘Plants take CO2 out of the at the Met Office’s Hadley Centre in Exeter, photovoltaic and other sources without ecosystem, there are plenty of opponents atmosphere,’ he explains. ‘If you burn the plant one of the UK’s foremost climate change creating energy poverty in parts of our to geoengineering projects. Many believe and then capture the released CO2 – storing Guest and Giulio Frigieri/The Guardian © Pete research centres, which advises the public society. The task is enormous.’ Certain such schemes give governments an excuse it in the same way as you would in carbon to ease off on emission-reduction targets, storage – then you’ve reduced the CO2 in the representing just one per cent of the Earth’s Above Systems – works at the interface between while others are simply opposed to meddling Geoengineering atmosphere. The problem is, of course, that we biomass, the photosynthesising microscopic initiatives to mathematics and climate science,’ says The researcher’s view with the natural order. The IAGP survey can’t turn the whole planet over to biofuels.’ organisms are responsible for drawing down combat climate Professor David Stephenson, a professor in reveals the extent to which the industry has change half of the world’s CO2. One experiment statistical climatology at the university. ‘We Robert Bellamy is studying a PhD on ways of appraising geoengineering at the University of East Anglia to work towards winning over the public, with Ocean-borne phytoplankton remove carbon recently tried ‘fertilising’ some 900 sq km of Left have about 20 PhD students specialising in responses such as: ‘The Earth’s temperature A satellite image from the air in a similar way; and, despite the Atlantic with iron particles to feed blooms of an algal this area because the Met Office, along with I am affiliated to the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, the IAGP project, and the Science, Society is too complicated to fix with one technology’; of these plants – the theory being that when bloom in the other climate scientists, requires accurate and Sustainability (3S) research group. Geoengineering is a fast-growing area of research, and attracts ‘Humans should not be manipulating nature Atlantic Ocean they die, they sink, locking the carbon to the off the coast of mathematical modelling. Without a model, expertise from many different disciplines, spanning both the natural and social sciences. My work assesses in this way’; and ‘Research into solar radiation sea floor. However, the results were less than South America you haven’t got a climate prediction.’ geoengineering proposals and I am currently evaluating ways of assessing geoengineering – in particular, management will lead to a technology that will satisfactory, according to Gadian. ‘The fish how subjectivity can influence opinion. For example, in the Experiment Earth? public dialogue in 2010, experts be used no matter what the public thinks’. enjoyed eating the algae, but there wasn’t Many UK universities also take part in global described the conditions under which we might be forced to consider geoengineering. Presented with a all that much evidence that it achieved its projects that form the basis of our most climate ‘emergency’, people may be likely to view geoengineering more favourably than if they had been Some scientists say that, sooner or later, doing

© NASA/Science Photo Library purpose,’ he says. Once again, the predictable advanced knowledge of geoengineering. In presented with a less extreme scenario. something will be less risky than doing nothing conclusion (given the relative infancy of the addition to the Spice project, for example, – the so-called precautionary principle. subject) is that more research is required. Lancaster, the University of East Anglia (UEA), I will also be the lead researcher in a ground-breaking public discussion on geoengineering. Both experts and Gadian’s approach is a refreshing one. ‘I define Cambridge and Cardiff are all involved in members of the public will evaluate geoengineering as a response to climate change alongside mitigation geoengineering simply as ‘man-made climate A model example the work of the IAGP. UEA, which has the (limiting the causes of climate change) and adaptation (limiting the effects). The aim is to give a 360-degree change’ – deliberate or otherwise,’ he says. Encouragingly for potential students interested largest school of environmental sciences in view of the different perspectives that affect contemporary climate change decision making. ‘We are already doing it, and have been since in this arena, there are numerous and diverse Europe, has also set up the GeoEngineering the industrial revolution.’ Now, perhaps, is the opportunities in the UK to get involved. Assessment and Research group (GEAR) to In my opinion, it’s not too late to avoid exceeding the IPCC’s two-degree target if we undertake strong time to fix those mistakes. ! At the University of Exeter, for instance, provide impartial advice to scientists and mitigation measures. But this window of opportunity is closing rapidly, so it would seem prudent to seriously research has a distinctly mathematical policymakers on the environmental risks of consider whether geoengineering can contribute to the climate strategy. Find science and engineering courses at flavour. ‘Our research centre – Exeter Climate geoengineering. Another large academic www.educationuk.org

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Digital online technology has revolutionised the way journalists operate, from sourcing stories to disseminating information. Ann Morgan reports on how UK universities are adapting their courses to help students ﬁnd the big stories © Harry How/Getty Images © Harry How/Getty

Main picture eodora Beleaga could never [of information],’ she says. ‘That’s the edge Boxing trainer Freddie Roach have imagined what would we have.’ speaks to the happen during her work media placement at a London newspaper Online journalism lecturer Gary Moskowitz, Above last year. While searching social who teaches at both City University and the MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, mediaT application Tweetdeck in the newsroom London School of Journalism, believes these Manchester. at the Hampstead & Highgate Express, the technological advances have far-reaching The new home In search of of the BBC aims Romanian student came across comments implications. With apps, software and web to become saying that a man with a gun was threatening platforms constantly changing the way that a leading international people nearby. ‘Within an hour I was there the media and the public interact, he feels his hub for the reporting everything on Twitter,’ she says. job is as much about encouraging aspiring creative and digital sectors ‘That was my second day on the placement journalists to adapt their thinking as it is about

Right and it got the front page.’ teaching them the latest multimedia tools. the story State-of-the-art technologies such as Using Twitter to source and broadcast smartphone stories are just two of the skills that Beleaga and tablet apps are essential is learning as one of the first students on components City University London’s MA in Interactive of the modern media Journalism, which launched in September marketplace 2011. Designed to reflect the way that digital media, phone technology and the internet are revolutionising journalism in many parts of the world, the course offers a range of innovative modules. These include Entrepreneurial Journalism, which looks at launching new media ventures from websites to smartphone apps, and Online Communities and Content ‘You have to move students away from Management. thinking about themselves as traditional reporters to being more like community Data Journalism – in which budding journalists curators,’ he says. ‘[This means] involving learn techniques to find stories by searching people in the process and getting readers effectively online and analysing electronic to contribute their own thoughts and banks of information – is one of Beleaga’s information.’ This desire to involve the public favourite modules. ‘It’s about knowing how to in newsgathering and analysis is clear at

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with frequent deadlines on her master’s award-winning former US journalist and course and sometimes has as little as two Why study UK media law? course leader on the MA in International hours to prepare a story for broadcast or Journalism at the University of Central publication on the Centre for Journalism’s Media law is a compulsory component of many UK Lancashire (UCLAN). ‘What’s changed is you website (www.centreforjournalism.com). She journalism postgraduate qualifications. If you are studying need to be faster.’ believes working against the clock has been a course that is accredited by the National Council for a great way for her to develop her skills. ‘This the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) or the National Union of An international story is a very secure environment in which to Journalists (NUJ), you will have to study a module on UK Now in its eighth year, the programme, which experiment and find your voice as a journalist,’ media law and sit an exam on it to pass the course. caters almost exclusively to international she says. ‘I think that’s valuable because it’s students, is designed to train the foreign Places Photography/Alamy © Chris Howes/Wild what makes you stand out from the crowd.’ Training in this area involves learning complex legislation correspondents of tomorrow. It has already and past UK court cases, as well as keeping up to date had considerable success, with past students Garcia, who plans to return to Mexico with the latest developments governing social media and going on to work for organisations such as the eventually to cover the nation’s drug online journalism. BBC World Service, Reuters and Al Jazeera. war, particularly values the professional experience of her teachers. Unlike As the law for journalists varies from country to country, Beers, who has experience reporting from institutions in many other countries, most it can be tempting to give media law a miss when you more than 60 countries, prepares participants UK universities do not require lecturers on are choosing your course. However, Professor Duncan for these challenging careers with a thorough certain programmes to hold postgraduate Bloy, director of international development and lecturer grounding in story writing. He also invites qualifications. This means many media training in media law at Cardiff University, believes studying the his students, many of whom are new to courses are taught by practising or former UK’s stance on issues such as libel, privacy, defamation journalism, to compare the way news networks journalists instead of career academics. ‘That and contempt of court can be very useful for prospective cover stories around the world by looking

© Roger Bamber/Alamy © Roger was a big reason for me choosing Kent,’ she journalists all over the world. at a different nation’s media every week. ‘It’s says. ‘You learn how to do things from people important for them to see how nationalities Think of these multimedia tools as your sandpit. Explore who’ve done it before. It’s all about the tricks ‘They are standard concepts up to a point,’ he says. create a prism for the way the story is of the trade and I really wanted to learn how ‘Every country will have defamation laws and privacy laws reported,’ he says. ‘So we watch Fox News [in journalist in Palestine, she had won many your relationship and personality with them. Then you’ll people deal with problems and how they’ve – and we ask [international students] to relate this to their the US] with its Republican-slanted newscast awards, including the prestigious Samir Kassir emerge as a fully formed journalist seen journalism change.’ own experiences.’ and put it against CBS or NBC or CNN and I ask Award for Freedom of the Press. When she them where do you see the differences?’ applied to UCLAN, she faced a lot of questions Professor Tim Luckhurst, who founded the There also seems to be quite a bit of interest in UK from relatives, friends and colleagues who these days. From interactive comments on a range of collaborative features and weekly university’s Centre for Journalism in 2007, is media law around the world. Bloy has recently returned Keen to foster open dialogue, Beers invites could not understand why she would put websites such as the BBC News site, El Pais podcasts, says it is important for would-be well placed to help with that. A former editor from a trip to China, where the UK government is his students to consider many of the most her illustrious career on hold to become a and the New York Times, to public open days journalists to explore the multimedia tools of The Scotsman newspaper and holder of supporting the establishment of a research centre at Sun controversial issues affecting the industry. student again. For Khalil, however, the answer run by newspapers such as Liberation in available and find out what works for them. two Sony Radio Academy Awards for news Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, which will compare UK Frequent topics for discussion include the was simple. ‘I want to write in English,’ she France, readers and journalists have never ‘The most important thing is to play,’ she says. broadcasting with the BBC, Luckhurst says the and Chinese media law. phone-hacking scandal, which shook the says. ‘The challenge is to reach a larger been more closely linked. ‘Think of all these new things as your sandpit. heart of his centre’s mission is to equip future British tabloid press in 2011 after journalists audience in English. UK journalism is like the Find out what your relationship to it is and journalists for reporting in the digital age. The ‘It was very interesting to hear their perspective,’ says Bloy. were proved to have hacked into people’s heart of the world. If you go to Sudan, the Time to play your personality within it. Then you’ll emerge university even launched its own iPad app in ‘They are very much focused on what we do and they want phone messages, and reporting restrictions in US or anywhere you can see the BBC, The At the website of UK publisher The Guardian – as a fully formed journalist.’ 2010 to showcase the work of students and to take the best from the US and the UK and then try to countries around the world. Guardian or The Independent.’ which is the world’s fifth most read English- staff. ‘Everything we do is geared towards incorporate those principles into Chinese media law.’ language news site – there has been a range Laura Garcia, a Mexican student on the preparing students for the reality of life in a Palestinian student and Chevening Scholar With the broader international awareness of recent developments, including web-chat University of Kent’s highly competitive MA in converged, multimedia world in which they You may even find you enjoy media law. Journalist Daniel Naela Khalil has found this frank and open that studying international journalism in the forums with guest experts and readers’ Multimedia Journalism, agrees that being able will have to operate across platforms,’ he says. Yongung Lee – who works on the Korean English language approach, both on the course and in the UK UK has given her, Khalil plans to return to tweets being used on live blogs and as to experiment is crucial when training to be a newspaper The Korea Herald – took a career break media, particularly refreshing. ‘In the UK you work as a journalist in Palestine with a fresh leads for stories. Literary editor journalist. Having studied an undergraduate Even with these radical technological changes to study the MA in International Journalism at Cardiff have lots of opinions and a lot to talk about,’ sense of purpose and a new goal. ‘I still have Claire Armitstead, who has media degree back home – where, she says, looking set to spread throughout the world, University, and chose media law as one of his optional she says. ‘The freedom is amazing. People my courage but now I have more knowledge,’ overseen the launch of the she was taught ‘everything but the journalism’ lecturers and media professionals agree that modules only to discover it became his favourite paper. can talk about Rupert Murdoch and phone- she says. ‘Now I know the way to convince w e b s i t e ’ s interactive book group and – she was keen to take a course with a more the essential principles of good journalism ‘The main reason I chose to come here was to learn about hacking because of the law and the ethics of the people in power that we can change our practical approach. remain the same. ‘The fundamental skills of the UK system,’ he says. ‘There are cultural and social journalism. That’s amazing.’ media for the good of the people. After this getting the truth, verifying the truth, getting differences depending on which country you are in – course I can do it. I will do it.’ ! In contrast to the five or so articles the sources, developing the sources, and and the differences are very obvious between Western The decision to come and study journalism she wrote during her four-year understanding the background of a story countries – but the main ideas are universal.’ in the UK was a particularly big one for Find social sciences and communications

ﬁrst degree, Garcia ﬁnds herself haven’t changed,’ says Robert Beers, an © Brian Jackson/Alamy Khalil. Having worked for 10 years as a courses at www.educationuk.org

54 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 55 SENSORY SCIENCE SENSORY SCIENCE

A sensitive issue

Scientiﬁc exploration into the workings of the human senses is not only helping those with impaired vision or hearing to live a more normal life. It’s also enhancing everything from eating to entertainment for the masses. Catherine de Lange explains

quipped with his ﬁve senses, about how the brain develops and how Above as pilots and astronauts who are exposed to A broad range man explores the universe problems in its development – caused by of skills in loud engines. Army units all over the world around him and calls the a brain injury, for example – affect the way fields such as rely on audiologists to test the hearing of their neuroscience adventure science.’ So said we think and feel,’ she says. ‘I want to know is vital in soldiers – indeed, NASA has its own Audiology legendary astronomer Edwin if anything can be done to help people return developing and Hearing Conservation clinic at its Johnson cutting-edge ‘ Powell E Hubble. Using new technology and to their version of normality.’ sensory Space Center in Texas, where the team works equipped with his own ﬁve senses, he famously technology hard to prevent hearing loss in astronauts.

discovered that there are other galaxies Although Terry’s work is based in the UK, Main picture beyond the Milky Way, helping to profoundly careers in audiology can take you to far-flung A mural Southampton University is home to the showing how change our understanding of the universe. locations too. Noise-related hearing loss is a excess noise Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. huge problem for people in war zones as well can damage One of its PhD students, Noura Alothman, the inner Today, many modern scientists are doing ear causing chose Southampton after completing a BSc things slightly differently: they are using the hearing loss in Audiology from King Saud University, in latest cutting-edge scientific techniques to try Left her home country of Saudi Arabia. ‘I came A head and to understand how our senses actually work. torso simulator, to study here because I could not find a Whether it’s finding out what tickles our taste used to simulate suitable postgraduate programme in Saudi and the shape buds to create more delicious and nutritional and acoustic because of the UK’s reputation in research,’ foods, developing better technologies for properties of she explains. Her PhD looks at ways to improve the human head helping people who cannot see, or working the effectiveness of cochlear implants – on a bionic ear to help a deaf person hear, otherwise known as bionic ears – which are the science of the senses is growing fast. And used to help people with hearing difficulties. the developments are making big differences to people’s lives. Elsewhere, the Department of Psychology & Centre for Brain Science at the University At the University of Manchester, PhD student of Essex offers an MSc in Cognitive © Andrew Brookes, National Physical Laboratory/Science Photo Library National Physical Laboratory/Science Brookes, © Andrew Anna Terry is investigating whether hearing Neuroscience. ‘Some of our PhD students tests that are routinely given to newborn who specialised in hearing research go on to babies could help to predict potential work in the hearing research industry,’ says problems in the future such as autism. ‘I the centre’s Dr Silke Paulmann. ‘For example,

56 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 57 SENSORY SCIENCE SENSORY SCIENCE

UK sensory research is really hot on usability and but you also need a creative enquiring mind combined with a scientific understanding,’ says designing new kinds of interactions. The UK has a Lisa Hipgrave, a perfumer and UK director of really good reputation in that area the International Fragrance Association. Ex-international student-turned-perfumer Daniel Vaudd was drawn to the glamour of as senior research audiologist at Wolfson and confident enough to collaborate with Right the fragrance industry. Originally from a Dutch Our sense Dynamic Hearing in Melbourne, Australia.’ other departments is also important. of touch colony island in the Caribbean, he studied Students on the Essex course can get to has inspired pure science there before coming to the UK radical new grips with all aspects of perception and the ‘We’ve tested about 18 registered blind technologies for an MSc in Cosmetic Science at the London brain, including vision, hearing and language people and the results are amazing,’ says including tablet College of Fashion. The course sets students computers and processing, making it an ideal choice for Hicks. ‘Everyone was able to see light in smartphones off on varied paths, including perfumery and those who want to keep their options open. the display and well over half said it was the design of new cosmetics. Below an improvement in their level of sight.’ Audiologists can Eyes on the prize The glasses work by having an in-built help prevent ‘My spoken English was good enough for me to hearing loss for Having a broad background can be of real video camera that feeds into a computer. pilots and other study in London. This gave me the opportunity benefit in perception research, says Dr This then reconstructs certain elements professionals © CJG – Technology/Alamy to study a field which, frankly, is non-existent exposed to loud Stephen Hicks, a neuroscientist working on of the scene in real time using lights in the noises in most other countries,’ says Vaudd, who set vision at the University of Oxford. He has glasses, enabling people who were almost play computer games and draw pictures up his own fragrance firm, The House of Daniel been designing a pair of glasses that can help blind to pick out objects and faces, as well simply by placing our fingers on a screen. Vaudd, in 2009. people who are almost blind to see again. as get a sense of distance and depth. Cambridge-based company Light Blue Optics has now taken this a step further. Formed by Yet there are ways into the fragrances Development of cutting-edge technology But not all sensory research and development a group of engineering postgraduates from industry that don’t require a chemistry degree. like this requires an interdisciplinary team, is about helping to rebuild damaged senses. the University of Cambridge, the company has Kate Williams studied psychology at the says Hicks. He looks for PhD students with a Human beings’ sense of touch – and how we developed a product, Light Touch, that can © James King-Homes/Science Photo Library University of Liverpool and then stayed on for broad range of skills, such as neuroscientists, can use it to interface with technology – has turn any solid surface into a touch screen. a master’s in Evolutionary Psychology. For her engineers and computer programmers. He is been the focus of revolutionary developments Students wanting to forge a career in food a manufacturer of flavours and fragrances. Above dissertation she looked at how human males Measuring especially keen on those who are proficient over the past few years. We can now send Although this field is defined by technology tasting need to understand what it is that ‘The global reach of our customers gives us brain activity use female body odour to judge fertility and with computers, although being personable written messages, zoom in and out of photos, – and would therefore suit people with gives food its flavour – and that is down to the opportunity to travel the world. It’s by to investigate this interest in smell science led Williams to psychiatric and a computer science or engineering its chemistry. Shahinaz Mohammed studied travelling and tasting local products that one neurological think about a career in the fragrance industry. background – it also relates to psychology. chemistry at the University of the West Indies gains knowledge and experience on how disorders She landed a job at fragrance company Seven ‘It’s all about how humans use technology, in Trinidad and Tobago before deciding to flavour tastes differ throughout the world.’ Scent and received training over seven years and the UK has a really good reputation tap into the UK’s expertise in flavour science to become a fully fledged perfumer. ‘The in that area,’ says Professor Stephen by enrolling on an MSc in Food Science at Frank Heller, director of talent acquisition training was hard work but I wouldn’t change a Brewster, who specialises in human-machine London Metropolitan University. ‘I realised that at IFF, stresses that students need to have thing,’ she says. ‘It isn’t like a regular job: I get interactions at the University of Glasgow while food is a necessity, its quality and safety creative flair, as well as a grounding in to be creative, have fun and immerse myself in Scotland. ‘UK research is really hot is just as important. I would love to specialise chemistry, to make it in the business. ‘We look in beautiful things every day.’ " on usability and designing new kinds of in food safety testing – for pesticide residues, for people with exceptional creativity and interactions – that’s a big strength.’ for example – so my ideal job would be one sensitivity for local tastes,’ he says. ‘And since ! FURTHER INFORMATION that allows me to develop these skills and there are thousands of raw materials to learn, Food for thought continuously apply them.’ it takes many years to be familiar enough with NASA Audiology and Hearing Conservation Clinic Not everyone is mad for technology, of them to be a proficient flavourist.’ www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/slsd/about/divisions/ course, and for some budding scientists The University of Northumbria also runs spacemed/facilities/audiology-hearing.html the most exciting sensory research focuses an MSc in Food Science and enjoys strong Smelling an opportunity The International Fragrance Association on some of our most basic evolutionary links to the food science industry, while the Chemists with a creative edge might also be www.ifraorg.org/en-us/IFRA_united_kingdom instincts – food and flavour. Across the UK, University of Nottingham, situated in an tempted by the allure of fragrance. Smells can The Medical Research Council scientists are investigating exactly what it is area famed for its brewing heritage, offers have strong effects on our bodies and minds www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/index.htm that makes us savour some foods and spit out a unique MSc in Brewing Science. – evoking childhood memories or helping us The Wellcome Trust others. Importantly, this is about more than to relax – but creating the perfect smell takes www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/index.htm developing delicious products – the creation ‘The variety available to flavourists is great,’ skill and dedication. As with flavour science, Education UK course search of healthy foods that also taste good could be says Derek Farley, a senior flavourist at you’ll need a grounding in chemistry as well as www.educationuk.org

58 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 59 TECHNOLOGY IS © MIXA/Alamy

!"#$"# !"#$%&'()*+,-'.,/ Institution proﬁles

ukti.gov.uk/greatbritain

C105 260x220 Technology_FlickrGeotagMap_FINAL.indd 1 21/06/2012 09:40 Institution proﬁle Institution proﬁle

Edinburgh Napier University University of Hertfordshire

CONTACT DETAILS CONTACT DETAILS

Cath Harris, Head of International Office, University Information Office, Edinburgh Napier University, of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH6 4JF Hertfordshire AL10 9AB Tel +44 (0)845 260 6040 Tel +44 (0)1707 281249 Fax +44 (0)131 455 6190 Fax +44 (0)1707 286040 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Web www.napier.ac.uk Web www.herts.ac.uk/international

dinburgh Napier University is one of the Our courses Our campus at Merchiston is undergoing a he University of Hertfordshire is an The University’s courses are developed and confidential counselling service and a health largest higher education institutions in Edinburgh Napier University offers more than £10 million co-location project. This will be the ambitious and entrepreneurial university, in consultation with business, industry, the centre. Experienced international advisers, based EScotland, with around 17,000 students 100 different professional postgraduate courses, new home of the School of Arts and Creative Tand was recently awarded the prestigious professions and the public sector. Their high in our Student Centre on the College Lane Campus, from 100 countries. Our campuses are thriving, with taught and research opportunities in three Industries and will incorporate new sound-proofed Times Higher Education ‘Entrepreneurial vocational content will give you that all-important are always available to help. with almost 3,000 postgraduates and 4,000 faculties: music studios to add to the 500-seat Jack Kilby University of the Year’ award. It offers excellence edge over other graduates as you’ll be more There’s a variety of accommodation to suit your international students studying with us in ! The Business School computing centre (open 24/7). Our Craiglockhart in teaching, learning and research, and puts ‘work ready’ than many others qualifying in your budget, both on and near our campuses. You’re Edinburgh, and a further 3,530 students on ! Faculty of Engineering, Computing and campus, home of The Business School, received a students at the heart of its activities. It is a model area of expertise. guaranteed a room in your first year when you join courses delivered with our partners overseas. Creative Industries £30 million extension and refurbishment in 2004. for a 21st-century university – international, us in our September intake. We are Edinburgh’s professional University ! Faculty of Health, Life & Social Sciences business-facing and business-like in approach, Facilities because: See our full course listings to see what we offer. Edinburgh: Scotland’s inspiring capital making it distinctive in an ever-changing higher First-class learning facilities support world- Student life ! We are one of Scotland’s top universities for Edinburgh is a Unesco World Heritage site with a education environment. class teaching here. You’ll find our Learning In September 2009 the University opened graduate employability (Higher Education Statistics State-of-the-art facilities population of about 450,000. It is a vibrant place The University has a strong international outlook, Resources Centres (LRCs) invaluable in helping The Forum. This top-class facility includes an Agency 2010) – 93.3 per cent of our postgraduate Edinburgh Napier is a multi-campus university. to live with four universities that attract around welcoming more than 2,000 overseas students you to progress in your studies and present entertainment venue, which plays host to live students were in work or further study within six As part of our £100m investment in estates, our 100,000 students – giving the city its own unique from 85 different countries each year. Join us your coursework. There is an LRC on each of our gigs and club nights, a 400-seat restaurant, months of graduating in 2010. Sighthill Campus was redeveloped into a state- buzz. It is regularly voted ‘Favourite UK City’ by and you’ll be a valued member of our truly global campuses – open 24 hours a day, seven days a 150-seat coffee shop and a convenience store. ! We offer industry-informed courses that combine of-the-art, modern, sustainable and purpose-built readers of both Condé Nast Traveller magazine, campus community. We will do everything we can week – which provide a total of 2,900 study places Our Students’ Union has more than 100 different the optimum balance of theory and practice, so facility for the Faculty of Health, Life & Social and The Guardian and The Observer newspapers to help you make the most of your studies and and 1,500 computer workstations with access to all clubs and societies, while the University’s that our graduates can ‘hit the ground running’ with Sciences. It has been designed to create a great (the latter for 12 years running). The city manages enjoy all that university life has to offer. the software you’ll need. International Students’ Association (ISA) organises their careers. learning environment, to help you graduate with to celebrate its history while embracing all that’s The University has the perfect location, The University’s Key Centre, a multifaith centre, a packed calendar of social events. You also have ! Our contemporary cross-disciplinary the best possible career prospects. It also houses contemporary thanks to its 12 major festivals and just 25 minutes by train from London in the is open to everyone, of any religious faith or none. all the attractions of London less than half an hour courses are aligned to today’s job market and [EN]GAGE, the University’s sports complex. many cinemas, theatres and arts venues. beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. Its two The University also provides a professional free away by train. economic needs. For example, Digital Forensics, well-equipped campuses in Hatfield (College Screenwriting, Environmental Sustainability, Festival Lane and De Havilland) are safe, attractive places STUDENT PROFILE STUDENT PROFILE and Event Management, and Sport Performance to live and study, where you will find everything Enhancement. I chose Edinburgh Napier to study for are so interesting and the faculty is kind you need. I chose to study at the University here. During my course I used to visit the an MSc in Biomedical Science because and welcoming. All this while living in one of Hertfordshire because it was crown court, which was really good. ! We are a truly international University the course had a curriculum with the of the most vibrant and beautiful cities in recommended to me by my supervisor, In my spare time I like to make new with course materials designed to give you subjects that interested me the most. the world. For international students like Academic strengths and the professors are at the forefront of friends, practise my English and learn the global perspective required in today’s Moreover, the facilitates the University me, it is truly an awesome experience. We offer a huge range of courses across our 15 their subjects. The University has a nice new things, such as sports, painting worldwide marketplace. has to offer, such as the new five-storey I would definitely recommend Schools of study. Subject areas include Art and environment and a great location near and design. I am a member of the ! We are the only UK University to offer a specific library, computer centres and labs at Edinburgh Napier to anyone who wishes Design, Film, Music and Media, Business, Computer London, but living costs are much lower. Discussion Society where I enjoy talking programme, titled Confident Futures, aimed at Sighthill Campus were a great attraction. to have a good overall postgraduate Science and Engineering, Physics, Astronomy and I chose the E-commerce Law course with my friends. The easy access and availability of experience, with balanced academic because I am interested in this emerging After my studies I plan to return to developing the softer skills sought by employers. Maths, Humanities, Law and Education, Biological information, research facilities and and extracurricular activities, while at the area. The course allows me to discuss my country and work. UH has been ! Our proactive careers support includes job and Life Sciences, and Health. We also provide Manas Agarwal teaching has definitely helped me expand same time enjoying the pleasure of living Haiyan Liu questions with the tutors and classmates, very helpful and I will never forget my preparation master classes, employer networking India my knowledge base. The classes and labs in a beautiful country like Scotland. preparation and foundation programmes and China which I like, and I enjoy thinking freely time here. events and career fairs. English language support.

62 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 63 Institution proﬁle Institution proﬁle

The London School of Economics and Political Science The University of Northampton

CONTACT DETAILS CONTACT DETAILS

Student Academic Services – International Admissions The London School of Economics and Political & Visas, The University of Northampton, Park Campus, Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL Tel +44 (0)20 7955 6613 Tel +44 (0)1604 892017 Fax +44 (0)20 7955 6001 Fax +44 (0)1604 713029 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Web www.lse.ac.uk Web www.northampton.ac.uk/international

he London School of Economics and Despite the current global economic situation the academic interests of the School’s staff. ith a well-established reputation as a academic backgrounds. All postgraduate courses Support Political Science (LSE) is the world’s leading LSE graduates continue to be in great demand and A full-time research degree takes three to four forward-thinking and modern university, fall within the scheme and so all students are Our students often comment on the friendly and Tdedicated social science institution. can be found in senior positions around the world. years to complete, and consists of both taught WThe University of Northampton offers eligible to apply. Scholarship awards are based approachable nature of our staff. We support Founded in 1895, it enjoys a global reputation for LSE alumni and former staff include 16 Nobel Prize courses and primary research, leading to a a vibrant and stimulating environment in which on academic merit. Graduates of Santander students through effective learner information, academic excellence and cutting-edge research. winners in Economics, Peace or Literature, and 35 100,000-word thesis. to further your studies. Our postgraduate universities in certain South American and advice, guidance, counselling and other services. In the most recent national Research Assessment past or present heads of state. A wide range of international qualifications are programmes are designed to meet all your European countries are eligible to apply for a Exercise (RAE) the School had the highest accepted, but applicants should have at least educational needs, whether you are seeking to Santander Master’s Scholarship to help towards Facilities percentage of world-leading research of any Graduate study the equivalent of a British upper second-class study or research a subject in greater depth, or the costs of a taught master’s programme. Further Our two campuses offer the perfect setting for institution in the UK. LSE offers more than 140 taught master’s undergraduate degree. Applications can be are aiming to extend your knowledge and skills information about international scholarships can you to achieve your goals. In recent years we programmes across 30 departments or institutes. submitted online from mid-October in the year prior in pursuit of your career ambitions. be found on the ‘International Students’ section have invested £80 million in our estates and About LSE As a ‘laboratory of the social sciences’, the School’s to entry and are considered until all the available As a postgraduate student you will find high- of our website. learning resources. This has enabled us to extend All LSE’s teaching and research is undertaken from academic profile spans a wide range of disciplines, places are filled. quality academic provision, first-class resources, our specialised teaching areas and to provide a a social science perspective, giving the institution a from accounting to law, and management to and a supportive learning environment. Employability purpose-built student centre, as well as a dedicated unique approach to otherwise common fields. LSE urbanisation. The majority are taught in a single Financial support We make sure our graduates are equipped with research centre. A frequent bus service links the academics are at the forefront of developments academic year but an increasing number of LSE makes more than £13 million of need and Programme choice the knowledge and skills required for a career in campuses and both are within easy reach of shops in the social sciences. Their expertise is called two-year ‘dual degrees’ provide students with merit-based financial aid available to its students We offer a wide variety of postgraduate courses, their chosen field. We constantly review and tailor and leisure facilities. upon by governments, organisations and media the opportunity to study both at LSE and at other each year. Awards range from a contribution to and our qualifications are tailored to meet the our qualifications to meet the needs of industry around the globe, and they share their real-world leading institutions around the world. tuition fees to full coverage of all expenses and needs of industry and commerce. We have well- and commerce. Input is provided from researchers, Location experience with the School’s students. Research degrees (MPhil/PhD) are offered by are usually awarded to students from a certain established links with professional and industrial current practitioners, professional bodies, Northampton is centrally located and within easy Nearly 70 per cent of LSE’s students, and more all LSE’s departments and institutes. Students are country or region, or to students on a specific bodies, and constantly review our portfolio to commerce and industry, to ensure the curriculum travelling distance of London, Birmingham and than 40 per cent of its academic staff, originate invited to submit applications that complement degree programme. ensure it meets students’ and employers’ needs. and content are up to date and relevant. other major centres. from outside the UK, ensuring LSE’s education is truly international, both in and out of the classroom. Research active STUDENT PROFILE STUDENT PROFILE LSE’s location in the heart of London is High-quality, good-value courses, backed by fundamental to its identity. It enjoys an easy I came to LSE excited to study with My dissertation research only took a solid reputation for research, are essential. My experience at the University of Decision making, the power of world-renowned social scientists me, physically, as far as south London, Northampton was one of the most speaking using business language, interchange of ideas with the external environment The University of Northampton is very much a conducting research on pressing but studying sociology at LSE has memorable years in my life. The University exploring new business ventures, gaining – Westminster, the City, the law courts and the research-active institution where students work global issues. What I have learned given me an international perspective, is a place where you will be treated as confidence in taking risks, turning media are all on the School’s doorstep. here, however, extends far beyond the introducing me daily to global with experts who are also teaching, ensuring the an individual and given the best advice failures into new beginnings and facing The School has one of the most prestigious classroom and library. developments in policy, theory and latest developments underpin and inform our about the right direction for you. challenges confidently are some of the public events programmes in the world. Leading LSE is in the centre of London, but research. To study at LSE is to gain the postgraduate programmes. Our Research Centres I came from a background in fashion skills I developed through the learning figures from all walks of life have spoken at LSE, feels to me more like the centre of the tools to, as the motto says, ‘understand have many research groups across various fields. and owned a business in Sri Lanka. experience at Northampton. I very much world, as I collaborate with students the causes of things’ – the connections The MBA programme built on my prior value the time I spent there and would including Nelson Mandela, Madeleine Albright, from countless cultural backgrounds, between local and global, research experience as a businesswoman and I am like to thank the staff in the Business Dmitry Medvedev, Helen Clark, Bill Clinton, International scholarships Liz Koslov and hear foreign leaders and global and practice, the School and the world Niroshani Leanage now enjoying the results of it, running my School and at the International Office for Angela Merkel, Sheryl Sandberg, George Soros United States intellectuals speak on campus. beyond its walls. The University of Northampton offers generous Sri Lanka own company in Sri Lanka. contributing to my success. and David Cameron. scholarships to international students with strong

64 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 65 Institution proﬁle

University of Southampton

CONTACT DETAILS

Andrew Bird, International Ofﬁce, Highﬁeld Campus, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ Tel +44 (0)23 8059 9699 Fax +44 (0)23 8059 8878 Email [email protected] Web www.southampton.ac.uk

outhampton is a top UK research intensive Courses and research of Philosophy (PhD) takes place in a demanding university, ranked among the top 100 Our postgraduate students are supported by research environment where students are expected Suniversities in the world (QS World academic staff working at the cutting edge of to make an independent contribution to knowledge University Rankings 2011). Ranked 14th in The their fields, with access to world-class resources. in their chosen field. Independent Complete University Guide 2012 There is a wide variety of taught and research We offer a broad range of postgraduate and joint 19th in The Times Good University Guide opportunities available. studentships, scholarships and bursaries across 2012, Southampton has a worldwide reputation We offer master’s courses (MA, MSc, LLM, the University at postgraduate level, for which for academic excellence and leading-edge MEng and MBA), postgraduate diplomas and international and European Union students may research. In the latest Research Assessment postgraduate certificates, which may lead to be eligible. Exercise (RAE 2008), more than 60 per cent of research or offer specific career preparation. our research was considered world-leading or Most are available in full-time and part-time mode, Student life internationally excellent. and some may be followed through distance Southampton enjoys an outstanding location on With an academic history dating back almost or flexible learning. We also offer a number of England’s south coast, just over an hour from 150 years we now have more than 22,000 programmes combining taught and research central London and Heathrow airport. This thriving, students from 130 countries, with four campuses elements, at master’s and doctoral level. cosmopolitan city is one of southern England’s top in Southampton and one in the nearby historic Internationally respected academics are on hand leisure and cultural destinations. It has a vibrant city of Winchester. The University is also to guide research in a broad range of topics, with arts scene and a variety of cultural attractions, opening a new campus in Malaysia in 2012 superb facilities and learning resources. We offer including theatres, galleries, concert halls, with state-of-the-art facilities for undergraduate a Master of Philosophy (MPhil), for which the museums, cinemas and shopping centres. Close level programmes. minimum period of study is one year, although by, the New Forest National Park and the World most students enrol for two years. Our Doctor Heritage Jurassic Coast lie within easy access. Facilities Our main Highfield Campus is at the heart of STUDENT PROFILE the University social scene, with cafes, bars, restaurants, a nightclub and a cinema. It also I originally came to the University of Not only did I manage to obtain a first, Southampton to study a three-year BSc but I also got to befriend many people boasts a huge variety of sports and social clubs, in Mathematics with Actuarial Studies. from different backgrounds. Moreover, ranging from jazz dancing to the debating society. Upon completion of my undergraduate I really enjoy playing badminton, and I Our Jubilee Sports Centre includes a six-lane, degree, I was given the opportunity to have had the chance to play for different 25-metre swimming pool, a split-level gym with do a sponsored PhD in Mathematics. clubs in the time that I have been here. 160 fitness stations, and a magnificent indoor I initially wanted to become an actuary, The Department of Mathematics at sports hall. The University also provides a strong but during the first year of my PhD the University of Southampton is now I realised there are other career a leading institution. It is considered focus for arts and cultural activities; hosting three opportunities in the same field. a world-class place to study, and of the UK’s most interesting arts venues – the Pascal Ah-Kine Studying at the University of graduates from this department usually Nuffield Theatre, Turner Sims Concert Hall and Mauritius Southampton is a wonderful experience. end up with very interesting jobs. the John Hansard Gallery.

If you don’t meet the entry In many cases, There are subject-specific pre-master’s requirements for your chosen programmes in a wide range of areas, Pre-master’s including business, education studies, postgraduate course, or students who complete engineering, healthcare, law, travel and you need to improve your a pre-master’s tourism, humanities, management, and social English, a pre-master’s course course are guaranteed sciences. In some cases, they can lead to could be the answer a universally recognised qualification such a place on a as a Graduate Diploma, BTEC Advanced linked master’s course. Professional Diploma, or a qualification from Pre-master’s courses prepare you for a professional body such as the Chartered studying at postgraduate level. They This could be at the Management Institute (CMI). last between one and four terms (three months to one year) and can often lead same university, or at In many cases, if you successfully complete a straight to a master’s programme. As well a university nearby pre-master’s course, you will be guaranteed as ‘pre-masters’ they may also be called progression to a linked master’s course. This Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate ‘master’s qualifying programmes’. could be at the same university, or at a nearby a work placement. They can also help you to university that has agreed to take students Pre-master’s courses will help you gain adjust to living and studying in a new country, from the pre-master’s course. Where this isn’t confidence by improving your English and give you a chance to make friends with the case, a pre-master’s course can include and teaching you about the range other students before your postgraduate information and advice on choosing and of study skills used in postgraduate studies begin. applying for a master’s degree. Varvara Pechurina education. Courses can include modules compulsory for everyone, then we have Course Graduate Diploma Finance on academic research and writing, Many pre-master’s programmes focus on a English language study is a key component human resource management, finance and Institution University of Exeter computing and seminar skills, language specific academic area. These courses often of most pre-master’s courses, but is not Country Russia accounting, operations management, and study, data analysis, and interviewing. comprise subject-based modules and may compulsory. This is designed to help students marketing management. This term the people require you to undertake a research project who took their first degree outside the studying management have their dissertations Some courses enable students with or write a dissertation. The modules may UK. Teaching methods will focus on your I have a bachelor’s degree in business and and we have a module on investment. good academic knowledge but little count as part of the master’s degree you are communication and language skills, and will political journalism and wanted to do finance vocational experience to learn about progressing towards, which means you may also introduce you to UK culture. as a master’s. Finance is very specific and you The most interesting aspect of the course industry and commerce, often through be able to complete it more quickly. need background knowledge to study it, so I is seeing how all these disciplines come To enrol on a pre-master’s course, you will had to go through a pre-master’s programme together and make a comprehensive picture normally need a degree from a recognised to catch up with the subject. For me, it’s a way of what’s going on in the business world. university, plus an English language score to change my pathway in terms of education. The different pieces of the puzzle make it of at least 5.5 on the International English fascinating to study this subject. Language Testing System (IELTS). If your When I came here I had already scored 8.5 English language skills aren’t at this level, you in my IELTS, so that was more than enough We are assessed through assignments and may be able to do a pre-master’s preparation for the university. However, English language exams. We have to be used to both forms of course first (in this case, you will normally writing, speaking and listening is compulsory testing because we will encounter both during need an IELTS score of at least 4.0). If you on this course and I’ve learnt quite a lot in our master’s studies. There are lots of students need a visa to study in the UK, in most cases terms of academic issues. I could write well of different nationalities on the course and you must be at level B2 on the Common in English, but I didn’t know about essay it’s interesting to see how they tackle the European Framework of Reference for structure and academic style. We have learned problems from different perspectives. The Languages (equivalent to 5.5 on the IELTS different types of essays, such as the situation- debates we have are mostly to do with scale) before you begin your studies. problem-solution-variation structure. It’s business and the economic situation. very specific, even regarding the paragraph If you are hoping to progress to a Master in structure. I’ve found it very helpful. It makes I’m sure this course has given me the skills Business and Administration (MBA) course your writing much better thought out. I need to start my master’s. It has helped (see page 81), a pre-MBA course can give you me with my subject knowledge and my the chance to develop workplace experience Our course is divided into two parts: finance knowledge of the education system, which in business and management. It can also and management. So there are people who is different from in Russia. It’s also made me help you gain a good score in the Graduate want to go on to do either a master’s in more confident. I’m much more equipped now Management Admissions Test, which is used finance or a master’s in management. Most than I was before. It’s been worth it. If I had

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I did a bachelor’s in applied economics with a different policies so you have to interact Krishan Patel minor in business in the US. After graduating more than in the US. A lot of countries in little pockets in Europe have to have very Course Pre-master’s Business in December 2008, I worked in several jobs Institution London Metropolitan University around the US. I enjoyed them but it wasn’t good international relations to get supplies, Country US/UK going anywhere, so I decided to apply to because they’re not easily accessible. university in the UK and pursue something I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life. I was able to opt out of the language course and take an honours programme for Olympic The university told me my qualifications studies instead. The Olympics was one of weren’t sufficient [to enrol on a master’s the reasons I came to the UK, because my in Sports Management]. I’d not studied programme is closely related to the events. for a while so I got back into the routine I’m going to be working at the Olympics as with the pre-master’s course. It lasted one a team manager at the armoury, where the semester and covered international business, shooting events take place. I’ll be in charge of research methods, critical analysis and transport for competitors and the press. Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate international management. After my master’s, I’d like to get a job in the International business was the most beneficial soccer or tennis industries, either in Europe or class for me. It was interesting to learn the the US. Getting out of your own environment way people think in Europe compared to and studying abroad helps gives you a global the US. Things are so condensed in Europe. way of looking at things. If you can take this to You’re so close to other nations that have a company, it gives you a hand up.

Reimi Kawato Course Pre-master’s Diploma for International Students Institution Royal Holloway, University of London Country Japan

I was thinking of going straight into our grammar, vocabulary and the academic postgraduate study but it would have style of the essays. been very difﬁcult, so I asked my agent and they advised me to do a pre-master’s The classes are small, with maybe 10 or pre-sessional course. I chose the students. We have classes focusing on critical pre-master’s course because this is my ﬁrst reading, skills or IELTS. One class is focused time studying in the UK and so I wanted to on reading and one class is focused on focus on improving my English. speaking, so they cover every area.

I want to go into international management. Yesterday, we had an essay writing exam. Fortunately I got an offer from Royal We got the title in the class and had to write Holloway to study an international the essay. The title was: ‘Critically assess conﬁdent because I had enough time to management and marketing course. It’s a the positive and negative effects that TV practise the presentation and I did well. conditional offer, though, so I need the right has on young children’. First of all I made Other students told me they didn’t like the IELTS score. a plan linked to the title. Then I wrote the presentations because they weren’t used introduction, the evaluation of the negative to speaking English. The pre-master’s course has been useful effects, the evaluation of the positive effects for me. Each week we have essay writing and the conclusion. If someone has language problems or wants practice and it helps us so much. The to focus on English, the pre-master’s course teacher told me how to write essays The last time we had a presentation exam, is a good way to improve your language and critically and how to organise the structure we had 15 minutes to explain the topic we’d get information about postgraduate study. and come up with ideas. I have also learnt a researched. My topic was how managers It’s good that I can get this information lot about the language. The teacher checks can improve customer experience. I felt before going on to my master’s course.

70 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org © Toby Melville/Reuters © Toby Arts and humanities ARTS AND HUMANITIES ARTS AND HUMANITIES

There are thousands of art proportion of the world’s population follows of architecture, and then there’s the design galleries, libraries, heritage a major religion, increased knowledge and ‘Programmes in fine unit, which is the main core. The tutors are Arts and sites, museums, theatres and study of religion is important in understanding great and there is a lot of design [going on] different communities. Meanwhile philosophy art focus on the in the school. That’s been my favourite part other cultural institutes in the postgraduate students can focus on topics of it so far. UK, so if you are planning to theory and practice humanities such as logic and metaphysics. study a postgraduate degree of art, analysing the Everything that we do relates back to in arts and humanities, you There are also plenty of opportunities for artistic process and building design. For my project last year, can be sure you will never be language students. You can specialise in areas I reinvented the idea of the Arcadian Park. short of inspiration such as phonetics, semantics, sociolinguistics, the outcome. Some Instead of just having patterns of trees and the history and philosophy of language, art courses also teach fountains, I redesigned [it to become] a piece or linguistic evolution. Studying literature of energy machinery and turned Regent’s The UK Government supports the enables you to engage with a variety of texts, you how to market Park into a new raised landscape filled with creative arts and humanities at thinkers and theorists, and consider aspects a rubbish digester, so that the whole park not postgraduate level through the Arts of cultural history. and promote your only functions as a place for people to go out Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate & Humanities Research Council (AHRC). own work’ and enjoy, but also acts as an energy plant Every year, the AHRC offers about Visual and performing arts embrace subjects and feeds energy back to the city of London. 700 new research awards and 1,500 such as painting, sculpture, writing, music, So, on top of it being a luxury, you can get postgraduate awards worth more than fashion, dance and drama. Programmes in degrees give you a chance to develop your more out of it. £60 million. fine art at master’s and doctoral level focus own style and expertise without the pressures on the theory and practice of art, describing of a commercial environment. This year, I’m doing more of an imaginary The humanities encompass a broad and analysing the artistic process and the project. I’ve imagined a city that has an range of subjects. Archaeology is a outcome. Some art courses also teach you Most taught master’s courses in the eternal autumn. One thing I’m looking at popular and competitive field. The how to market and promote your work. humanities aim to develop your skills and now is that birds and fish migrate in autumn public and private sectors, academia, expertise through lectures, seminars, tutorials, so, inspired by this, [I’ve designed some] heritage agencies and museums are all You can also study supporting skills and extensive reading around the subject and, in birds that constantly fly above the city. on the hunt for archaeological expertise. crafts, such as set design, media technology the case of archaeology, fieldwork. They’re origami birds but much bigger. Master’s degrees in museum practice and arts management. Film, television and These birds can change the environmental and curatorial skills are becoming media production courses are very popular, Taught courses in the arts can focus on quality of the city so they can provide increasingly essential if you want a career or you can pick a commercial art subject such practical elements, such as performance, and Martin Tang extra lighting to give the same daylight working in museums or galleries. as photography or illustration. the production of original work, such as plays hours as the UK in autumn, or they can Course MArch Architecture or musical compositions, as well as the theory provide shade in the summer so you don’t Institution The Bartlett, UCL Religious studies and philosophy are Design covers a huge area, including product and history behind the practice. Country Hong Kong get overheated. also becoming increasingly relevant innovation, fashion, graphic illustration and subjects in today’s world. As a large computer-aided design (CAD). Master’s Taught courses often lead to an MA (Master I’m working on my thesis now. It will be the of Arts) or an MLitt (Master of Letters). London is one of the best places to study manual for the microclimate for the City of a Master’s study gives you a wide range architecture. There are a lot of design Thousand Autumns. It will look at how these of transferable skills for work where an museums and a lot of big architecture firms birds can maintain an eternal autumn season understanding of different cultures is here. There are more opportunities to do for the city. important, such as the tourism industry, design work here, too. arts and social policy sectors, and academic The school has led me to be more imaginative and applied research. There’s a mixture of the historical and in my design. That’s another reason it’s good the modern here. I like that. We can draw to study here. It pushes the boundaries The New Route PhD is becoming a popular inspiration from this city for our designs. beyond ordinary and mundane stuff. I’m option, as are modular PhDs. These In Hong Kong, everything is modern and learning a lot. I want to try everything and qualifications contain taught elements, rather there’s not much history to it. You can’t really see what style of building I would like to do in than pure research, so they are particularly play with the cultural and historical aspect the future. relevant in areas such as applied linguistics, [of buildings] in Hong Kong, which is what the where the skills required for a career have Bartlett School of Architecture at University Eventually I would like to go back to Asia [to to be learned. Traditional PhDs remain the College London trains us to do. work]. That is where all the new cities are main route for academics who want to pursue being built. It’s still very exciting to be in the research into their specialist areas of art, We have a history course and design UK, though. Look at something like the Shard

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Maya Angelica Meliala Nikoletta Manioti ‘It is always Course MA 3D Design for Virtual Environments Course PhD Classics inspiring to Institution Glasgow Caledonian University Institution Durham University Country Indonesia Country Greece read about the lives and This is a practical course combining technical to advertise a product. I’m not sure what I did my first degree in Greece. My development and technology. What we mean product I’ll choose yet. Maybe the character professors there suggested I should try imagination by 3D virtual environments depends on what will be a mascot for the product. to work with a particular professor who and ideas that we’re focusing on. You can do anything from was in Oxford at the time [but moved on product design to advertising. It depends I have lectures on Mondays, Tuesdays and to Durham]. I also knew how great classics people had what you studied on your bachelor’s degree. Wednesdays. We have labs and a studio in the courses were in the UK and I knew English You can take whatever you want and they will university so they teach us how to become an well, so I sent in an application. when they teach you according to your background. artist in the practical industry. Sometimes they didn’t have the invite industry practitioners to talk about their I’ve been looking into female family Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate My background was in journalism. I was experience and what kind of jobs we might them through and that’s great. I found that bonds in Latin epics. I was trying to see resources we working in the design industry as a writer. expect in the future. other students helped me a lot too. the influences of poets on each other, have today’ I decided to take my master’s in 3D design and the influences from Greek literature for virtual environments because it led on I liked learning to make special effects. It was I am looking for a job in the advertising and contemporary Roman practices and from my past job in advertising. I think that’s really interesting to find out how they create industry or with a company that needs ideals. Studying the way people think quite important. the amazing effects you see in films using 3D skills to help it develop. Learning how and express themselves makes you think computer-generated images. Sometimes they to use 3D effects software is great because about the way you do it. Right now I’m working on my dissertation have green screens in the background but it many industries these days need 3D for project. I chose to work on it from the looks real. That impressed me a lot. advertising, architecture and modelling to It is always inspiring to read about the advertising point of view. Hopefully, in the present their ideas. Not many people know lives and imagination and ideas that third semester, I’ll be working on my project They ask you to do self-directed study [on the how to create modelling in 3D. This is a people had when they didn’t have the to create an animation for advertising. course] but the lecturer will still help you if great opportunity to develop my own skills. resources we have today. It’s amazing to It will be a five-minute character animation you have problems. You can meet them to talk It’s been a good decision. realise they could still come up with very important ideas.

the academic system, and the fact that and how this affects production. I have I started with the actual texts. I read the for a very long time until you get the result supervisors are so busy. I was supposed decided to look at the influence of credit poems and other related literature, such you want. I’ve also learned to manage my to finish my MSc in two years but it took assets on livestock production because as Greek epics and tragedy. I sourced all time effectively. I’m very organised now – just over four years. in Nigeria there have been instances the myths and looked at a very extensive much more than I was five years ago. I’m where women acquire credit, which is bibliography because there is a lot of more confident about accessing sources I also wanted to be in an environment that then invested by their husbands, yet the work on Latin epics, although a bit less on and I’ve improved my language skills in had outgrown the problems that affect women find themselves liable for the women in Latin epics. I combined these German and Spanish during the degree. Nigeria’s development. I felt I needed to repayment whether or not the credit has things and came up with my thesis. come to this society and learn so I could been used efficiently. I’ve also been doing some teaching. go back and educate my people. I met with my supervisor twice a month. Most departments in Durham allow their I am in the second year of my PhD and am I produced work for each meeting and postgraduates to be teaching assistants. I am focusing on the efficiency of livestock hoping to travel to Nigeria soon for the we discussed it. He suggested other That was a great experience alongside Asenath Silong farming among rural women farmers data collection. When I get my findings, ways I could look into certain topics and the research. in Nigeria. I am particularly looking at I am thinking of proposing policies to the whether an idea was good or needed Course PhD Livelihoods (International the northern part of the country and government and also acting upon them more work. His help was very significant. I’ve submitted my thesis and am waiting to Development and Applied Economics) Institution University of Reading concentrating on rural areas, because of myself, on a small-scale basis, to help It was really important for me to know that find out the date for my viva. I’m looking Country Nigeria the rural poverty in Nigeria. these rural women. there was someone there who could be for a job at the moment. I’m hoping to find available at any time to discuss something some postdoc or fellowship or lectureship. Women play a significant role in the I have a research supervisor and a and guide me in the right direction. I would like to stay in academia and do I have been interested in studying in the welfare of the household and I’ve supervisor who advises me on the gender more research and teaching. In general, UK for a long time. In Nigeria, very few been looking at the factors that affect aspect because her specialism is gender I’ve learned patience because things don’t I’m very happy with my experience and people manage to finish their courses their level of livestock production. and development. They have done so always happen just when you want them I would encourage people to come to [on time] because of the bureaucracy in I am interested in gender-power relations much to help my work so far. to. Sometimes you have to work on things study in the UK if they can get the funding.

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VISIT TATE BRITAIN, HOME TO THE !"#"$% WORLD-FAMOUS TURNER PRIZE !"#$%&#'"( Business, management www.britishcouncil.org and MBA BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND MBA BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND MBA

Choose to study business, These four-year programmes, supported presentations and coursework. My grades management, marketing by the UK Government, involve some improved from 12 to 20 over the course of Business, taught elements. the year. I can recall 15 books on one subject or accountancy in the UK, without checking, because every time I got and you are choosing to It is often said that a business is only as an assignment I would refer to them, get the study in one of the world’s management good as its employees. Getting the best details, understand it, analyse it and then leading economies from those employees is, therefore, key to provide my own thoughts on it. and MBA business success. By taking a postgraduate course in human resources (HR), you will I enjoyed every module. The first module With more than 3,000 business-related learn about best practice in the workplace, I loved was on statistics. Our programme taught postgraduate courses and the legal requirements of employers, and leader was an amazing guy. He used to research opportunities, the UK is the industrial relations. Research projects could teach us by using practical examples from perfect place to study for a career in include corporate social responsibility, the industry. The best example was when he gave business. It has a long tradition as a role of trade unions, or personality testing us a problem to solve and he purposefully trading, financial and business centre, and psychology. Some courses are accredited made the problem wrong so that the answer Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate and a strong reputation for educating by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and would come out wrong. He wanted to see international students to a high standard. Development (CIPD) and exempt graduates which student would see this. That was the from some professional exams. most amazing session for us because in life One of the most popular postgraduate you might get something that is wrong, analyse business courses is the Master If you have a passion for numbers, then it and put it right. That’s what he taught us. of Business Administration (MBA) a postgraduate accountancy course qualification. There is also the Master could be for you. Your research project Our management concept tutor knew the of Public Administration (MPA) – an could focus on anything from corporate subject inside and out. In the first lesson, he equivalent to the MBA that focuses on accountability and financial analysis to started with the film Mission Impossible and the public sector. The MPA is offered by financial management in the public sector showed how the hero overcomes the leader, a select number of business schools and and international accounting. The Association Sagar Amlani who is tricking everyone in the team. After universities. To find out more about MBA of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) that, I started looking at movies to learn more Course MSc Management and MPA courses, see page 81. and the Chartered Institute of Management from them and using them as examples in my Institution Middlesex University Accountants (CIMA) accredit many taught Country India boardroom meetings.

Master’s courses in management master’s programmes in the UK. Completing © Arcaid/Alamy normally cover a range of topics, these may lead to exemption from some When I was doing my course I had various such as accounting, information and professional exams. a marketing channel, there is now also a wide I was working as a chemical engineer, part-time jobs. One day, while I was working operations management, international choice of master’s courses specialising in but looking to the future I wanted to loading boxes, I met a manager of the business, human resources, marketing, You will also find a wide range of digital marketing. do something that would get me into a company I was working for and introduced strategy, and development. Some postgraduate programmes in marketing. management post. Courses in India often last myself as a management student. I gave management courses include spending With the rapid growth of digital media as One of the most widely recognised three or even four years but when I started him a few suggestions on how the company time in industry. professional qualifications for marketing looking outside the country I found courses could increase its productivity. He introduced practitioners is the Chartered Institute of in the UK lasted around 15 or 18 months. me into the team as a technical manager If you want to focus on a particular ‘Many graduates Marketing (CIM) Professional Postgraduate I realised if I invested one-and-a-half years in and I became a technical director in the field of management, you can choose join international Diploma in Marketing. If you hold this diploma doing a UK course, I could avoid spending the November after I finished my degree in 2008. a more specialised course, such as and decide to continue studying, you can extra one-and-a-half years, in terms of both I’m now vice-president. supply-chain management, philanthropy companies on progress to a master’s in marketing or an time and money, and still get a postgraduate and social investment, or grant-making fast-track management MBA, and may be able to bypass some degree from the UK. Studying this course gave me exposure to management. You can also choose elements of these programmes. the West, which improved my communication to specialise in management science, training programmes. In India, everything is judged on exams. skills. It also increased my confidence and which offers a quantitative approach Other career options include management That’s not a good way of judging students time-management abilities, as well as my to business management. Although there is consultancy, human resource management because on the day of your exam you might analytical skills and logical thinking. strong competitition for and marketing management. Many business not be in the mood to write the paper. In A PhD or MPhil in business or graduates join international companies on the UK, it is more about your presentation, If you are thinking of studying in the UK, you management will allow you to pursue a places, a postgraduate fast-track management training programmes. communication and analytical skills, and should look at what subjects and modules research topic over a number of years. degree can give you Although there is strong competition for assessment is spread throughout the year, are best for you. You should do a subject you Many universities also now offer New places on these schemes, a postgraduate which gives you a chance to improve your like, rather than looking at salaries. Find your Route PhDs in business-related subjects. an edge’ degree can give you an edge. marks. At Middlesex, we had seminars, strength and do it.

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on the managers and line managers. Employers all over the world I focused on the employees at the bottom recognise the value of a Master level. Possibly I’ll be doing that again in of Business Administration (MBA) my PhD.

MBA from a UK institution, and the UK’s

My PhD will also be in the UK. I want to business schools attract a high become an academic. I love imparting number of international students. knowledge and teaching. It’s something In fact, nearly 90 per cent of that’s been part of me since I was in full-time MBA students in the UK secondary school. I volunteered to teach come from other countries in schools when I was in Nigeria. The will and the zeal to impart knowledge to There is nowhere better than the UK to others is something that keeps me happy study business. A third of the 174 business and I love doing it. schools accredited by the Association of MBAs are located in the UK, and at any one Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate The coursework aspect has taught me time about 32,000 students are studying for Oluwole Shokunbi to write better essays. That was an an MBA or writing up their dissertations in advantage for me. The university has this the UK. For many, the qualification provides Course MA International Human Resource Effective Learning Service system, which a valuable boost to a career in management, Management Institution Glasgow Caledonian University is there to help international students or the knowledge to succeed in launching Country Nigeria adjust. When you finish your coursework a business from scratch. you can give it to them. They will help you

look over it and advise you on how you To study for an MBA, you usually need a Pictures/Alamy © View I want to specialise in human resource degree-level qualification and a minimum of management. I saw the UK as the place three years’ work experience in business or On an MBA course, you will observe lectures mean better-quality tuition, so, before that offered me the best opportunity ‘If I had the management. This means that MBA students and take part in seminars, case studies, you apply, it is important to research the in terms of training because there is a opportunity to come are usually in their mid- to late-twenties, group projects and role-playing exercises. reputation of the business schools you service economy here. Human resources and are often in their 30s or 40s, with You will need to read extensively around the are interested in by looking at all the is one of the major sectors moving the here again, I would. considerable senior management experience. subject and show a great deal of commitment available rankings and league tables. You economy forward. It’s improved my Before you are accepted on to an MBA in terms of study hours. MBA programmes should also ask individual schools which course, you may also be asked to take the also provide opportunities to meet influential companies (if any) recruit from their I am interested in the management of leadership, teamwork, Graduate Management Admission Test. business figures through lectures, seminars, programmes, and which types of company human beings. I see human beings as organisation, projects and internships. their former students now work for. the most difficult creatures to deal with. You can study an MBA full-time or part-time. You have so many people with different communication Most full-time MBA programmes in the UK run Increasingly, MBA programmes are tailored An MBA will give you an advantage, perceptions, different personalities, for one year – although some can last for two. to particular industries or aspects of whatever your chosen subject. According and managing them so as to get the and ability to work Part-time programmes tend to last between management, such as financial management, to the Association for MBAs’ latest career best out of each individual interests me under pressure’ two and three years. Some institutions also hospitality, sport, and international business. survey, the average increase in base salary the most. offer full- and part-time study alongside for MBA graduates worldwide is 46 per distance learning, where you learn remotely If you want to work in the public sector, or cent and the average annual salary for I’ve just submitted my dissertation. can make it better. They also organise without attending the institution. with government and public agencies in the an MBA graduate is £70,000. It was on employee engagement in classes for international students to help private sector, the related Master in Public fast-food restaurants. I focused on how them adjust. The university has been On a full-time programme, the first term Administration (MPA) could be for you. ‘On an MBA course, fast-food companies can make employee wonderful in that way. covers the core curriculum of finance, A central focus of the MPA is how officials engagement work better. marketing, human resources, economics, make and implement government policies. you will need to read If I had the opportunity to come here accounting, information systems, One thing that was different about my again, I would. It’s improved my leadership, operations, and quantitative methods. When thinking about which business extensively around research was that I sought the input of my teamwork, my organisation, my school to apply to, two important factors the subject and the employees on how they wanted to communication, my ability to work under In the second term, you can choose from to consider are cost and reputation. be treated and how they believed they pressure and my public speaking. It’s a number of optional subjects. These are The fees for MBA programmes can vary show a great deal of could be helped to engage with their work a place where you have a bright future known as ‘electives’. The final part of the enormously from school to school, typically commitment in terms better. That was a new aspect because and where you have the opportunity to course usually involves completing a project ranging from £10,000 to more than most of the research in this area focuses maximise your potential. or dissertation. £50,000. Higher fees do not necessarily of study hours’

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‘I would rate the Nikhil Lavanian school. I ran a digital marketing campaign Indian system as really Course MBA to market the course, using a free online Institution Brunel University email tool called MailChimp. I set up emails good but my course Country India and email forms so that we could detect in the UK has provided who was opening an email in which part I’d been accepted by universities in the of the world and target those individuals. me with a more US and Australia, but I decided to come I learned a lot of new techniques. It was practical aspect’ to the UK because it was a one-year good to learn something while getting course, which meant I could get back paid for it, and it suited me because I was to work faster. funding my own education. I thought that was a good option. I would have loved to study in a university but what The course has been good. I found it A master’s gives you structured thinking. mattered was that the stuff I learned and the interesting, gained a lot of practical I learned how to base decisions on experience I got was really good. knowledge, and met and worked with research, academic writing and data. people from different countries. Entrepreneurs Society and the Committee I also learned about operational EThames is at Canary Wharf, so the location of Six Degrees, the international student management, leadership, presentation is beautiful. All my courses and lectures were I did a project at a company that was body – I was the vice-president of skills and project management. there, which was really nice. The awarding looking for a new operational model marketing there, a big flashy title. I was body is the University of Sunderland and I’ve to sell to their clients. I created one also student rep for my MBA class, which Once I got the letter confirming my MBA just found out that I got a first-class degree. that would help them decide whether involved getting feedback from my class with merit, I applied for a work visa, and to outsource processes. Getting the and attending a monthly meeting with I am now applying for project management The course was a very practical one. I would chance to work with a company is not the board of Brunel Business School to roles within the payments industry. My rate the Indian system as really good but something everybody gets. discuss the students’ suggestions. targets are banks and e-commerce I didn’t get that practical aspect there. companies – essentially, places where you In the UK, assignments are more about At university, I made lots of friends and This involvement led to me doing a three- take online payments and there is some implementing direct strategies to companies joined lots of societies, including the month paid internship at the business sort of credit card compliance involved. that actually exist.

In terms of experience and knowledge, the Jessica Julmy the same core courses: financial accounting, course is really good. It has improved my corporate finance, management, accounting, Course MBA personal skills and communication skills as Institution London Business School economics, strategy and marketing. And the well as my understanding of the market. Country Switzerland second year is when you have your electives. In London you see people from all around the world. This has really helped me in terms of The flexibility of the programme structure understanding people, talking and applying My decision to come to the UK was mainly meant I could choose to do two paid my work at the right stage. driven by the London Business School – it internships instead of electives in the autumn was so international. A lot of the US schools term. I did one at Google and one at a Arif Shaikh My dissertation was based on social media say that they’re diverse and international but smaller company in Asia, so I saw two very because I wanted to discover more about they’re simply not as international as LBS. different perspectives. Course MBA Agribusiness it. It was about defining the advertising Institution EThames Graduate School, marketing strategies in an organisation. I’m Swiss but I grew up in the US. I worked in In the second year, there is a lot of group These have been two of the most exciting University of Sunderland Country India I really worked on it – it was like my baby. real estate for three years in China and two work and it’s up to you to form the groups. years I’ve had in a long time. For me, LBS years in Argentina. I’d wanted to do an MBA A lot of the classes are case-based, where has been the perfect fit in terms of being I’m just waiting to get the hard copy of my for a while and it felt like the time was right, you analyse a case and break it down, but in a big city, where you’ve got so many I did my bachelor’s degree in marketing and education system here. It was also because degree then I am going to apply for a post- especially as I wanted to move out of property. some are more lecture-based. In my electives, global companies right on your doorstep, was working as a digital marketing executive of Arsenal Football Club. I’ve been watching study work permit. I want to see whether I a lot of the lecturers bring in speakers who but also having a student body that is so in Mumbai. We had loads of clients from the them since I was a child. can find a job over here. The field I am really The course here is quite flexible. You can do work in the industry. These have included the international. UK. The UK market was much wider in terms interested in is online marketing. I received 15, 18 or 21 months. So, people who want CEO and founder of Alibaba, the global head of the online market, so after three years I was funding my own education so I didn’t a call yesterday from an agency about a web to go back to work can do the 15 months. of marketing at Samsonite, and the global It’s a hefty investment but it’s well worth it I thought: why not do a master’s course in have a lot of capital to put in. I found out that manager role in Scotland, so I might travel The professors have an amazing wealth of creative director of Google. I have found it because the contacts and friendships you the UK? The UK had always been my priority some colleges were providing off-campus there for the interview next week. I hope that experience and are always there to answer tremendously helpful having interaction with make, and the skills and knowledge you take in terms of study. I always admired the courses that had relatively low fees so will be the start. questions. In the first year, everybody has experts who have current knowledge. away, are priceless.

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The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh Business School

CONTACT DETAILS

Trish Fraser, The University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9JS Tel +44 (0)131 650 9663 Fax +44 (0)131 650 8077 Email [email protected] Web www.business-school.ed.ac.uk

he University of Edinburgh Business consistently ranked in the Financial Times and looking for more focused pathways through the School enjoys a long tradition of Economist MBA Rankings – reflecting not just a programme – these specialisations are available in Tteaching and research. The School long history of business teaching but also the finance, carbon management, entrepreneurship, offers undergraduate, postgraduate and substantial experience of a faculty that comprises strategy or family business. executive education programmes in business more than 80 teaching staff. The MBA is available as either a full-time or and management, and provides a platform for Core to the School’s philosophy is a close modular programme. research, discussion and debate on a wide range interaction with the corporate world through of business issues. industry-based research and consultancy. We have Other postgraduate programmes Part of the University of Edinburgh, one of the also recently recruited a Student Projects Manager The School offers students a range of year-long world’s top 40 universities, with a rich heritage to build a link between on programme projects and MSc programmes: MSc in Finance and Investment, of delivering education for more than 400 the corporate community. MSc in International Business and Emerging years, the Business School has an international Markets, MSc in Accounting and Finance, student body that typically represents more than The Edinburgh MBA MSc in Carbon Management, MSc in Carbon 88 nationalities. The Edinburgh MBA has been taught for more Finance, MSc in Management, MSc in Marketing, The School recently relocated to a new building than 25 years and stresses teamwork in a and MSc in Marketing and Business Analysis. in Buccleuch Place, located at the heart of the collaborative learning environment. In the light New for 2012 the School has introduced an University campus. This state-of-the-art space of recent market challenges, the Edinburgh MBA MSc in Human Resource Management, an MSc features eight lecture theatres, multiple syndicate has been comprehensively reviewed. We’ve in Banking and Risk and an MSc in Financial rooms, an executive education suite, a student recently introduced a unique week-long leadership Management. The School also offers an MSc by study centre and online resource, a cafe, and module situated in the Scottish Highlands. research, MPhil and PhD – please see our website, significant flexible space for staff and students. Also new is a specialisation route for students www.business-school.ed.ac.uk, for details. The School’s teaching and research covers seven main subject areas – accounting and finance, ACADEMIC PROFILE entrepreneurship and innovation, management science and business economics, marketing, Dr Tony Kinder has BSc, MA and MBA For 10 years, he was Chairman of degrees and a PhD from the University venture capital company Lothian organisation studies, business and climate of Edinburgh on the diffusion of lean Enterprise. He has also been Chairman change, and strategy and international business. production techniques from inward of a Scottish leisure company, and a Many members of our faculty at the Business investors into indigenous companies commercial and industrial property School are active in industry-based research via supply chains in Scotland. development company. and consultancy. Tony has an unusual career profile, Tony is currently a Director of An emerging area of expertise for the Business starting out as an industrial engineer Livingston Football Club and Chairman and spending 20 years in industrial of West Lothian College. His research School is carbon management. Building on our relations. For 18 years, he was a local is in areas of service innovation, successful MSc in Carbon Management, the School Dr Tony Kinder council leader, with responsibility biotechnology, software, e-commerce launched the world’s first MSc in Carbon Finance. Director of the MBA Programme for local economic development. and economic development. The School is accredited by EQUIS and AMBA and

84 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING

The UK is home to some developing ways to use the under-exploited ‘The choice of subjects Sir John Burn found that when you take of the world’s most terahertz (THz) frequency band. Elsewhere, aspirin daily for a long duration you have a Science, groundbreaking research the UK’s Natural Environment Research at postgraduate level decreased risk of getting bowel cancer. The Council funds research into the earth, issue is that aspirin is a blood-thinning agent, in science, computing and atmosphere and oceans, and offers a range is vast, and ranges so there is a chance that you can end up with engineering. A long tradition technology and of postgraduate studentships at master’s and from traditional internal bleeding if you take it daily. There of scientific innovation, doctoral level. are certain genetic variants that give people combined with a modern, disciplines such as susceptibility to this, so my purpose is to find engineering trailblazing spirit, makes the Such extensive funding means that the UK organic, physical and these genetic variants and see them at the UK the ideal place to pursue can offer state-of-the-art facilities across population level, so that I can work out which your postgraduate studies the spectrum of science, computing and inorganic chemistry, population is susceptible to these adverse engineering research. The UK’s Jodrell Bank drug reactions. Observatory, for example, is spearheading to new courses in The choice of subjects at postgraduate work to develop the new Square Kilometre software engineering To test whether someone has these genetic level is vast, ranging from traditional Array, which will be the world’s most powerful variants is very expensive, and, in places like Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate disciplines, such as organic, physical telescope. In Cheshire, the Science and and artificial India and Africa, people cannot afford it. So and inorganic chemistry, to new courses Technology Facilities Council at the Daresbury intelligence’ I am collaborating with a company called in software engineering and artificial Laboratory has created a new generation QuantuMDx to develop new sequencing intelligence. Whether you plan to follow a of particle accelerator, called Emma (the technology in a handheld device that should career in astrophysics, deep-sea welding Electron Machine with Many Applications). are more than 1,600 postgraduate computer be able to do rapid testing from a drop of or criminal forensic science, the UK has This will pave the way for more economical and mathematical sciences opportunities blood within 20 minutes for just £20. I hope at the course for you. accelerators and technological advances in in the UK. Harsh Sheth least one prototype of the instrument will be fields as diverse as cancer treatment and Course PhD Genetics out by the end of my thesis. There is plenty of funding across the nuclear power. Taught courses in engineering and Institution Newcastle University range of subjects. The Engineering and science are generally assessed through Country India My current idea is to become a clinical Physical Sciences Research Council, for Meanwhile, UK-educated computer a combination of exams and coursework, geneticist, so I want to do a medical degree example, invests more than £850 million scientists are leading cutting-edge advances or by coursework alone. For the Master of In India there are courses like biotechnology on the side. Nowadays, it’s really important a year in a huge range of engineering in areas such as integrated circuits, Science (MSc) degree, you will usually need and biomedical sciences, but they don’t have to interlink medicine and genetics because research projects. It is currently funding telecommunications, the internet, artificial to complete a research project as well. You a specific course just for genetics. The UK has sequencing can be used to detect diseases, University College London research into intelligence, and computer gaming. It is may also be assessed on your performance a very good reputation: the DNA structure but it can also do various other things. Things wireless technology for the 21st century, hardly surprising, therefore, that there in the laboratory. was discovered here and the first sequencing are also becoming more personalised, so if method was found here, so the UK is the place a person has a particular genetic makeup, Many UK engineering courses are to be for genetics. we will give them a particular drug because accredited by professional bodies. This we know it will be the most beneficial. It’s enables students to become chartered When I went to the Education UK website, really important because, if you don’t have engineers registered with the Engineering I found that Newcastle had very high rankings personalised medication, many people will Council. When searching for courses, be for genetics, especially human genetics, continue to have adverse drug reactions. aware that an MEng is a four- or five-year and that was the course I was hoping to get undergraduate degree incorporating some on to. Plus, all the teachers on that course Once a month or so, I sit down with master’s-level training, not a stand-alone had very high rankings, so Newcastle was Professor Burn and have a chat about what postgraduate qualification. definitely the place to be. I have never has been done so far and what can be regretted my decision. done next. He tends to keep an eye on me As well as the traditional PhD, MRes and MPhil and make sure I’m OK. The people from the research routes, engineering students can My PhD focuses on colorectal (or bowel) Quantum MDx team are absolutely lovely, also study for the Engineering Doctorate cancer, which has the second-highest too. It’s kind of like a family environment up (EngD). This award is a collaborative incidence in the world. After 20 years of here. So, from both the science and the social programme with industry, combining taught research, Newcastle University’s Professor perspective, it’s been absolutely brilliant. modules with research.

Whichever route you decide to take, you can ‘The DNA structure was discovered here and the be sure that a UK postgraduate degree in a ﬁrst sequencing method was found here, so the science, computing or engineering subject

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mechanics – which has to do with the seven drafts of my thesis, which he would mechanics behind [things like] blood flow in Merna Mourad have to read and give comments on, and he the body. We do modelling with computer Course MSc Computer Systems said: ‘OK, I’ll do it’. simulation. Understanding this helps in Management treating conditions such as coronary Institution Heriot-Watt Dubai campus My thesis is about creating a financial system Country Egypt heart disease. for routine banking, using people’s IDs and passports to categorise their banking habits. Another module is artificial organs. This I’ve never been outside the Arab countries This means that you could have an online is one of the most interesting modules. and this is the first time that I’ve lived alone, account like PayPal to transfer money to so I had an assignment about artificial hearts so I wanted to take my postgraduate studies that you don’t have to use your credit card in where I had to assess the options available step-by-step and do my master’s in an Arab shops. I’ve started working on something to to people waiting for a transplant. I also country so that I would not feel strange. When grab web data from other sources so that you studied artificial limbs. The lecturer helped us I start my PhD, I’ll do it in the UK. can find the best price for things when you understand the basics and how, if someone spend money. loses their hands, you can use the processes We have lectures and we do lots of self-study Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate to enable them to grab something. on the course and it’s nice to have both. The team members. It’s good because you have The course is teaching me how to be lecturers are good – they all worked in IT to make extra efforts. It opens your mind and independent. It helps me to have better ideas We’ve just chosen our dissertation departments before they started teaching. pushes you to make the deadline. Something by giving me the skills to be creative and topics. I’m going to be doing something else I like is that we have to express our innovative. Studying always opens the mind. related to medical diagnostics. It has This month we had to make a software opinions about everything. to do with lab-on-a-chip technology. application for workers who are processing I haven’t finalised my PhD topic yet, but If someone gets tested for a disease, it orders. We learned how to code in a The teachers are always available if we have I would love to do something on how to normally takes a long time for results to professional way and how a team can work. any problems. You can email them, speak to measure and manipulate human-computer come out – laboratory assistants have them in lectures, or meet them in the middle interaction and user experience. Once I finish to work on samples and things like that. I like the fact that we have to read about most of the week. My dissertation supervisor has my PhD, I want to start a business. I have a But with lab-on-a-chip, it’s almost instant. things by ourselves and try it out with our a lot of patience. I told him that I would write vision for what I want to do. It could be used in a portable device as a point-of-care diagnostic system. If we Vincent Li develop this bio-sensor, it will solve a lot There are always extra materials to read, Course MSc IT of problems in the medical field. Institution University of Aberdeen especially for the programming course. Country Hong Kong For that, we have to read a lot and practise My research involves knowing everything at the computers. It’s more hands-on than about Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) and simply listening to the lecturers. how this can be applied for hybridisation. I started in September and am studying I am looking at how it can be used as a part-time and working part-time at Royal My dissertation will be a four-month project. Ijeoma Dunumba probe to detect pathogens. Electronics Mail. We get two or three lectures a I think the university is trying to get us to will have to come in at some point. This week, and about four or five hours of lab pair up with a company we can design an Course MSc Biomedical Engineering will open my eyes and make me explore practicals a week. It’s been good so far. application for and use in the real world. Institution Brunel University Country Nigeria new options. It will start in the summer. The project will At the moment I am focusing on depend on the company we work with, but Our lecturers are excellent. One has programming. We are trying to build can build these on different platforms. it could be a website or a back-end system I did my undergraduate degree in Biomedical The field involves regulatory affairs and co-authored a lot of journals [on the websites using the different programming I am also studying another one in web such as a database of customers. Science at the University of Bedfordshire making equipment, and you can use your subject]. It’s so amazing to have such languages we are learning. technology, which looks at the newest in the UK. After my graduation I wanted skills to work at a hospital as a maintenance excellent lecturers teaching us. technology on the internet. I’m also volunteering on the university’s to move out of my comfort zone and try engineer. It also involves medical imaging Last term I did a course on web-application IT helpdesk. Yesterday the students from something new. like ultrasound. It’s a diverse field and you This course is relatively new. A lot of it is development and how to write websites and Getting an IT qualification will make me the January intake needed their wireless can specialise in any area you want. still being researched. If I were in Nigeria, use the different programming languages, stand out when I am looking for jobs. connections set up. The internet went Biomedical engineering involves engineering I don’t think I would be able to study and another course on learning how to I don’t have an exact plan but hopefully down for a while, so that was an interesting applications for hospitals. You don’t realise The course is made up of eight modules. this. When I tell my friends I am studying write databases. I am going to work in networking or day. Doing this helps my course because that engineers are behind a lot of things that One module is your dissertation and the rest biomedical engineering, they say they’ve infrastructure. I’m also interested in it gives me experience of working in the go on in hospitals. For example, someone are on things like designing mechatronic never heard of it before. The UK has a lot of This term I am studying a course in programming. If I have the opportunity, field. I volunteer online as well and I’m doing who studies biomedical engineering would systems, which is about how electronics is resources that are not readily available in application development. In theory, you I would like to set up my own company. some translation work for Twitter. be able to produce pacemakers. involved in the medical field, and biophilic Nigeria. It’s a good place to study.

88 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 89 Science, technology and engineering

Bangor University School of Psychology

CONTACT DETAILS

Admissions Ofﬁcer, School of Psychology, Brigantia Building, Bangor University, Penrallt Road, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2AS Tel +44 (0)1248 382629 Fax +44 (0)1248 382599 Email [email protected] Web www.bangor.ac.uk/psychology

angor’s School of Psychology is ranked of living and the low crime rate, makes it the ideal Facilities seventh in the UK for Research Power based student city. Research facilities at Bangor are world-class. We Bon the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise posses cutting-edge technology, such as functional undertaken by the UK Government. In the most Academic strengths Magnet Resonance Imaging (fMRI), TMS, numerous recent National Student Survey it was ranked in Bangor Psychology offers a range of postgraduate ERP and eye-movement equipment based in the top five in terms of student satisfaction and courses leading to MA, MRes, MSc, PhD and laboratories led by world leading researchers. has also scored the highest possible ‘Excellent’ for DClinPsy. The curricula have been designed to its teaching. It is one of the largest departments provide you with a wide range of research skills Career prospects in UK psychology and has invested extensively and, where applicable, meet the recognition The role of psychology in society is ever important, in a modern teaching, learning and research requirements of professional bodies and creating an increasing variety of employment environment. The department’s international research councils. You will also work alongside opportunities for graduates. A postgraduate standing is well illustrated by the fact that it is one internationally renowned scientists who are degree from a leading UK department will provide of only a select few included in the CHE European at the cutting edge of psychological research. you with excellent opportunities both within the Excellence ranking. Courses include MA Psychology, MRes Psychology, sphere of psychology and beyond. The School also boasts a number of prestigious MA/ MSc Consumer Psychology with Business, research centres, including the Wolfson Centre MSc Psychological Research, MSc Foundations of Funding for Cognitive Neuroscience and the Centre for Clinical Psychology, MSc Foundations of Clinical The department offers a number of Silver and Gold Experimental Consumer Psychology, which, Neuropsychology, MSc Neuroimaging, MSc Applied Scholarships worth up to £5,000 to international as well as being in the vanguard of academic Behaviour Analysis, MSc Mindfulness-based (non-EU) candidates. The School is recognised by research in these fields, offer students unique Approaches (part-time), PhD by Research and the ESRC for its postgraduate training. opportunities for project work covering important Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Think Psychology Think Bangor theoretical and practical elements. We are also a truly global community, with staff and students ACADEMIC PROFILE from all over the world. The University regularly scores very highly in independent polls assessing Professor Tipper graduated in His research was recognised in 2004, Behavioural Sciences (Huddersfield) when he received the President’s the quality of student support and the overall and completed doctoral studies in Award from the BPS for Distinguished student experience. Experimental Psychology at Oxford. Contributions to Psychological In 1993 he was appointed to a Chair in Knowledge, and more recently the Location Cognitive Science at Bangor. Experimental Psychology Society Bangor is situated on the north Wales coast His major research interests are in the Mid-Career Award. In 2007 he was between the mountains of Snowdonia and the sea. mechanisms that link visual perception elected a Fellow of the British Academy. with action, where he has published He is also the editor of the Quarterly It boasts excellent transport links with the rest of more than 120 articles. His most recent Journal of Experimental Psychology, the UK, and is a compact, friendly and multicultural Professor Tipper research investigates how we represent the UK’s flagship experimental city, with a strong Welsh identity and vibrant Behavioural Sciences the actions performed by other people. psychology journal. student nightlife. This, combined with the low cost

90 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org © David Levenson/Alamy © David Social sciences and law SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LAW SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LAW

Indonesia and India? My PhD is answering ‘There is plenty of these questions. Social sciences financial support It’s quite difficult because there sometimes available. In 2011-12, seems to be no rationale behind the decisions and law the Economic & Social of the donors. There are also political and institutional aspects. I test these with Research Council had economic tools. I also test different aspects an annual budget of donors, such as whether richer donors give more climate change aid. There are many of £203 million, and different approaches and measurements we at any one time it can use. supports more than The research mostly uses secondary data in world development institutions like the Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate

© Stockbyte/Getty Images 4,000 researchers and World Bank and data from the OECD. Based postgraduate students’ on that data, Indonesia is the second-largest Studying social sciences, range of communications and media-related recipient country, after India. I went to communications or law in courses, so it’s hardly surprising that Indonesia last month and did an internship the UK will give you access communications courses are a popular choice in major international cities, advising with a governmental trust fund. It gave me to the most up-to-date and for postgraduates. local clients about UK law, and English a perspective on how aid is distributed and commercial law is often the governing law managed at the country level. In that sense innovative knowledge in these Aidy Halimanjaya Taught postgraduate courses in the social in international contracts. I get the purpose and meaning of what I am Course PhD International Development fast-moving subject areas sciences will develop your expertise through doing in my PhD research. Institution University of East Anglia lectures, practical exercises, seminars, To qualify as a solicitor or barrister/advocate, Country Indonesia Social studies focus on human society tutorials, case studies and group work. you will need to complete at least one year My second supervisor is only a few doors and social relationships. They cover Master’s courses will usually require you to of postgraduate studies if your first degree away from my office. We communicate very a range of subjects, from politics and complete a dissertation in a specialist area. was in law, and at least two years if your I applied to several universities, but UEA was regularly. I deal with my first supervisor about economics to sociology and human At doctoral level, you will normally undertake first degree was in another subject. But one of the top for international development once every three weeks when something solid geography, and allow you to develop a combination of scientific data collection before you enrol on a law course, make research at the time. I got accepted by a few, has been done, like a paper or a draft. They’re a broad knowledge base in your and systematic analysis of a given subject. sure you check with the appropriate body in so I decided to come to the UK and have very helpful. If I have a question I can send an chosen field, as well as giving you the the country in which you eventually intend interviews with them. I wanted to see whether email and they will reply within 24 hours. It’s opportunity to focus on particular topics. As with many academic disciplines in the UK, to practise that a UK qualification meets there was an alignment with my research and very good. there is plenty of financial support available. their requirements. how my interests could be developed further. The broad range of courses on offer can The Economic & Social Research Council UEA gave me a very strong first impression. You question everything in the process of be a great way to kickstart your chosen (ESRC) is the UK’s leading agency for funding You can do research within legal studies. It has a very warm academic community. writing a PhD. It brings you perspective. career. If you are interested in working research and training in social and economic While some MPhil and PhD programmes are They’re very supportive as well as very You start seeing things that other people in education, for example, you will issues. Its annual research budget for 2011-12 based purely on research, many courses integrated between schools. haven’t seen. I have also gained specific find the UK an ideal place to carry out was £203 million, and it supports more than incorporate taught elements. A Master of knowledge about what I am doing. I can see research into subjects such as childhood 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students. Research (MRes) programme, for example, My subject is the allocation of foreign aid for the relevance of my knowledge in Indonesia. development, learning techniques, pupil normally involves one year of study and a climate change and the reason behind the I’m thinking of exploring the practical aspects, response and academic assessment Studying law in the UK can train you to be shorter dissertation than for a doctorate. allocations: what countries are the destination doing consultancy and teaching, and going to methods. A Postgraduate Certificate in a solicitor or barrister/advocate, but can of this aid and why? For example, why does the remote areas to reflect what I’ve learnt. Education (PGCE), meanwhile, can qualify also open the door to a number of other, Taught law master’s programmes are the UK choose to give climate change aid to That’s my plan. you to teach in many countries. non-legal, careers. In all, there are about usually studied full-time over one year and 1,000 postgraduate law or law-related lead to a Master of Laws (LLM) or Master Many courses are also linked to industry courses to choose from. of Arts (MA) qualification. These can be ‘You question everything in the process of writing membership organisations that monitor taken by law or non-law graduates seeking a PhD. You start seeing things other people haven’t and accredit courses. The Chartered The UK’s common-law system dates back specialist knowledge – without necessarily Institute of Public Relations, for example, to the 12th century and forms the basis requiring them to be practising lawyers. seen. I’m thinking of exploring the practical aspects, is the organisation for public relations for legal systems in Commonwealth and All in all, this means that there are numerous doing consultancy and teaching, and going to the professionals in the UK. It has around English-speaking countries around the options to explore, whatever your ambitions 10,000 members and accredits a wide world. Many UK-based firms have branches may be. remote areas to reflect what I’ve learnt’

92 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 93 SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LAW SOCIAL SCIENCES AND LAW

We chose Malta. That was really interesting ‘The media here in the UK is one of the most Johannes Sreter because we combined it with a visit to the Course MSc Tourism Development World Travel Market in London and we were effective international media. I have managed Institution University of Surrey able to speak to marketing representatives Country Germany from Malta tourism venues and combine that to arrange a one-month work placement with our academic research. at The Sunday Times. I will be working on When it comes to tourism, Surrey is number one. I studied my undergraduate degree My dissertation topic is the correlation investigative journalism there’ in Edinburgh. Most of the research I read between cultural heritage preservation and in Edinburgh was published by professors tourism. It’s basically how tourism can be working at Surrey, so as soon as I had the used to preserve cultural heritage. I travelled The course is very useful. It’s not just about choice I knew I wanted to study here. to Tanzania last summer and was part of a journalism – we are studying other topics too. cultural tourism project there. I also worked I was expecting just to learn about writing, I started off studying hospitality in Switzerland. for the DPZ, which is a German development but we are also studying some modules about It’s a very traditional and rigid discipline. You agency in Romania, for a year in 2010. I’ll designing magazines. This is new for me. Postgraduate profiles Postgraduate start in a hotel reception and work your way up. probably focus on one of those. Some of our modules are about philosophy I wasn’t really interested in that straightforward and critical thinking. We are reading theories path. I was looking for the international The core module of the first semester was I want to continue with a PhD. Surrey is about marxism, feminism and postmodernism. component in tourism and I liked the fact that research methodology. It was interactive and my first choice again for this. This tourism Every week we have training and seminars on I’d be working with people. I liked the idea that really interesting. We were able to vote with development module really helps with online journalism. It’s very useful. there are so many different types of tourism handheld devices during the lectures. We consultancy [career options]. There are and so many different countries where tourism had several questions raised and we had to several organisations that work closely with I’m very much enjoying learning design and is happening in a different way. Developing decide which answer was right. Surrey and so we are called up through these layout. You’re learning something and at countries are creating tourism programmes in contacts. I could also work as a part-time the same time it’s somehow fun. Back home completely different ways to the western world. For tourism development, we had to pick a academic back in Switzerland and do the jobs are divided. The designers only do That’s the most interesting part. sustainable tourism strategy and analyse it. part-time consultancy for the EU or UN. design and journalists only write articles for newspapers but here they want us to be like Margaret Zimmerman freelance journalists and to do everything: writing, designing, posting and everything. Course PhD Transitional Justice Institution Queen’s University Belfast They train you to be a freelancer. Country United States I have learnt many things about the British media and British law. The media in the UK is I spent three years working for a human Transitional justice involves the various Noreldin Waisy one of the most effective international media. rights institute in Italy and during that time mechanisms that countries undertake to I have also learnt about writing styles like Course MA Journalism and Media I took part in a post-conflict justice project. find reconciliation and bring about the end feature articles, which is new for me. Communications Many people go straight from their master’s of armed conflicts and put people at ease. Institution University of Hertfordshire to PhD at 23 or 24. I’m 31 so when I started It’s either done through prosecutions or Country Kurdistan, Iraq We have a choice of doing a dissertation I had the advantage of having worked for truth and reconciliation commissions. If one or a work placement. I discussed it with my several years and having a better idea of individual harms another during an armed government officials. I’m very fortunate teachers and they said a work placement what I wanted to study. I did my master’s in conflict they sometimes pay a fee, take that on my master’s programme there Although I have worked as a journalist for would be better for me. I have managed the UK and decided to stay on for my PhD. part in a reparation scheme or do some was an ambassador and a partner in a law more than 10 years, my academic background to arrange a one-month work placement memorialisation. firm in Khartoum who has helped me find is not in journalism. Journalism in my country at The Sunday Times. I will be working on I knew I wanted to do a comparison of government people. I also have a lot of UN is different to British journalism. Most investigative journalism there. peacekeeping and transitional justice and I’m looking at Darfur in Sudan. I like contacts and will be interviewing the heads journalists back home don’t have an academic how the two interact because I saw there Darfur because it’s timely. It’s still going of NGOs and international organisations. background. Although there are some Our government has a programme sending was a big gap in the academic literature. on. It’s got the added elements of the journalism courses, most of them are very students to study in western countries. Most Peacekeeping is normally researched by International Criminal Court being involved I anticipate finishing my PhD at the end new. I was in contact with the British Council of them come to the UK because they like to political science departments from a politics and one of the most modern peacekeeping of 2013. I’m hoping it will be applicable to and I heard about the Chevening Scholarship go to a country where English is the official perspective and transitional justice is looked operations and it’s an area that overlaps people who go on to create peacekeeping and thought it would be very useful for me to language. I’m interested in publishing a at more from a law aspect. I’m doing an very well with international relations and operations. Ultimately I hope to turn it into have an academic background [in journalism]. magazine in English, [when I return home], interdisciplinary look at the two. law. I’m going there to interview UN and a book. I’m also hoping it will lead to a job. I applied for the scholarship and got it. so this opportunity is very important.

94 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 95 Social sciences and law

University of Kent School of Politics and International Relations

CONTACT DETAILS

Mrs Roxanne Devine, School of Politics and International Relations, Rutherford College, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NX Tel +44 (0)1227 827307 Fax +44 (0)1227 827033 Email [email protected] Web www.kent.ac.uk/politics

he School of Politics and International Rights; Comparative Politics; and Political and Social International Double Award); Human Rights; Relations is one of the most dynamic Thought. The School is also home to two research International Conflict Analysis; International Tplaces to study politics and international centres: the Conflict Analysis Research Centre and Relations (also available as International Double relations. We combine high-quality teaching with the Centre for Federal Studies. Award); International Relations and European cutting-edge research in a supportive environment Studies; International Relations with International that welcomes students from all over the world. Flexible and innovative Law; International Security and the Politics of All lectures and seminars on postgraduate taught programmes Terror; Peace and Conflict Studies International modules are informed by the latest research and All our postgraduate programmes are designed to Double Award programme; Politics; Political are given by full-time academic staff who have be flexible. At least a third of modules on taught Theory and Practices of Resistance; and Security internationally recognised expertise in their programmes are options that allow you to tailor and Terrorism. field. We have experts in all of the main areas of your pathway. Some of the programmes are also the discipline of politics including: comparative offered as postgraduate diplomas – a nine-month, Research programmes politics, international relations, political theory, coursework-only format without a dissertation – The School has a long tradition of high-quality international political economy, human rights which addresses the specific needs of students research among its staff and students. The breadth and public policy. looking for lifelong learning and retraining of expertise within the School enables us to opportunities. Many MA programmes are available provide research supervision on a very wide range International opportunities as two-year options. The MA in International of topics across Politics and International Relations. We have a postgraduate centre in Brussels, Relations can be taken as two-year degrees, split We offer three types of research degree in three which allows students on some of our programmes between Brussels and Canterbury. fields of specialisation: International Conflict to follow part of their course in the city. The programmes are: Comparative Federalism; Analysis; International Relations; and Politics Agreements with partner institutions in France, European Governance (also available as and Government. Germany, Poland and Russia enable us to offer Get on the right course Double Award versions of the MAs in European STUDENT PROFILE Governance, International Relations, and Peace and Conflict Studies leading to the award of two The programme here at Kent offers Perhaps what aids my studies the a wide range of theoretical and most outside the classroom is living master’s degrees. philosophical materials to examine abroad and being able to see politics within the discipline. The class schedule ‘in action’ from outside my usual Cutting-edge research allows a lot of academic freedom within American vantage point, allowing me Our lecturers’ research is at the forefront of the curriculum to choose which ideas to see how and why my studies, both their fields and this informs their teaching, and topics you wish to pursue, and undergraduate and postgraduate, are creating a dynamic environment in which to learn. to what extent, in order to keep your relevant in today’s global environment. interest piqued from week to week. It is exciting to see that the things I The strength of the School’s research culture And the professors are very willing to studied yesterday are in the news today, is reflected in the numerous books and articles Devon Simons help and advise you in your personal and to know that what I learn tomorrow published, and in the existence of three core United States pursuits within the field. will be applicable in retrospect. www.educationuk.org research groups: Conflict, Security and Human Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org 97 FACT FILE FACT FILE

Useful contacts Useful resources

The British Council ofﬁce in your home country should be your ﬁrst stop for

discovering more about studying and living in the UK. The British Council Issue 22 | 2013 website provides a wealth of information as well as links to local ofﬁces around the world. To access your country’s website, go to www.educationuk.org and

click on the country scroll bar at the top right of the page. You can then select Living and learning in the UK your country from the list. A warm welcome Essential UK events for everyone to enjoy

The business of art A practical education to help you break into the art market There are a number of other organisations – listed below – that provide help, Engineering the future Four graduates tell us what happened next Shortcut to the top advice and support (both academic and personal) to international students. How to get your business career moving quickly Your Guide to UK Education 2013 A clean break Your Guide to UK Education 2013 Join the energy revolution School, College and Undergraduate Postgraduate and MBA with a degree in renewables

www.educationuk.org www.educationuk.org Association of Commonwealth Universities English UK Research Councils UK www.educationuk.org Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, 219 St John Street, London EC1V 4LY Polaris House, North Star Avenue, London WC1H 9HF Tel: +44 (0)20 7608 7960 Swindon SN2 1ET Your Guide to UK Your Guide to UK Club UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7380 6700 Fax: +44 (0)20 7608 7961 Tel: +44 (0)1793 444420 Education 2013: School, Education 2013: Club UK is a lively, glossy Fax: +44 (0)20 7387 2655 Web: www.englishuk.com Web: www.rcuk.ac.uk College and Undergraduate Postgraduate and MBA magazine that can be found Web: www.acu.ac.uk Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] This in-depth annual guide This in-depth annual guide in British Council offices Email: [email protected] to studying in the UK to studying in the UK at around the world. If you’re National Postgraduate Committee UK Border Agency at undergraduate and postgraduate level includes thinking about coming to the Association of MBAs Web: www.npc.org.uk Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, pre-university level includes everything you need to know UK to study, it’s the perfect everything you need to know about the UK education introduction to the country 25 Hosier Lane, London EC1A 9LQ Email: [email protected] Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY Tel: +44 (0)20 7246 2686 Tel: +44 (0)870 606 7766 about the UK education system, life in the UK, how and all that it offers. It includes Fax: +44 (0)20 7246 2687 Web: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk system, life in the UK, how to to apply for your course, the latest education and National Union of Students Web: www.mbaworld.com apply for your course, funding funding opportunities, lifestyle news, interviews, NUS HQ, 4th Floor 184-192 Drummond Street, Email: [email protected] UK Council for International Student Affairs opportunities, institution profiles of institutions and career ideas and insights into London NW1 3HP 9-17 St Albans Place, London N1 0NX profiles and much more. department overviews. life as a student in the UK. Tel: +44 (0)845 5210 262 British Council Tel: +44 (0)20 7107 9922 Web: www.nus.org.uk Education UK Web: www.ukcisa.org.uk www.educationuk.org Email: [email protected] Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street, The essential online guide Manchester M1 6BB UK NARIC to UK education gives you The Quality Assurance Agency for Tel: +44 (0)161 957 7755 Oriel House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, instant access to a wide Fax: +44 (0)161 957 7762 Higher Education (QAA) Gloucestershire GL50 1XP range of information on Web: www.britishcouncil.org, Southgate House, Southgate Street, Tel: +44 (0)871 330 7033 studying and living in the www.educationuk.org Gloucester GL1 1UB Web: www.naric.org.uk UK. It has a fully searchable Tel: +44 (0)1452 557000 database, with more than Department for Business, Fax: +44 (0)1452 557070 Universities UK 500,000 courses at all Innovation and Skills Web: www.qaa.ac.uk Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, levels and in all subjects, Ministerial Correspondence Unit, Email: [email protected] London WC1H 9HQ scholarship information and 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET Tel: +44 (0)20 7419 4111 links to institution websites. Tel: +44 (0)20 7215 5000 Research Assessment Exercise Web: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk Web: www.bis.gov.uk Web: www.rae.ac.uk Email: [email protected]

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Glossary Abbreviations This page explains many of the essential words used in the world of education An A to Z of the key abbreviations used in education

Accredited Orientation ABS Association of Business Schools HEFCW Higher Education Funding Council for Wales Describes institutions or courses that have been approved by an official body. A range of sessions and activities run by your educational institution designed AEA Advanced Extension Award HERO Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK For example, British Council-accredited language providers. to help new students settle in before lectures begin. A-level Advanced level HMIE Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (Scotland) AQA Assessment and Qualifications Alliance HNC Higher National Certificate Alumni (singular: alumnus) Oxbridge ASIC Accreditation Service for International Colleges HND Higher National Diploma Former pupils or students of an academic institution. An informal term used to refer to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. AS-level Advanced Supplementary level IB International Baccalaureate BA Bachelor of Arts ICT Information and Communications Technology Bursaries Pastoral care BAC British Accreditation Council (for independent further IELTS International English Language Testing System Financial aid awarded to a student to help fund their studies. Social and welfare support. and higher education) IFY International Foundation Year BALEAP British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes Campus Pre-sessional ISC Independent Schools Council BBA Bachelor of Business Administration The land owned by an institution on which all or most of its buildings are located. Additional instruction undertaken before the start of a main course. ISCias Independent Schools Council information & advice service BEd Bachelor of Education ISI Independent Schools Inspectorate Civic university Professional qualifications BEng Bachelor of Engineering ISP International Study Programme Civic (or non-campus) universities are located in a town or city. A qualification awarded by a professional body, such as the CIPD (Chartered BIS Department for Business, Innovation and Skills LLB Bachelor of Laws Institute of Personnel and Development). BMus Bachelor of Music LLM Master of Laws Collegiate university BSc Bachelor of Science MA Master of Arts (UG or PG level) A university made up of different colleges. Cambridge, Durham and Oxford are Providers BTEC Business and Technology Education Council (part of Edexcel) MBA Master of Business Administration examples. Colleges take care of social welfare in addition to the university. A term most often used to describe an organisation or institution that delivers CACHE Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education MEd Master of Education (PG level) language tuition to students learning English as a second language. CELS Certificate in English Language Skills Master of Philosophy (PG level) Dissertation MPhil ChB Bachelor of Surgery MRes Master of Research (PG level) An extended essay, produced from your own research. The class of degree Redbrick universities CIFE Council for Independent Further Education often depends on its successful completion. May also be called a thesis. An informal term used to describe universities founded in the late 19th or early MSc Master of Science (PG level) CPE Certificate of Proficiency in English 20th century, which were often built from red brick. UK NARIC National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the UK First degree DENI Department of Education, Northern Ireland NUS National Union of Students The degree course studied by undergraduates, leading to the award of Research DFID Department for International Development ORSAS Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme bachelor’s degree with or without honours, for example, BA, BSc or BEng. A programme of original study key to master’s and PhDs, where you gather DipHE Diploma of Higher Education PG Postgraduate your own data and information, and analyse this to draw your own conclusions. DPhil Doctor of Philosophy PG Cert Postgraduate Certificate Halls of residence EAP English for Academic Purposes PGCE Postgraduate Certificate in Education Accommodation blocks owned by a college or university and rented to students. Research Assessment Exercise EAQUALS European Association for Quality Language Services PG Dip Postgraduate Diploma The collaboration between the four higher education funding bodies in the EEA European Economic Area PhD Doctor of Philosophy Homestays UK in 2008 to distribute funding for 2009-10. A feature included distinguished EFL English as a Foreign Language QAA Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Living with a UK family – popular with students at English language schools. academics reviewing the work of their fellow researchers. The 2008 RAE ESL English as a Second Language RAE Research Assessment Exercise results are listed in Your Guide to UK Education 2013: Postgraduate and MBA. In-sessional ESOL English for Speakers of Other Languages RCUK Research Councils UK Additional tuition, usually in English language, running alongside another subject. Scholarship ESP English for Specific Purposes SFC Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council A financial grant given to students, usually as a reward for high achievement. EU European Union SQA Scottish Qualifications Authority Institute FD Foundation Degree SVQ Scottish Vocational Qualification Usually refers to a specialised educational institution that focuses on a specific Students’ Union FE Further Education TDA Training and Development Agency for Schools subject area. For example, the Arts Institute at Bournemouth. An independent body that represents students and campaigns for student FHEQ Framework for Higher Education Qualifications TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language welfare within a university. Also organises a variety of clubs and societies. GAP Graduate Admissions Programme TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Modular course GMAC Graduate Management Admission Council TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language A course consisting of several independent units or ‘modules’. Taught master’s GMAT Graduate Management Admission Test TOEIC Test of English for International Communication A master’s programme containing both taught modules and a research element. GTTR Graduate Teacher Training Registry Ordinary degree UCAS Universities and Colleges Admissions Service HE Higher education UG Undergraduate An award made after higher education that either includes less depth of study Viva (voce) than for an honours degree, or for which the honours level was not reached. A spoken examination, often about the contents of a written dissertation. HEFCE Higher Education Funding Council for England UKCISA UK Council for International Student Affairs

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Index to institution proﬁles IS

Bangor University ...... 90 Edinburgh, University of ...... 84 Edinburgh Napier University ...... 62 Hertfordshire, University of ...... 63 Kent, University of ...... 97 London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) ...... 64 Northampton, University of ...... 65 Southampton, University of ...... 66

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102 Postgraduate UK 2013 | www.educationuk.org “ IELTS ensures candidates are better prepared for studying More people go more abroad.” places with IELTS

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