What is a conversion course?
The main difference between a master’s degree and a conversion master’s is that a traditional master’s course tends to build on the knowledge you acquired during your undergraduate degree, providing a continuation of your learning. A postgraduate conversion course won’t require you to have any prior knowledge of the subject you’re studying. Most conversion courses will only ask that you hold an undergraduate degree, whatever subject that may be in.
Conversion degrees are designed to introduce you to something brand new, so the course structure gives you the opportunity to go from having no formal skills in your chosen subject to reaching a high level of expertise by the time you graduate. Conversion courses are usually quite hands-on, involving work placements on top of your exams and essays.
Who should consider a master’s conversion course?
There are a few reasons why you might consider studying for a conversion degree, and if any of the following apply to you, you’ll find they could have a lot to offer:
- You want a completely new start. When you applied to study for your undergraduate degree, you may have had a specific career path in mind or simply chose a subject you enjoyed or excelled in. As time has passed, you may have found your priorities and interests have changed, and you’d like a fresh start in a specialist field.
- You have a specific career goal in mind. Some jobs will require a certain professional qualification to achieve this. For example, if you decide you want to become a teacher, you’d need a PGCE.
- You want to get ahead by diversifying your knowledge and skills. Deepening your understanding of a specific area in your current role may open up more professional opportunities for you.
- You’ve been away from education for a while and want to get back into learning. Conversion courses are ideal for building on life experiences and returning to formal education.
- You want to pursue your passions. Some of our students have studied for their undergraduate degree in a certain subject but realised somewhere down the line that their true passion lay in their extracurricular activities, so decided to pursue a different career path.
Whatever your reason for choosing a master’s conversion course, the benefits are huge. Very often, these degrees combine a higher level of learning which demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional development, with recognised awards from external bodies.
What qualifications do I need?
Entry requirements will vary depending on your chosen conversion course, but master’s degrees usually ask for at least a 2:1 at undergraduate level. You may still be able to apply with a 2:2 if you can prove you have relevant work experience.
Even though your bachelor’s degree may be in a different subject, the transferable skills and knowledge you’ve gained from it, such as critical thinking and research analysis, will still come in useful on your conversion course.
Our master's conversion courses
Most of our conversion degrees are condensed versions of our undergraduate courses, studied over a shorter period and at master’s level.
Some of our conversion courses can be studied part-time, allowing you more flexibility to keep working while you study. There are a few that even permit you to study the course full-time but complete your master’s project part-time, meaning you have several learning options to choose from. Subjects areas where we offer conversion courses include:
Pursuing a career change with a master’s conversion course could be a great option but be sure to do thorough research and take everything into consideration to make sure it’s the right choice for you. Why not join us for our next postgraduate Open Day to find out more?