University of Wolverhampton

The University of Wolverhampton is a fantastic place for postgraduate study, putting students firmly first, and encouraging them to “Be who you want to be.” To discover what that means for each student, the university  provides the guidance, facilities and expertise needed, including:

• High-quality education and training
• World-leading research (REF2021)
• Excellent student support
• Opportunities for social mobility (Higher Education Policy Institute rates us as a top 10 UK university in this field)
• Career-focused learning, with business links across a wide range of industries

Located in the heart of England, Wolverhampton is less than 20 minutes away from Birmingham, with London, Manchester and Liverpool in easy reach on the train and bus. The idyllic Shropshire countryside is close by and a perfect contrast to the buzz of the city. Along with a site in the centre of Wolverhampton, there are also campuses located in Telford and Walsall.

There are 18 different schools across three faculties:

• Arts, Business and Social Sciences
• Education, Health and Wellbeing
• Science and Engineering

The university offers a wide range of taught and research degrees at postgraduate level and boasts a number of research institutes and research centres that work closely alongside industry experts.

Whatever the  area of specialism, students will discover state-of-the-art facilities to support their learning, as well as sports halls, gyms, cafés, IT hubs and social spaces for recreation, enrichment and more. Over the last decade the university has expanded its offering enormously, with hundreds of millions of pounds invested in buildings and equipment to deliver the best student experiences possible.

Postgraduate

The University has over 4,000 postgraduate students and is committed to ensuring all abilities and circumstances can reach their potential while they study there. In fact 98% of their postgraduates find work within 6 months of graduating.

There are a range of taught degrees you can study, including MA, MSc, MBA, MRes, LLM, MMHN, MPH and MMus, as well as postgraduate certificates and diplomas.

If you’d rather study a research degree, you can do an MPhil, PhD or professional doctorate.

As well as careers advice and close department links, the University also has an initiative called SPEED which offers support to students who want to set up a business.

There are a number of taught degrees available, including MA, MSc, MBA, MRes, LLM, MMHN, and MPH, along with postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas. Research students will be able to study towards an MPhil, PhD or professional doctorate and can use the university’s online course finder to search for a specific course.

The university has an impressive network of research institutes and research centres, including many that have attained national and international recognition in the last 20 years, such as the Centre for Film, Media, Discourse and Culture, and the First World War research group.

The university aims to provide flexibility whenever possible, so a number of their postgraduate courses can be taken in a distance-learning format via a virtual learning environment (VLE), enabling students to learn remotely from the comfort of their own home. 

The university believes in providing opportunities to people with a passion to succeed, so depending on the specific course and level of study, the entry requirements can vary significantly.

For study at Master's degree level, applicants will usually need an undergraduate degree, possibly in the same or a related subject, and may be expected to have secured a specific grade. Other relevant qualifications may help the application.

Relevant work experience in a similar subject area can also help to secure a place on a course. For those who don’t have an undergraduate degree but can demonstrate a sufficient level of work experience in their application, this could improve chances of getting a place.

In some cases, a portfolio of work may be required. For example, to study a Master's in Fine Art, applicants would need to submit examples of work which would be reviewed as part of the application process.

A good standard of written and spoken English is an important prerequisite for postgraduate study.

The university has been recognised for world-leading research elements, particularly in science. Students work alongside research staff on new scientific discovery projects with state-of-the-art lab facilities.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) assesses the quality and impact of research submitted by UK universities, grading them from nationally recognised (1) to world-leading (4). REF2021 saw the University of Wolverhampton submitting to four new subject areas with 75 per cent more staff than the previously published framework. REF2021 found more than half of the University of Wolverhampton’s research to be internationally excellent (3) or world-leading (4).

The university has also been awarded four stars in the latest QS Stars international rating system, with the top five-star rating recognising the university’s achievements in student employability, facilities, inclusiveness, internationalisation, and teaching.

The University of Wolverhampton is a research-driven institution with a strong focus on employment. Embedded within their impressive portfolio of postgraduate courses are a range of programmes designed to enhance the employability of each student. These teach transferable skills and professional practise methods, and include work experience, volunteering and placement opportunities with many of the university’s partner organisations. These include successful and innovative companies and businesses both nationwide, and internationally. Postgraduate students are able to develop their professional work portfolio before finishing their course, building a competitive CV and adding many new skills and abilities to their profile.

Part-time jobs, internships opportunities and volunteering options are advertised at The Workplace, which is Wolverhampton’s online career-oriented information and resource hub. Their services are available to current students as well as graduate for up to three years after course completion.

Student union

The Students’ Union is made up of elected officers voted by the students at the university. Officers work to ensure that student views and opinions are heard, along with organising events and campaigns for the whole university community to get involved with.

Clubs and societies

Societies at the Students’ Union celebrate a range of subjects and lifestyles, from the History Society to the Pagan Society, while sports fans will be able to join clubs including hockey, judo, football, table tennis and netball.

City life

Wolverhampton city centre contains art galleries, museums, theatres and cinemas, farmers markets and over 600 shops, ranging from student-favourite high street stores to independent chains. Beautiful green spaces, parks and canals offer numerous places to enjoy the outdoors and, come the evening, there are plenty of bars, pubs, clubs and music venues all close by to each other.

Over in Walsall, students will find a wide range of high street shops, cafes, cinemas, theatres and The New Art Gallery, which has won several awards for its architecture.

Telford offers ice skating and an IMAX cinema, and everything from wrestling to ballet at The Place. While the Southwater complex has further food, fun and films.

Nearby market towns such as Wellington and Newport, as well as Ironbridge are ideal places to visit during periods of downtime, offering stunning country views as well as plenty of cafes and wine bars to drop into.

Accommodation

The university has student accommodation available on all three of its main campuses, with facilities including on-site laundrettes, internet access, basic contents insurance and a free shuttle bus between the different sites and to the nearest town centre.

Accommodation at Walsall Campus is also close to the university’s multi-million-pound sports centre; accommodation on City Campus in Wolverhampton is a few minutes’ walk from a convenient Asda and within a few minutes’ walk of the city centre; and all rooms at Telford Campus include an ensuite bathroom.

For information about finding private rental accommodation in the city centre, the university provides plenty of useful information for prospective students to find a place to live.

Facilities

Whatever facilities required – from mock court rooms and recording studios to sports labs and psychology suites – Wolverhampton’s postgraduate students have them at their fingertips. The university’s world-class facilities perfectly complement the range of courses offered, while preparing students for their career of choice.

Campus sports centres in Wolverhampton and Walsall combine all the equipment, courts, gyms, and pitches needed to stay healthy, as well as the ideal environment for those studying sport and fitness.

In the past decade Wolverhampton has invested hundreds of millions of pounds into their buildings and they need to succeed in their studies, including:

• A stunning School of Architecture and Built Environment at Springfield Campus
• A brand-new, fully equipped Screen School
• The Marches Centre of Excellence for Health and Social Care, preparing future key workers for rewarding and successful careers in healthcare
• Refurbished pharmacy facilities including improved multipurpose teaching spaces, a dispensary, counselling rooms, simulation spaces and more.

Each campus has a well-equipped library with extensive study facilities and resources, as well as friendly, informed librarians trained in supporting general assignment skills such as academic writing, research skills, and referencing. Additional support available during studies includes a library chat service 24-hours-a-day; extended opening hours during exam periods and submission deadlines; and a laptop loan scheme.

The university offers a range of support and guidance, including academic, personal, and careers and employment, through their Student Support and Wellbeing service. If any student is experiencing emotional or personal difficulties during their time at the University of Wolverhampton, they can find help from a confidential counselling programme, which is available to book via a drop-in appointment.

Students with a disability can speak to an advisor and discuss the best ways in which the university can help throughout their studies. There is also support available for international students, including help with visas and immigration, and pastoral support from a multi-faith Chaplaincy.

Loyalty discount
Alumnus of the university may be eligible for a 20 per cent reduction in tuition fees for a Master’s degree course through the university’s Postgraduate Loyalty Discount.

The Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund

There are two types of awards available. The standard is to assist with specific course-related costs, such as childcare, books/equipment or travel, and general living costs. Before applying for help from the fund, students (including postgraduates) will need to have paid, or have arrangements in place to pay, tuition fees, and applied for any other loans and bursaries they are entitled to.

For more information on these scholarships and bursaries, visit the Fees and Funding pages.

Taught

Similar to undergraduate courses, taught postgraduate courses at the university consist of lectures, seminars, and tutorials. Assessments will vary depending on subject but could include exams, coursework, essays, research projects and a final dissertation.

Students will have the option of studying on a full- or part-time basis, giving the flexibility of fitting the course around their current lifestyle. A number of the programmes will also offer the opportunity to select optional modules which involve studying the subjects that are of the most interest.

Research

The university comprises world-leading research facilities and department-specific institutes and centres to attend while studying. Postgraduate research students will be assigned a supervisor specialising in their subject to help assist throughout their programme, and all postgraduate research students are automatically members of the Doctoral College, in which regular workshops, events, and training and development programmes are organised.

Distance learning

The university has a range of courses in a distance-learning format, so prospective applicants can visit the course finder to check if their course is available to study via distance learning.

Classes are taught through a virtual learning environment (VLE) online and students will be provided with a range of study resources throughout the course, along with a personal tutor and access to online forums where they will be able to talk to fellow students from around the world.