Much of the recent significant growth in postgraduate study in the UK has been driven by higher numbers of international students especially for taught postgraduate provision. Some key organisations in the higher education sector are concerned that this overall picture of growth masks a declining trend for UK-domiciled students to progress beyond undergraduate study.
A review of existing literature indicates that while much is known about progression to first-degree study our understanding of transitions to postgraduate study is limited. There is little evidence of the extent to which students are encouraged by their academic departments or others to identify or consider opportunities for postgraduate study or how effective those activities are. This research project aimed to explore what underlies disciplinary and institutional variations in rates of transition to postgraduate study in the UK and identify practice that results in more students progressing to postgraduate study.
This research addresses a number of key questions:
- are some institutions or types of institutions more effective than others in terms of higher levels of transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study?
- if so why and how does this happen? To what extent does it reflect encouragement of students to consider postgraduate opportunities generally and to what extent is it related to an institution’s recruitment to its own postgraduate provision?
- which disciplines appear to be more effective in terms of increased levels of transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study within these institutions and/or more generally? What is the balance between institutional support for progression and support at a disciplinary level?
- do these issues apply only to transitions to postgraduate study immediately after undergraduate study or also to later transitions (i.e. ‘returners’ to postgraduate study)? How do they intersect with issues such as the characteristics of undergraduate study or the personal characteristics of students?
Part of the #HEA12days series - get the whole collection of publications and resources here.
