1-year Master's degree programmes

One of the biggest advantages of a 1-year Master's degree is that it allows you to gain an advanced qualification quickly to return to the workplace sooner. You can apply your advanced skillset and knowledge in your job or look for new opportunities without a long career gap.

Also, employers value the specialised skills and deeper knowledge that come with a Master’s, making you a more competitive candidate for higher-level roles. So, with a 1-year Master’s, you get the benefits of advanced education without the lengthy time commitment, helping you move forward in your career faster.

The main difference between a 1 and 2-year Master's degree in the UK is duration and intensity. A 1-year Master's degree programme covers the same curriculum as a 2-year programme but in a shorter timeframe. This makes it ideal if you're looking to apply your studies quickly in the workplace. Our 1-year online Master's programmes in the UK offer the same high-quality education and industry relevance as longer courses, with the added flexibility of studying when it suits you.

Our 1-year Master’s degree programmes are designed to fit around your busy life. Even though you’ll be studying full-time, our flexible online platform lets you study when it suits you best – whether in the evenings, on weekends, or during your lunch breaks. You can study any time that works for you, so you don’t have to put your life on hold.

You can also reach out for support your Study Coach who can help you manage your time effectively. They’ll help you create a study plan that works with your schedule so you can stay on track to achieving your goals without feeling overwhelmed. 

Yes, you can switch from full-time to part-time study if you find the pace too challenging. We recommend sticking with full-time study for at least one semester to see how it fits with your schedule and commitments.

If you feel part-time study would suit you better from the start, you can also apply directly for one of our part-time master’s degrees.

Our programmes are fully accredited and provide a foundation in academic research, which is important for PhD studies. Most of our 1-year Master's programmes include an Advanced Research Methods module. This module teaches you how to create research proposals and collect and analyse data effectively. Plus, during your Master Thesis, you’ll research and write about a topic that interests you, helping you prepare for the kind of work you’ll do in a PhD.

While our Master’s degrees can be a great first step toward a PhD, checking the entry requirements of the specific PhD programmes you’re considering is a good idea.