University of Plymouth

At the University of Plymouth, we are proud to be one of only a select number of UK universities to achieve triple gold – gold overall and gold for both underpinning aspects: student experience and student outcomes (Teaching Excellence Framework, 2023).

Set in the middle of beautiful countryside and stunning sandy beaches, we also have a unique and special location to match your award-winning education. The city has been found to be 48% cheaper than London in terms of day-to-day living costs (livingcost.org), which means our students can make the most of their student experience and the opportunities university offers.

At the University of Plymouth, it doesn’t matter where you’re from but what’s important is where you want to go – for us, it is all about making your journey personal. We are welcoming and inclusive, and proud to be members of our unique community where every individual counts.

“I would recommend studying at Plymouth because I have had a great experience and outcome. Plymouth is a very modern university which is constantly growing. It is an accepting community, open to worldly views, and looking into the future. There is a great atmosphere at the University and facilities are only ever improving.”

Future career prospects

We have a proud track record of helping our students find their way in an increasingly complex world, including developing the essential skills, resilience and experience they will need throughout their future careers. Our supportive and wide-reaching Careers Service even offers careers support for as long as you need it beyond graduation. In the most recent Graduate Outcome Survey, it was confirmed that over 96% of our postgraduates are either working or in further study 15 months after graduating. Become part of a successful student community.

Our Careers Service actively supports students to find part-time work should they choose to seek it. The jobs fair takes place early each academic year offering a wide variety of work experience opportunities with local employers.

“Returning to study my masters was a significant benefit to my career. Whilst I worked in a rewarding role before, my return to my postgraduate degree was the key to opening some of the opportunities I was looking for.”

Facilities and support arrangements

Having opened £100 million of new facilities in the 2023/24 academic year, the University continues to ensure you have the best learning environments and collaborative spaces. You’ll develop hands-on learning through a mix of real-world and simulated course facilities, enabling you to graduate with experience. Newly-established, InterCity Place houses our health professions, nursing and midwifery, and for STEAM subjects, Babbage is where engineering and design come together.

Alongside the valuable experience gained at Law Clinics on campus, Law students benefit from practising their courtroom skills in the new moot court Foulston Room in the historic surroundings of Plymouth’s museum, The Box. Criminology and Policing students understand real life investigations in the University’s Crime Suite, housing simulated crime scenes, forensics and interviews. These facilities will be joined by a sustainably renovated Fitzroy Building, at a cost of £14.5 million, as the new home for Plymouth Business School, and will open in early 2025. Students will benefit from an upgraded Bloomberg Interactive Suite, Maritime Suite and Language Lab.

As a Plymouth student, you will have access to a full range of non-academic and wellbeing support. The Student Hub is the University’s main source of support. Many friendly staff with a wide variety of skills offer advice and guidance – counselling, disability, mental health, cost of living and more – to our students throughout their studies. Ultimately, there is support at the University for any student who needs it.

“Being a postgraduate has given me an everlasting bond to the University, and the staff have been so supportive, I really feel like I’ve found a second home here.”

Fees, funding and costs

There are a number of ways to fund postgraduate study at the University of Plymouth, with the most common being applying for a government funded loan of up to £12,471 towards the cost of your masters degree.

We also have a wide range of scholarships, studentships, and grants from charitable trusts. Details of these can be found on our funding web pages. Additionally, if you studied with us for your undergraduate degree, you may be eligible for an alumni discount on your tuition fees.

We offer support with all money matters and will help you to find a route to fulfil your career goals.

“The city has a great waterfront, from the Barbican to Plymouth Hoe. There’s definitely a lot to discover about the city. It’s rich in naval history and the city is surrounded by beautiful coastlines and incredible nature to take advantage of. The people that I spent time with in Plymouth will always bring back good memories.”

Location

We are a campus university right in the heart of Plymouth – Britain's Ocean City. Saving you money on travel costs, everything you’ll want and need as a student is within walking distance, including your lectures, shops, bars and the sea. With Devon and Cornwall’s stunning coast and countryside on the doorstep, our university provides a unique blend of urban and outdoor lifestyle opportunities for everyone who studies and works here.

As well as being Britain's best city in which to live and work (PwC’s index measuring cities by economic performance and quality of life, 2024), Plymouth has been ranked 21st in TimeOut’s list of the world's most under-rated travel destinations (TimeOut, 2024)! With a rich history, vibrant nightlife, surging numbers of independent bars and restaurants, it’s not hard to see why.

Culture

On campus, there is a range of facilities for students to make the most of university life – both undergraduates and postgraduates alike. The University of Plymouth’s Students’ Union (UPSU) is the heart of the campus. There are over 140 sports clubs and societies, where you can start a new hobby or hone an existing one and which will provide you with the ideal place to meet like-minded students.

Our SU is much more than just a social hub, however. There are many volunteering opportunities. Our students have climbed Kilimanjaro for the Meningitis Research Foundation and trekked the Moroccan Atlas Mountains to raise money for the WWF. Closer to home, students have volunteered with vulnerable adults in sport and worked towards preserving conservation areas.

Whether you are heading to university purely to study, or you’d like to make more of the student experience, the choice is yours.

Whilst you study at Plymouth, the SU will also provide you with a huge range of support, including financial, wellbeing and academic support. You will always have someone to turn to.

Beyond campus, soak in the breath-taking views of the waterfront on the Hoe. Then, visit the neighbouring historic, cobbled streets of the Barbican to enjoy a bite to eat and a drink in a traditional pub or stylish bar.

Alternative evening entertainment is in abundance in Plymouth whether it’s taking in the latest box-office musical, laughing out loud at a local comedy gig in the Barbican Theatre, or taking a comfy seat and settling in for an independent film at the Arts Centre cinema.

Get a culture kick from The Box Museum, the many independent galleries that line the Barbican, or explore the Royal William Yard – an old naval base that now houses a thriving artistic community... not to mention some great places to eat.

Plymouth holds some fantastic and unique events throughout the year too. Head to the Hoe for the spectacular British Fireworks Championship, the Barbican for the ever popular and outlandish Pirate Weekend, or the city centre for Flavour Fest for some seriously delicious food.

Events

Why not visit the University at one of our Postgraduate Open Evenings? These events offer you the chance to speak with academic and professional support staff. They can answer your questions and give you advice, guidance and information about the postgraduate options available to you.

Gain insight into student life by chatting to our current students to find out about their personal experiences of studying at postgraduate level.

Our Open Evenings take place on campus, so you will have the opportunity to explore the city centre campus and world-class facilities. There will be a range of sessions, from finance talks to subject-specific drop-in sessions, to provide you with all the information you require to choose the right postgraduate programme to meet your needs.

How to apply

You can apply to join our thriving postgraduate community and start building the career of your dreams by heading to our website.

If you need any assistance, our Postgraduate Admissions and Enquiries team are on hand to offer help and can put you in touch with the appropriate faculty if you wish to discuss any programme in detail.

If you are a current student at Plymouth, depending on your programme, you may not need to apply through the normal route. Talk to our admissions team about fast tracking your masters.