Keele University

Keele University is a higher education institution based in the countryside of Staffordshire and is recognised internationally for the delivery of quality postgraduate programmes, as well as its impactful research. It is the largest campus-based university in the country by area, with 617 acres of green space and modern facilities for students to explore. With innovative postgraduate programmes spanning many subjects, postgraduate students choose Keele due to a reputation for excellence and high student satisfaction rates. 

The university was founded more than 70 years ago and has grown quickly due to the oversight of its founder, a former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Taking its name from the Keele Hall from which it grew, today the university is based in an expansive estate that is located just five minutes from Stoke on Trent.  

Students will enjoy a postgraduate lifestyle that takes places in the beautiful countryside of Staffordshire, while having access to a whole host of facilities and services just minutes from their accommodation, all collected in the heart of the campus. The university site is highly rated for its sustainability, which is reflected in the design and operation of all its buildings and services. 

When learners are looking for big city nightlife, they’ll be able to find Birmingham and Manchester both within an hour’s train ride. At other times they might prefer the woodlands, rivers and outdoor activities that the region provides in spades, with the Peak District, Shropshire Hills and Welsh mountains all accessible for daytrips. 

Keele University is dedicated to cultivating an ideal setting for postgraduate study. With an expansive, rural campus that combines green space and modern facilities, students will be able to focus and thrive in a research-driven, mature academic environment. 

Keele offers postgraduate programmes that blend advanced teaching with research activity, often including a dissertation or thesis project that demonstrates a student’s level of expertise and skill. Courses contain a combination of core and elective modules, allowing students to design a programme of study that suits their academic or professional interests. 

Taught postgraduate students can choose from full master’s degrees, including MSc, MA and LLM qualifications, amongst others, as well as shorter courses like PGCert and PGDip. Available research degrees range from shorter MPhil qualifications to full PhDs and professional doctorates. 

The university’s faculty is populated with experienced academics with international reputations and respected research output. Postgraduate students are able to collaborate with staff in the creation of influential research and benefit from personalised mentorship. 

Entry on to a postgraduate course at Keele University is subject to satisfying the entry requirements set out by the university and its departments. These are typically academic in nature, but might also relate to previous professional experience, other qualifications or, in the case of non-native English speakers, their proficiency as shown by test scores.

All Keele postgraduate taught course pages list comprehensive entry requirements, so please visit Keele's website.

Keele University offers students strong graduate prospects, with many of its students entering further study or finding relevant employment shortly after graduating from their postgraduate course. 

The university enhances its students’ employability through courses which focus on relevant theory, encouraging students to explore current debates and discourse, and providing them with access to applied-learning and professional experience opportunities. 

Keele also has a highly rated Careers and Employability Team, which are always on hand to offer a range of services to support professional development and successful job hunting. Students can make use of one-to-one careers guidance appointments, either in person or remotely, as well as workshops and sessions around things like practicing for interviews and improving CVs. 

Postgraduate students at Keele benefit from the university’s position in the centre of a robust network of industry leaders, employers and research institutions. Regular networking events, careers fairs and industry-linked research opportunities allow students to build invaluable connections during their studies. 

Accommodation

Postgraduate students at Keele University have several options open to them when it comes to living options. 

University owned accommodation is available, providing modern and comfortable rooms in halls of residence that are on the campus. Students will be able to choose between 51-week contracts or shorter ones, depending on their preferred living arrangements over the year.  

Accommodation is guaranteed for postgraduate students who complete their application for it by the specified deadline, while first choice is given to students who also opt for a 51-week contract. Accommodation contracts are inclusive of bills and utilities, such as Wi-Fi. 

With more than 2,800 bedrooms available at Keele across a variety of buildings, postgraduate students can find a living arrangement that suits their budget and lifestyle. From shared bathroom to en-suite options, as well as self-contained flats and accommodation for families, all accommodation at Keele can be found close to sports facilities, cafes, bars and medical services. Access to classrooms, labs and other academic buildings is easy and safe. 

It's also possible to rent privately, either through a landlord or halls of residence. A range of options can be found in nearby Stoke-on-Trent, with regular transport connections from the city to the campus. 

Keele University maintains a wide selection of scholarships and bursaries, available to postgraduate students based on their academic performance, course type or level or study. These funding options are a great way for students to reduce the cost of their studies and maximise their academic potential while at Keele. 

In many cases UK postgraduate students are automatically considered for a range of scholarships based on their existing credentials and performance, so applications aren’t necessary. 

Available awards include: 

• The Keele Alumni Discount, providing a 20% discount to tuitions fees for postgraduate taught courses if the student has already graduated from a degree at the university. There is also a Keele Postgraduate Research Alumni Discount, which offers the same value to postgraduate research students. 
• The Keele Graduate Scholarship, offering a £500 award towards tuition fees for postgraduate taught students who achieved a first-class grade at undergraduate level 
• Subject specific awards, such as the Full-time MBA Scholarship or the Office for Students Funded Scholarship for students on the MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. The value of these awards varies, so students are encouraged to check the scholarships page on the university site for the most up-to-date information. 

Available awards and their eligibility criteria can vary.