WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Compare the actual programme, supervision, total cost and conditions of the offer. A familiar university name cannot tell you whether the course teaches what you need or whether you can complete it on the proposed terms.
Define what the degree must help you do
Write one concrete objective: prepare for a particular research question, gain a required professional qualification or develop a specific skill. Separate that objective from preferences such as location or campus appearance. If several very different goals compete, resolve that before comparing programmes.
A taught master’s, a research master’s and a doctorate are not interchangeable products. Read how time is divided between classes, independent work, placements and research. For a professional route, confirm recognition with the relevant regulator rather than relying on the course title.
Compare the programme, not only the institution
Read the current curriculum, assessment pattern and project arrangements. Check whether attractive electives actually run in your year and whether entry to them is restricted. For research, investigate the proposed supervisor’s relevant work and availability; a name on a staff list does not establish capacity to supervise you.
Official application guides can have exceptions. Oxford, for example, identifies courses with separate application processes. Start with the exact course page and follow its linked requirements rather than assuming one university-wide checklist covers every programme.
Turn funding into a complete budget
Record tuition, mandatory fees, living costs, equipment, travel and any dependent costs that apply to you. Compare those with confirmed funding and its duration. Keep an application for funding separate from an actual award.
Illustrative comparison: a one-year course with £18,000 tuition and £14,000 living costs needs £32,000 before other costs. A £10,000 confirmed grant leaves £22,000. A two-year course with lower annual tuition may still cost more overall. Include timing: a stipend paid after arrival does not solve a deposit due beforehand.
Read renewal, academic-progress and work obligations attached to funding. Do not assume an assistantship is automatically available, compatible with every study mode or enough to support dependants.
Ask questions that change the decision
Contact the appropriate office for unresolved facts. Current students can describe their experience, but one person’s account is not a policy. Ask the department about required attendance, supervision arrangements, assessment, access to facilities and what happens if a project changes.
| Decision area | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Academic fit | Which required modules or project address my objective? |
| Research support | Who can supervise and what resources are available? |
| Funding | What is confirmed, for how long and on what conditions? |
| Practical fit | Can I meet attendance, location and time requirements? |
| Offer | What conditions and response deadlines apply? |
Choose with the remaining uncertainties visible
Write down why each option stays on the list and what could still rule it out. Do not give unknown funding or supervision an optimistic score just to complete a table. Ask for clarification before a non-refundable commitment when the missing fact is essential.
Your next action is to compare your two strongest options on one page and identify the single unanswered question most likely to change your choice. Resolve that question before spending more time on rankings.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
