A Master of Arts degree encompasses a wide range of disciplines. It can include any field from design to marketing, economics to English literature, automotive design to urban history. The normal course length is one year, and the tuition fee ranges from £16,000 to £24,000, which is generally less than that of a master of science degree. Jobs as a designer, communication manager, teacher, analyst, writer, editor, and others are available in a variety of fields depending on the concentration within the master of arts stream. The average salary of a Master of Arts in the UK is 31,000 per year.
Why study Master of Arts in the UK?
- Programs are offered by the majority of the top-ranked universities of the UK.
- A wide selection of fields to choose from.
- Generous amount of scholarships offered to international students
- Internationally recognized degree
- Accredited programs are also offered
Master of Arts in the UK: Top Universities
Master of Arts degree is offered by most of the top universities in the UK. These universities rank top in the global ranking of the universities. Commonly, a program offered as a Master of Arts program is a taught program, and research-based master's programs are offered separately as master by research program. The following table lists out some of the top universities with Master of Arts programs and their tuition fee for international students.
Ranks |
University |
Course Duration |
Tuition fee (first year) |
27 |
The University of Manchester |
1 – 2 years |
£21,000 - £23,000 |
61 |
The University of Warwick |
1 – 2 years |
£23,460 |
90 |
University of Birmingham |
1 year |
£20,430 - £21,240 |
Queen Mary University Of London |
1 year |
£20,750 |
|
134 |
Newcastle University |
1 year |
£20,000 - £22,000 |
189 |
University of Liverpool |
1 year |
£20,000 - £26,000 |
216 |
Queen’s University Belfast |
1 year |
£18,200 |
236 |
University of Leicester |
1 year |
£16,000 - £19,000 |
272 |
University of Surrey |
1 year |
£17,000 - £19,000 |
440 |
Swansea University |
1 year |
£16,000 - £18,500 |
541 - 550 |
Aberystwyth University |
1 year |
£15,500 |
601 - 650 |
Bangor University |
1 year |
£15,250 |
601 - 650 |
Coventry University |
1 year |
£16,000 - £18,000 |
701 – 750 |
Northumbria University at Newcastle |
1 year |
£16,500 |
Master of Arts in the UK: Courses Offered
The following lists provide a glimpse of an infinitely vast field in which a master's program is offered in the Arts and Humanities stream in the UK.
- Creative Writing
- Antiquity
- Applied Linguistics
- Urban History
- History of Art
- International Multimedia Journalism
- Communication
- Economics
- English literature
- Human Rights
- Archive and Research Management
- Automotive Transport Design
- Advertising and Marketing
- Fashion Design
- Education
Master of Arts in the UK: University and Eligibility
The University of Manchester
- A bachelor's degree of four years with a minimum score of 60 to 80% depending upon the University.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each section.
- Some of the Master of Arts degrees require submission or portfolio of creative works.
The University of Warwick
- A bachelor's degree of four years with a minimum score of 65 to 80% for courses requiring an upper second class honors degree and 55 to 65% for courses requiring a lower second class honors degree depending upon the University.
- An IELTS score of 7.0 overall with at least two sectional scores of 7.0 or more and no less than 6.0 in other sections.
University of Birmingham
- A four years bachelor's degree in related subjects with at least 65% or more for programs that require 2:1 degree and more than 60% for programs that require 2:2 degree.
- A minimum TOEFL score of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band or a minimum TOEFL score of 88 overall with at least 22 in each section or a PTE score of 67 in all sections.
- For MA in creative writing, a sample of original written work must be submitted.
Queen Mary University Of London
- A bachelor degree in relevant field equivalent to 2:1 honors degree of UK (60-65% and above)
- An IELTS score of 7.0 overall or a TOEFL score of 100 or more with no less than 18 in reading, 20 in speaking, 17 in listening, and 21 in writing, or a PTE score of 68 or more. The applied linguistic program requires higher test scores in writing of up to 27 in TOEFL and 7.5 in IELTS writing.
Newcastle University
- A bachelor degree in a related field with at least 60 to 70% overall (equivalent to the second class honors degree of UK)
- IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall or a TOEFL score of 90 to 100 or a PTE score of 62 to 69 overall.
- MA in creative writing requires the applicant to submit a sample of writing.
University of Liverpool
- A bachelor's degree in a related field equivalent to the upper second class honors degree of UK.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each section or a TOEFL score of 88 overall.
Queen’s University Belfast
- A four years bachelor's degree in a related field with at least 60 to 65% overall.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component or a TOEFL score of 90 to 95 overall and at least 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking, and 17 in writing.
University of Leicester
- An upper second class honors degree or its international equivalent in a relevant subject.
- For the English language requirement, an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall is required.
University of Surrey
- A four years bachelor's degree with at least 60 to 65% in the final two years of the undergraduate study.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 or 6.0 in each band or a TOEFL score of 88 to 95 overall.
Swansea University
- A four-year bachelor's degree in a related field with a score of 55 to 60% is equivalent to the lower second-class honors degree of the UK.
- An IELTS score of 6.5 overall is required for proof of English language proficiency.
Master of Arts in the UK: Scholarships
A generous amount of scholarships are provided to international students for master's programs in universities in the UK. International students are considered for both need-based and merit-based scholarships. Several universities also offer guaranteed scholarships for students with good academic standing.
University |
Scholarships |
Amount |
The University of Manchester |
Global Futures Scholarship |
£6,000 |
University of Birmingham |
Global Masters Scholarships 2022/23 |
£10,000 |
University of Birmingham Commonwealth Scholarships 2022/23 |
£3000 |
|
Newcastle University |
Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships |
£4,000 |
University of Liverpool |
Vice-Chancellor's International Attainment Scholarship |
£2500 |
Queen’s University Belfast |
2022/23 Scholarships For International Students From South Asia |
£2500 to £3000 |
University of Leicester |
Media, Communications and Sociology Merit Postgraduate Scholarship |
£3000 – £5000 |
University of Surrey |
Surrey International Masters Scholarship 2022 entry |
£2500 |
Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Scholarship 2022 entry |
£5000 or £1000 reduction in tuition fee |
|
Swansea University |
International Excellence Scholarships (South Asia) |
Up to £4000 |
Master of Arts in the UK: Job scope
Since a Master of Arts degree can be in a vast range of fields, one can find a job in almost any field depending upon the specialization within the stream. With a Master of Arts in English literature, one can find a job as a teacher, editor, whereas with a MA in communication or marketing or digital communication degree one may find a job as a marketing manager, communication specialist. The following table provides some insights into the vast array of roles assumed by people with a master of arts degree. The average salary of a Master of Arts in the UK is £31,000 per year.
Role |
Range of Salary |
Average Salary |
Graphic Designer |
£19,000 - £34,000 |
£25,255 |
Marketing Manager |
£27,000 - £65,000 |
£37,967 |
Landscape Architect |
£28,000 - £51,000 |
£37,213 |
Communications Manager |
£21,000 - £58,000 |
£31,239 |
Editor |
£19,000 - £56,000 |
£27,901 |
Creative Director |
£31,000 - £112,000 |
£58,022 |
Data Analyst |
£20,000 - £37,000 |
£27,151 |
Administrative Assistant |
£14,000 - £28,000 |
£19,439 |
Interior Designer |
£19,000 - £38,000 |
£26,958 |
Urban Designer |
£20,000 - £38,000 |
£26,058 |
Content Manager |
£21,000 - £49,000 |
£31,641 |
Copywriter |
£19,000 - £41,000 |
£27,036 |
Secondary School Teacher |
£22,000 - £46,000 |
£31,642 |
Fashion Designer |
£18,000 - £40,000 |
£26,171 |
Industrial Designer |
£26,000 - £48,000 |
£33,128 |