Transitioning to Master's (PGT) study can feel like a big step. Whether it’s been a while since you were last studying or you’re moving straight from your undergraduate degree, adapting to new expectations like independent learning, mastering advanced writing skills, and effectively managing your time and workload can be challenging.

The Skills Centre's Digital and Academic Skills team has developed an open course on Future Learn to help you have an effective and successful postgraduate experience. The course serves as a preparatory tool and guides you through the transition by building the key skills you need to flourish from the start of your Master's journey.

The course content is based on the experience of a range academics, professional staff and PGT students and will give you the opportunity to learn from their experience through videos, articles, polls, quizzes, and discussion forums.

If you are a PGT student starting your Master's journey soon, you can enrol on to the course here.

It is a 4-week course starting on 18 August 2025, and you can undertake it at any time but ideally before you start your degree.

Course content

Here's an overview of the topics in each week of the course:

1: Introduction to Master's study

In week one, you will look at postgraduate study and how university and academic culture works at this level, alongside exploring effective study habits to help you attain success.

2: Academic skills

In this week, you will develop key academic skills such as research, writing and communication, critical thinking, problem solving and academic integrity.

3: Digital skills

In week three, you will explore how to choose and use digital tools, manage your security and wellbeing, and use AI responsibly.

4: Beyond your studies

In the final week, you will understand personal and professionals skills that you can develop during your Master's journey for academic success and your future career.

Please note: The course is an open course on Future Learn and not a University of Bath unit of study. It is not a requirement as part of an application nor participation in any course of study offered by the University of Bath. Successful completion of the course has no bearing on successful completion of your degree.