Take the short course route to an online Masters degree
Start with a short course
Use our online short courses as a flexible entry route to some of our online Masters degrees.
Short course routes help you start studying for a Masters degree when:
- you do not meet the degree’s formal entry requirements
- you’ve missed the degree’s application deadline, or
- you want to start your postgraduate studies without committing to a full degree.
Study for an online Masters without a degree
If you do not have an undergraduate degree, you can use the short course route to prove you’re capable of studying at Masters level.
Then you can apply to transfer to the full Masters degree.
Buy
Purchase and complete the recommended short courses that are part of your chosen Masters degree.
Earn your credits
Successfully complete the courses to earn your credits and prove you’re capable of Masters-level study.
Apply
Apply to be fast-tracked onto your chosen Masters programme.
Online degrees with short course routes
Find out more about our short course routes.
MBA Global
Earn your MBA online with one of the UK’s six ancient universities, and prepare to change the way the world does business.
View short course route to MBA Global
MSc Applied Health Sciences
Fast-track your healthcare career with our flexible MSc Applied Health Sciences. Study 100% online or combine with on-campus courses at our Foresterhill Health Campus. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View short course route to MSc Applied Health Sciences
MSc Clinical Nutrition
Join an online Nutrition degree accredited by the Association for Nutrition. Study the link between diet and health, and how issues of over and undernutrition affect populations today.
View short course route to MSc Clinical Nutrition
LLM Dispute Resolution
Enhance your non-court dispute resolution skills with this online Masters accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
View short course route to LLM Dispute Resolution
MSc Energy Economics and Finance
Learn to analyse and understand world energy markets. From oil and gas to renewables, prepare for career success with expert economists in this flexible online degree.
View short course route to MSc Energy Economics and Finance
LLM Energy Transition Law
Learn the legal skills you need to consult on energy transition law and policy. Study online with experts in the field, and develop your understanding of energy, environmental and climate law.
View short course route to LLM Energy Transition Law
MSc Finance
Join our flexible MSc Finance and develop in-demand skills for the finance sector. With optional courses available to help you prepare for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) qualification.
View short course route to MSc Finance
MSc Geographical Information Systems
Prepare for a career in the innovative field of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Build your skills in this essential area of the world’s information infrastructure.
View short course route to MSc Geographical Information Systems
MSc Health Data Science
Learn the interdisciplinary skills you need to become an exceptional health data scientist.
View short course route to MSc Health Data Science
MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals
Advance your career in health. Develop sought-after research skills and build your knowledge of health economics tools and principles.
View short course route to MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals
LLM International Trade Law
Earn the in-demand legal skills you need for career success in international trade. Choose to study 100% online, or combine with Professional Skills training on campus.
View short course route to LLM International Trade Law
MSc Marketing Management
Join an online Masters in Marketing Management that’s designed to fit into your life – with flexible hours and no exams.
View short course route to MSc Marketing Management
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Join an online Master of Public Health (MPH) you can tailor to your career. Study with experts and choose from a wide range of courses to focus your training.
View short course route to MPH
LLM Oil and Gas Law
Our LLM in Oil and Gas Law has been producing outstanding energy lawyers for over a decade. Join the flexible, online version of this LLM and earn your Masters part-time, without taking a career break.
View short course route to LLM Oil and Gas Law
MSc Planetary Sciences
Move into a career in the space industry, whatever your academic background. Study online with an exceptional team and become one of the next wave of lunar and planetary explorers.
View short course route to MSc Planetary Sciences
MSc Project Management
Learn to lead projects to success in any industry. Gain a fully APM-accredited qualification in project management, studying part-time online.
View short course route to MSc Project Management
MLitt Scottish Heritage
Explore the rich history, art and philosophy of Scotland and its people. Access rare archive treasures and award-winning online teaching, with this flexible online Masters.
View short course route to MLitt Scottish HeritagePostgraduate certificates with short course routes
PgCert Heritage and Memory Studies
Earn a graduate qualification in Heritage and Memory Studies, and explore issues of remembering the past in the modern world.
View short course route to Heritage and Memory Studies
PgCert Human Factors and Organisational Psychology
Earn certification in human factors online. Learn to make workplaces safer, whatever your sector. Study flexibly online with expert psychologists and human factors researchers, and access their latest research.
View short course route to Human Factors and Organisational Psychology
PgCert Psychology in the Workplace
Earn a graduate qualification in workplace psychology. Tailor your PgCert to your interests and career aspirations with the guidance of expert psychologists and researchers.
View short course route to Psychology in the Workplace
PgCert Research Methods for Health
Learn to design and carry out healthcare research projects. Study part-time with active health researchers at an award-winning health sciences university.
View short course route to Research Methods for HealthStudy with flexibility
We also offer short course entry to some online Masters programmes for which you must have an undergraduate degree.
Here, the short course route allows you to:
- start your postgraduate studies without committing to a full Masters, or
- join an online Masters degree if you’ve missed the degree’s application deadline.
MSc Energy Transition Systems and Technologies
Join an online MSc that’s training the next generation of systems engineers. Help our planet transition from oil and gas to net-zero, with a degree you can study online, flexibly.
View short course route to MSc Energy Transition Systems and Technologies
MSc Offshore Engineering
Join our accredited online MSc and gain the skills you need to work in a wide variety of roles in the offshore engineering sector, including marine renewables.
View short course route to MSc Offshore Engineering
MSc Process Safety
Join our IChemE-accredited online degree to become a qualified process safety engineer, ready to work in any chemical processing sector.
View short course route to MSc Process Safety
MSc Renewable Energy Engineering
Become an engineer in the renewable energy sector with our triple-accredited online MSc. Train online with internationally experienced engineers and learn direct from industry.
View short course route to MSc Renewable Energy Engineering
MSc Subsea Engineering
Become a subsea engineer with our accredited online MSc. Train in the fundamental skills and technical knowledge demanded by the subsea sector today.
View short course route to MSc Subsea Engineering
MSc Sustainable Product, Process and Energy Engineering
Develop advanced skills in sustainability engineering. Study flexibly online and learn to make manufacturing processes more sustainable.
View short course route to MSc Sustainable Product, Process and Energy Engineering