Version 1.0 - Last Updated: 25 Oct 2023

Creating a postgraduate master’s course - Course duration

Part-time English courses


You can set up a part-time postgraduate master’s course with a duration of 1 or 2 years full-time equivalent.

You can also set it up with 2 or 3 years fixed duration if there's no full-time equivalent course. 

You must only use the '2 years full-time equivalent' option if you offer a 2-year full-time version of the course.

The courses can be studied as follows:

  • part-time courses with a duration of 1 year full-time equivalent – will be studied over 2 years
  • part-time courses with a duration of 2 years full-time equivalent – will be studied over 3 or 4 years
  • part-time courses with a duration of 2 years no full-time equivalent – will be studied over 2 years
  • part-time courses with a duration of 3 years no full-time equivalent – will be studied over 3 years

If you're offering part-time versions of your full-time courses, students must be able to complete the part-time version in no more than twice the time it takes to complete the full-time equivalent. Otherwise, it cannot be a designated course.

For example, if a you offer a 1-year full-time course part-time over 3 years, the 3-year part-time version cannot be designated. You must not add non-designated courses to CMS.

You can find more information about designated courses in the SFE PG Masters Guidance chapter on the SFE practitioners website.