Integrated Master’s: Frequently asked questions

In the UK university system, the primary difference is that a BSc (Bachelor of Science)/ BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) is a standard three-year undergraduate degree, while an MSci (Master in Science)/MEng (Master in Engineering) is a four-year integrated master's degree.

This means if you take the MSci/MEng version of a programme, you will graduate with a master’s degree, without needing to study for a separate MSc (Master of Science) or MRes (Master of Research) degree. In terms of NQFs (National Qualifications Frameworks), which classify qualifications internationally based on learning outcomes, the MSci is ‘level 7’ and therefore is the same level as an MA or MSc.

You will also graduate in the final summer of your degree, rather than finishing in the autumn – as you would with an MSc.

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Taking the four-year MSci degree can cost you less than taking a comparable three-year undergraduate followed by a one-year postgraduate Master’s programme. This is because you pay undergraduate fees during the fourth year, and because it is an "integrated" course, you are charged the same tuition fee and, if applicable, can receive maintenance loans for all four years.

In contrast, if you finish a BSc and then decide to do a separate MSc, the cost is usually greater, and for domestic students, you will have to apply for a separate Postgraduate Loan, which is often a fixed amount that may not cover both your full tuition and living costs, unlike the Undergraduate Loan which provides a separate loan for tuition and living costs.

You only need to apply once – when you first apply to university you will need to select the MSci/MEng version of the course, and provided you achieve the suitable grades through your first three years, you will move onto the Master’s year of the programme automatically.

If you wish to undertake the MSci/MEng as an international student from the start, you can apply for a four year study visa, in the same way you’d apply for a visa for a Bachelor’s course. You won’t need to reapply for the fourth year.

However, if you choose to study for a three-year bachelor’s course followed by a one-year MSc programme or to switch to the MSci halfway through your course, you will have to reapply for a one-year study visa.

We offer flexibility in our programmes, and students who are on the MSci/MEng course can graduate after three years if they prefer not to study for the additional fourth year. However, they would graduate with a Bachelor’s rather than a Master’s degree.

Students are able to transfer on to the fourth-year course at any point during their degree until halfway through their third year. During your course, your department will organise information sessions and share resources about the fourth year, for those considering transferring across, with specific details about the projects undertaken in that year.

However, if you are not sure whether to choose a three or four year degree, we strongly recommend you choose the four year course, because dependent upon your circumstances, you will need to apply for funding for the fourth year, if you require the student loan, or extend or reapply for a visa if you are an international student. Changing from MSci to BSc is often a more straightforward process than vice versa.

The biggest reason to choose an MSc is if you want to change or narrow your focus. For example, with the integrated master’s degree you will study the same subject for four years – covering more advanced ground and with the option of some specialisation in terms of module and project in the fourth year.

With an MSc you can pivot or specialise even further. For example, you could study a more specific field within your subject area with your degree title reflecting this specialism, or depending on degree entry requirements, switch to a different subject area entirely. Some of our MSc degrees at King’s are open to students with a ‘computational’ or ‘analytical’ background, meaning as a STEM student you may have the option of studying a slightly different area of science than what you studied at undergraduate level.

You can also decide to study for an MSc after an MSci/MEng if you decide to specialise or study something different after your fourth year.

Given you will graduate with a Master’s degree through the four-year programme, you are often able to apply for a PhD on completion of the MSci/MEng, depending on the specific requirements of the PhD programme and the country.

The first three years of the MSci/MEng degree are exactly the same as the three-year undergraduate programme – ie you will study the required modules and have the same choice of modules as those on the BSc/BEng, and you study alongside BSc/BEng students.

The fourth year is different to the first three. It enables you to extend and deepen your knowledge through higher, masters-level taught modules - many of which are linked to our cutting-edge research strengths, and led by pre-eminent experts in their fields – who you may not yet have been taught by. Some of our degrees offer a huge range of modules, including in other science departments at King’s, and in the case of Physics, other London universities. for those considering transferring across, with specific details about the projects undertaken in that year.

The majority of the fourth year involves applying the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the first three years to an independent, research project of your choice.

The majority of our programmes offer the integrated master's, including those with placement years or year abroad study.

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You will undertake an advanced research project – either individually or in groups, depending on the degree. This involves applying the skills and experience you have developed during your degree to a real-world problem, potentially carrying out original research, and potentially using more advanced lab-spaces, software, technologies and equipment.

Whether as an individual or a group, you will be supported in your research by an academic supervisor, who will regularly check in on your progress and ensure you have the right tools and knowledge to succeed in your project.

Each of our degree programmes is a bit different in terms of the kind of project you get to choose. But the majority involve finding a solution to real-world problems in science or industry, including areas such as net zero technologies, health, advanced computing and AI.

Some of our programmes, such as the MSci in Computer Science or AI, allow you to work with external partners in industry or government, developing software solutions to challenges they face in the real-world, allowing you to gain work experience. Other programmes including in Chemistry allow you to work in other departments and faculties at King’s, such as health and medicine, a King’s affiliated hospital, or the Francisc Crick Institute - a globally leading research institute in biomedical research.

The fourth year enables you to hone and develop transferrable skills highly valued by employers, such as independent working and leadership skills, project management, creative and analytical thinking, working as a team, and communication and presentation skills. For many of our programmes, alongside assessing you for the project itself, you will also be tested through a viva presentation to peers and senior academics at the end of the project, including some presentations in front of experts from industry.

The fourth year therefore provides students with a strong advantage in a competitive job market and a boost to their careers. As you will graduate with a Master’s, this may help set you apart when applying for roles, given a Master’s degree is higher than a Bachelor’s. A student with an MSci is more likely to find themselves on a fast-track career with a higher salary and more opportunities as a result of the extra investment in their skills.

As you acquire additional experimental and theoretical research and lab skills, the MSci/MEng enables you to work in environments where an in-depth knowledge and practice in the subject is essential. Additionally, some students get to publish their research findings from the project in academic journals and even attend conferences to share their research outside King's. Therefore, if you are considering a career in research – whether in academia or industry, it is highly recommended to study the MSci/MEng followed by PhD, rather than a separate master’s degree.

For the majority of our year in industry programmes, we offer the MSci, meaning you will study for a five-year degree. You will undertake the year in industry or year abroad alongside BSc students in your third year, and return to King’s for your fourth and fifth years, with the last year being the MSci year. Please consult departmental degree pages to check the specific details on each degree.

The integrated undergraduate Master’s degree is graded in much the same way as the Bachelor’s degrees (rather than the traditional standalone Masters grading system of pass, distinction or fail). This means that at the end of your degree, you’ll receive a 1st, 2.1, 2.2. or 3rd.

The main difference you’ll come across in the grading of an undergraduate Master’s is how each year of the programme is weighted. Each year of a four-year undergraduate integrated Masters is usually weighted 0:1:2:2, with the third and fourth years being worth twice as much as the second.