Postgraduate Taught UK Update as of January 2026

Our unique Pulse trackers and Share of Search data provide insights on thousands of prospective students interested in UK Masters opportunities. As of January 2026, we’re seeing that:

• Non-EU search interest in UK Masters study rises slightly, while interest from the EU stabilises after a slight fall last month and continues to trend above the 2024 level.
  
  
• All PGT audiences are now focused on entry during the 2026/27 academic year. UK Returners are more likely to seek more immediate entry with 40% targeting Spring 26, meanwhile over 75% of both UK Continuers and Internationals are looking to Autumn 26 and beyond
  
  
• Search interest in Psychology continues to fall, though it remains the most popular discipline area in UK PGT. Similarly dramatic falls in interest can also be seen for fields of Medicine, Creative Arts & Design, and Bio. Sciences - all remain within the top 10 most popular discipline areas, however.
  
  
• Our Spotlight this month looks at familiarity with UK PG finance options and finds that ⅓ of domestic audiences aren’t fully familiar with Masters student finance, a proportion that rises with age. We’ve further explored funding intentions and knowledge gaps on the blog.