I am presently on a Masters Course but the course allows one to exit in the first year. Throughout the university handbook it states that one exits with a Post Graduate Diploma, on 2 occasions it states that one exits with a Post Graduate Certificate. Can some please advise what are the fundamental differences between the two. Whilst the Post Graduate Diploma is stated 8 times throughout the handbook I have been informed that I will only receive a Post Graduate Certificate if I exit the course. Should I just accept the PGCert and the universities 'mistake' in advertising a Post Graduate Diploma?

My understanding is that if you complete all modules of your masters but exit without doing the dissertation then you'll be awarded a post graduate diploma. If you have completed half of the modules then you can exit with a post graduate certificate. This was the case on my MSc but I imagine it varies from course to course and university to university. I would check with the programme leader or administrator first, to see what your options are.

It depends on how many credits are awarded for each 'chunk' of the Masters. The university should be able to tell you how many credits you'll have completed after the first year and whether that corresponds to a certificate or a diploma.

Just as Auroracase has explained, this is the exact scenario at my university.The difference between PG Dip and an MSc is a thesis. If I were you I would spend an extra 3 months to write a thesis and get an Masters degree

Don't know if this helps, but my PGCert was 60 credits (1 yr p/t), my PGDip was 120 credits (1 yr f/t) and I think a Masters is roughly 160-180 depending on how many modules/credits awarded (1-2 yrs?) The PGCert n PGDip were for conversion to psychology from an arts degree, I had to have the former before I was admitted onto the PGDip course.

You'd be best off talking to someone at the Uni. I'd think the exiting with either the PGCert or PGDip would depend on how much work you had completed up to a certain point.

Good luck!