The hard sciences represent some of the most intellectually challenging disciplines on offer at university. Further study at postgraduate level is to a chance to focus on an aspect of particular interest while developing the technical knowledge and skills necessary to take on demanding, research-heavy roles.

Courses can be taught or research-led – but bear in mind that if you see a masters as a stepping stone to a PHD you are much more likely to secure funding if your Masters is research-led. Unsurprising, given the demands a PHD can place on a person’s self-reliance.

Postgraduate study is not something to be taken lightly; it’s another year, or two, or three of your time and resources. Your friends who have graduated may have found decent paying jobs; on the many, many nights that you have to decline going out, you will need to find the thought of your work very consoling. If you only have a vague notion of further study then think very hard about whether you possess the requisite passion to get through a heavy, intense workload.

Finding the right subject

Nevertheless, certain career paths in the sciences and engineering are available only to those who achieve dedicated research qualifications – like jobs in genetic research.

Finding the right subject or course will be a matter of calling on colleagues, tutors, specialist advisors and your experience of undergraduate studies. Many students go on to study subjects that they earmarked at undergraduate level but which they weren’t able to explore at length. Tutors who have been there and got the hat can be invaluable sources of information. They will know which departments have a good reputation and what different kinds of courses are available – they may help you sharpen your vague notion into something more concrete.

Obviously you will want to research universities yourself, whether by ringing up or looking at information available online, like league tables and education focused websites. Don’t discount a course because the university as a whole has a bad reputation. There are often pockets of excellence within otherwise middling institutions – make sure you breakdown rankings to subject level and see what kind of research the department has been publishing.

PhDs in sciences and engineering

If your ultimate goal is a PHD in either a science subject or engineering, understand that you will have to show competence in a wide variety of skills. The reputation of programs at this level is based on an ability to fashion well-rounded candidates who can slip easily into high-level positions at any organisation. Transferable skills, like the ability to present and communicate and work as a team will often be a formal, if not assessed, part of the training. Many courses will encourage taking time off to develop these kinds of inter-personal skills.

Postgraduate study in science and engineering can potentially lead to some of the most fascinating careers. At the highest level – i.e. PHD – you will be expected and required to work extremely hard without supervision – what balances this demand is the chance to explore the cutting edge of a discipline and perhaps add a real contribution to the sum of knowledge in a particular field.