Postgraduate study is a term which encompasses a broad range of ways of continuing your formal education past undergraduate level. Few students go to university with a plan to continue on to postgraduate studies but many find such enjoyment in academia that they decide another year, at least, is necessary.
Why (even) further study?
Postgraduate study may increase your chances of getting the jobs you really want. This is particularly true of vocations and fields like business sectors, where the demand for MBAs (Master of Business Administration) remains high. May is the operative word here – most graduate job postings will ask for more than a degree.
Postgraduate study is a chance to hone in on a subject area of particular interest, in an environment where individual attention from tutors is the norm. Reduced student numbers can generate a more collaborative and supportive classroom atmosphere.
Increased employability is not the only reason to attend university. Satisfying and cultivating intellectual curiosity is a primary motivation for many students and postgraduate study is an option to explore subjects in more detail with like-minded students.
Further study is a requirement for some professions – doctors, healthcare professionals and lawyers being some examples.
Taught versus Research
Roughly speaking, postgraduate courses breakdown into two categories: taught and research. Taught most closely resembles undergraduate study – you will take modules and complete work, whether practical, exam or coursework, to receive grades.
There are three types of taught course: a postgrad certificate, a postgraduate diploma and a taught Masters. They differ in terms duration and number of credits awarded. A certificate is worth 60 credits and lasts a third of a year, a diploma is worth 120 credits and lasts two thirds of a year and a taught Masters is worth 180 credits and lasts a year – this is full-time study in all cases, part-time extends the duration of study to two or three years.
Research covers includes a research masters and the PHD. The first usually lasts up to two years, the latter can last up to three years but may take longer and at the end of which you will publish a thesis.
There are a few unique instances of postgraduate study which don’t fall neatly into these categories. The MBA, which lasts up to two years, is option for students wanting to specialise in a particular area of business – though the access to guest lecturers and contact-building internships is a big draw.
The PCGE (postgraduate certificate in education) is for those that want move into teaching and usually lasts a year.
Drawbacks
Bursaries and scholarships are available for further study but competition will be fierce: sponsored funding cannot be counted upon. Tuition fees and living expenses are the primary costs and for a program of study like a PHD represent a significant obstacle. Fees vary enormously – MBAs can cost as much 20,000 pounds.
Many students switch to a different university for their postgraduate study. This will mean adapting to a new system and teaching environment. Full-time masters accelerate very quickly, coursework demands are high, standards, in general, are higher so the student must acclimatise quickly or risk falling behind.
Right for you?
Postgraduate is not something that should be undertaken without a great deal of thought. The financial and academic demands can be steep. But the rewards – specialising for the dream job, increased employability, exploration of a subject – can be well worth the time.