Further Study

Post-graduate study is an increasingly popular option for graduates. Career adviser Helen Stringer explains why it’s important to clarify your motivations before you start.

Why further study?

• You have enjoyed aspects of your degree and would like to develop your knowledge further
• You need to study for a professional qualification, typically law, teaching and librarianship, amongst others
• You want to 'convert' to a new area and need to complete a taught masters or postgraduate diploma
• You are thinking about a research - or academic career - and need to complete a PhD
• You want to improve your employment prospects.

What is post-graduate study?

Post-graduate study covers a wide range of options, including doctorates, masters degrees and diplomas.

Research

• Three or four years full time for a PhD, one or two years for a research masters (MRes)
• You may need to complete a masters before starting a PhD
• The emphasis is on independent research – you will need to be highly motivated and determined.

Taught

Masters degrees

Twelve months full-time, up to two years part-time. Will include formal teaching (lectures, seminars, tutorials) and independent research (leading to a dissertation).

Post-graduate diplomas/certificates

Nine months full-time, up to two years part-time. Usually vocational and may lead to professional qualification.

Choosing a course

Consider the following:

• What are the entry requirements? Are you being realistic about your capabilities?
• How is the course structured? What are the teaching and assessment methods?
• If the course is vocational, what is the practical component?
• How do employers view the course? Are graduates successful in finding jobs?
• Is funding an issue? Would it be cheaper to find a course nearer home or a part-time course you could combine with working?
• How is the department structured? What is its reputation?
• What support is given to post-graduate students by the department and the university?

When and how to apply:

• Start making enquiries in your penultimate year
• In most cases you will apply directly to the institution but there are clearing houses – and specific closing dates – for some vocational courses (e.g. social work, teaching, graduate entry to medicine and law)
• Popular vocational courses (e.g. primary teaching, law) can fill quickly, so you need to apply early in the autumn term
• For most research and taught courses there is no formal closing date
• Universities and research councils will impose deadlines for funding applications (usually March – May).

What are the funding options?

• In all cases, it is competitive, so you need to apply early, plan ahead and think of other options if your first choice of funding is not available
• The only post-graduate course that guarantees funding is the PGCE
• For some courses, fee payments may be paid in installments
• Loyalty discounts may be offered to students who are moving from an under-graduate course onto a post-graduate course in the
  same institution
• Universities may have scholarships and bursaries that you can apply for, check individual institutions/departments for details
• Research councils are the main funding sources for non-vocational post-graduate study but they only tend to fund masters, if at all, when designed to lead to PhD study
• Employers may sponsor further study, but this tends to be confined to science and engineering disciplines
• Students on vocational courses may be eligible for a Career Development Loan

Will it enhance your job prospects?

Perception will vary, according to the type of employer, the course studied and what other skills and experience the student has to offer. Post-graduate study may enhance your employment prospects but this is not always the case. These are the instances when postgraduate study is of value:

• For some careers a vocational course is necessary for entry
• In some areas, post-graduate study may be a competitive advantage (e.g. journalism and archival work)
• If you can demonstrate to an employer that further study has given you ‘added value’, they may view your application favourably
• Research careers to establish whether study is necessary.

Study abroad

• Application procedures differ from country to country so you need to do your research
• Degree structure and format can vary e.g. the US doctorate is much longer – and more structured – than the UK equivalent
• There may be language (e.g. IELTS) and test requirements (e.g. GRE) which require further preparation
• Plan ahead: start making enquiries at least 18 months ahead.

When evaluating the potential benefits of postgraduate study a key question to ask yourself is - ‘what will I gain?’ If you can supply a convincing answer, then you should consider post-graduate study as an option.