Postgraduate courses come in a range of sizes and types, providing an opportunity to specialize within a subject area while developing a wide range of transferable skills eagerly sought by employers. This article aims to lead you through the options available at postgraduate level – there are more than you think!
What benefits will postgraduate study bring?
When students choose their undergraduate programme of study they are often unclear as to what career they wish to enter. Undergraduate programmes are therefore designed to produce graduates with the key transferable skills necessary for the workplace, alongside providing a broad base in a subject to support a range of career options. Graduates can utilise their knowledge throughout their working life, which is increasingly likely to include a wide range of jobs in many different areas. This strategy, of gaining a broad based education, is sensible for those who are not sure of their future career or who want increased flexibility in the future. However, frequently during their undergraduate programme the graduate has developed a clearer picture of the career that they would like to pursue. The majority of careers will require specialist knowledge, which can be gained from training on the job and/or through further study.
Large graduate employers may provide training on the job, however the number of employers that offer all the training required whilst working is decreasing. There are therefore many jobs that require specific knowledge pre-application. Sometimes this knowledge can be gained through work experience whilst studying as an undergraduate, however the economic downturn has meant that quality work experience can be challenging to find. In addition to this, sometimes extensive theoretical and applied skills are required to gain entry to a career and these can be gained through postgraduate study.
What is postgraduate study?
Whilst undergraduate study is at National levels 4-6, with a Foundation Degree being a level 5 qualification and an honours degree being a level 6 qualification, postgraduate study is usually at level 7 (frequently termed M level). In order to gain entry into postgraduate study applicants have to demonstrate that they are capable of achieving at level 7 study.
Are there different types of postgraduate study?
Postgraduate study comes in many different forms however it is traditionally grouped into taught study or study by research. Taught study usually involves the student working through readings and exercises in a structured format and area to gain specific knowledge and skills. Study by research usually involves the student focusing on one area from the outset and then gaining the specific knowledge they require to research this area in depth. Study by research will usually involve the student working more independently, with more scope to focus their studies on a very specific area of personal interest, which can be negotiated between the student and Higher Education Institution (HEI).
Postgraduate Certificate
The other defining factor of postgraduate study is the quantity undertaken. The smallest amount of postgraduate study that leads to a nationally recognized qualification is the Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert). A PgCert typically involves only one year of study and this may not even be full-time. A well known example of a Postgraduate Certificate is the PgCert in Education that is the standard qualification held by people entering the teaching profession. This is a one year programme that often involves units of study below postgraduate level that provide bridging knowledge in Education in addition to the postgraduate modules. Applications for Postgraduate Certificates in Education are processed by the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) similarly to how UCAS processes undergraduate applications. Applicants to the GTTR should apply early (see www.gttr.ac.uk for details), and for many programmes, especially primary school teaching, entry is extremely competitive.
Postgraduate Diploma
A Postgraduate Diploma requires twice the amount of study that is required for a Postgraduate Certificate. Most Postgraduate Diplomas can be completed in one academic year, if you study full-time.
Masters Degree
The Masters degree is three times the amount of study that is required for a Postgraduate Certificate. The minimum length of time that a Masters degree will take to complete differs between institutions (from one to three years). Taught masters are typically entitled MA (Masters of Arts), MSc (Masters of Science) or MEd (Masters of Education) and usually involve traditional taught modules and then an extended research project. An MPhil is a research masters, usually requiring the student to focus on a particular research project, study the methods required to undertake the project and then actually carry out an extended research project that would be suitable for publication. A relatively new option is the MRes (Masters by Research), which provides extensive knowledge and experience in research skills, incorporating taught and project elements, however their structure does vary extensively between HEIs.
Doctorate
The most extensive postgraduate degree is the doctorate. For recently graduated students the normal doctorate route is the PhD. This typically involves a period of taught study in research methods, and then involves an extensive research project, incorporating several elements, focusing on a particular area of interest. PhDs are usually at least three years in length and involve you working very closely with a small supervisory team.
Making the leap between undergraduate and postgraduate study
There is certainly a different type of learning associated with postgraduate study – the level six skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis are taken to a higher level, with an increasingly independent approach to learning. Your performance at undergraduate level will act as a sound indicator as to your potential at postgraduate study, especially performance in project modules. Applications to research masters will certainly require evidence of research skills developed at undergraduate level and a clear drive to undertake study in that particular area.
Most courses will require a 2:1 or 2:2 undergraduate classification, and will usually consider applications on the basis of evidence of personal, professional and educational experience which indicate an applicant's ability to meet the demands of the programme. Applicants with non-standard entry criteria will be reviewed on an individual basis. This will take the form of an interview and possibly the completion of a set task, such as a written assignment, alongside relevant work experience and supportive references.
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
One of the first places to look for information on postgraduate study is with a careers advisor. Many undergraduate providers will offer this support during the final year of study and for example at the University of the West England, graduates can access careers support for up to two years following graduation. Careers services will be able to highlight which courses will be more suitable for various career aspirations and may also indicate opportunities to bridge into new areas. For example from undergraduate equine honours degrees it is possible to bridge into areas such as law, accounting and health through postgraduate study. If you have a very specific career aspiration then contact employers within that sector who will be able to indicate which postgraduate study they would value within an application.
When you decide on the subject area you wish to study, there are a number of on-line resources which provide information regarding postgraduate study. These include websites such as www.prospects.ac.uk and www.findamasters.com. Once you identify potential courses, access the relevant institutions’ websites, which will provide more detailed information. It is important to look beyond the name of the course, and consider the specific areas of study included and the type of delivery. The latter can vary from full-time, part-time, weekly or block delivery to distance learning. This should be considered carefully, alongside the length of time it will take you to complete the programme.
Finance is obviously a big factor when considering postgraduate study and the funding systems are very different to undergraduate study. Individual institutions set their own fees. Details of fees are usually available via the institution’s website, along with any schemes (e.g. scholarships and bursaries) available to postgraduate students to aid them with meeting these costs. Attending open days will give you the opportunity to discuss these details with a member of academic staff and how aspects of the provision may allow you to work in combination with postgraduate study. Hartpury College for example, offers a Graduate Assistant Scheme, covering the cost of a year’s fees, providing accommodation and a wage in return for set hours of work for the College. This scheme provides an affordable way to study at postgraduate level along with work experience which will further enhance a CV.
Think outside the box!
It is important to spend time considering all the options available at postgraduate study – the type (taught or research), the length (Postgraduate certificate, diploma or full Masters), type of delivery (full or part-time), mode of delivery (weekly, block or distance) and financial implications. Information regarding these options along with consultation with careers advisors and relevant employers, will aid you in making the right decision. The final decision of the best course to study will depend on your individual circumstances, drive and career aspirations. Postgraduate study can open so many doors, of which choosing the right course is the first step.
Case study: Kelly Jewell, MSc Equine Science Student
Kelly is combining working full-time with postgraduate study, and has this to say about the value of her Master degree:
“I am currently almost half-way through my MSc in Equine Science at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. This particular course offered the perfect progression, from my BSc in Equine Sport Science, as it not only offered me the opportunity to further my knowledge and understanding of my chosen area of specialism, but introduced me to previously untouched subjects also. Whilst I still maintain that a bachelors degree should and does offer you the necessary rudiments in order to begin your career, today, due to the sheer number of graduates I, personally, felt that a postgraduate qualification would allow me to sit head and shoulders above those that chose not to continue an academic pathway. This decision has led me not only into employment already, but also allowed me to reassess exactly what I want to do!!! For me, this postgraduate opportunity is one that has developed my personal attributes in addition to my knowledge base. I am more confident in expressing my ideas and thoughts and truly feel that I now have solid foundations to build upon.”
