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Postgraduate Study 2014

Careers and Employabi l i t y

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© University of Chester Updated September 2014

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Postgraduate Study 2014

Careers and Employabilitywww.chester.ac.uk/careers

careers@chester.ac.uk

Tel: 01244 513066

warrington.careers@chester.ac.uk

Tel: 01925 534235

Careers & Employability centre(opposite The Binks Building)

Chester Campus

Careers and Employability

University of Chester

Parkgate Road

Chester CH1 4BJ

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Contents

Postgraduate Study 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Why do postgraduate study? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Professional qualification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Conversion courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

What is postgraduate study? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Taught courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Research degrees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Mode of study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Choosing where to study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Choosing a University / Choosing a course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Studying abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

When should you undertake postgraduate study? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Funding your postgraduate studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Fees and funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Applying for postgraduate courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Writing the personal statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Additional guidelines for applying for Professional Courses . . . . . . . 13

Further Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Postgraduate study

Why do postgraduate study?Graduates continue their studies for a number of reasons for example:

n To obtain a mandatory professional qualification

Professional qualificationFor some careers a postgraduate qualification is necessary. The most obvi-ous examples are teaching and the legal professions

n To get a better job

In some more competitive career areas it may be advantageous to have a postgraduate qualification but many employers are more interested in the transferable and interpersonal skills and any relevant experience that an ap-plicant can offer rather than just further academic qualifications. Voluntary or part-time work prior to and during a Masters is a good way to acquire and demonstrate these skills.

n To continue in academic study

Some students undertake post-graduate study because they want to learn more about a sub-ject which they have begun to study through their undergradu-ate programme. This may involve study at greater depth, studying

related subjects or conducting supervised research related to the subject. A genuine passion for the subject is vital. This can be the first step to life as an aca-demic.

n To gain entry to a career via a fast-track Postgraduate pro-gramme or a Conversion course

In some career areas, particularly in the field of health, it is possible for graduates to gain entry to spe-cial postgraduate programmes. In most cases the first degree should have some relationship to the intended programme of study. eg 4yr Medicine pro-grammes and special postgradu-ate programmes for Physiother-apy, Speech Therapy, Dietetics and Social Work

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Conversion courses n To give extra time to career plan-

ning

Sometimes students pursue postgraduate study as a means of gaining time to sort out their career plans or because they

don’t want to leave the place where they have enjoyed being a student. Most postgraduate study is self-funded so the finan-cial implications and likely career gains of this strategy should be taken into consideration.

What is postgraduate study?

Postgraduate study is classified according to the mode of study, the level of qualification, and according to whether the programme is taught or research .

Taught coursesTaught programmes are aimed at the acquisition of more or specialist knowledge, and involve students at-tending lectures, seminars, and tuto-rials; and submitting assignments for assessment. Most courses include core and optional modules, and a dissertation which is a significant el-ement of the programme.

Qualifications associated with taught programmes are as follows:

Postgraduate Certificate

This is usually awarded for a course which is no more than an academic year or part-time equivalent. In some cases it is awarded as an interim qualification as part of a longer pro-gramme of study.

Postgraduate Diploma

A diploma is usually awarded for a longer programme of study than a certificate. Again, programmes may often have very direct vocational links and may be a stage in progres-sion to a further qualification as well as an award in their own right.

Masters Degrees

These are the qualifications most as-sociated with postgraduate study. In general they involve full-time at-tendance for at least one academic year or part-time equivalent study. The most common courses are MA (Master of Arts), MSc (Master of Sci-ence), MEng (Master of Engineer-ing) and MBA (Master of Business Administration).

Research degreesArrangements for research pro-grammes are more varied and in-volve individual negotiation between the student and the university de-partment. Essentially the institution invites potential students to respond to a prospectus which details the top-ics that it wishes to be researched. In some cases the process begins more informally with an invitation to submit a proposal, perhaps arising from work done in a final year dis-sertation. If the student’s academic standing and research proposal are

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considered suitable, a research plan and timetable is negotiated between the student and the supervising tu-tor. The plan will include periodic review and feedback from the tu-tor and an agreed date for the sub-mission of the completed research project. In a number of universities research is undertaken in respect of contracts issued by public and pri-vate sector organisations. In these circumstances students may be em-ployed as Research Assistants, and benefit from a modest salary whilst undertaking an aspect of research within the remit of the contract. This will then be assessed for their post-graduate qualification. This pattern

is more usual in the sciences, engi-neering and social research directed to perceived problems or impacts of change.

Qualifications associated with re-search programmes may include MA and MSc. The title of MPhil (Master of Philosophy) is awarded only for a research degree and is often a step-ping-stone to a PhD (Doctor of Phi-losophy). It is possible in some cases for students to proceed directly to study for a PhD. Generally PhD quali-fications follow on from masters degrees and are based upon candi-dates completing substantial original research.

Mode of studyCourses can be:

n Full-time: similar to full time at-tendance on an undergraduate programme and often lasting for twelve months rather than an aca-demic year. Quantity and quality of work is more intense. For example essays may be about 3000 words

n Part-time: Attendance varies ac-cording to the course and provider. This pattern is common amongst those already employed and in need of specialist knowledge or qualifications. eg a graduate with a first degree in Geography but now working in town planning may undertake a specialist part-

time Masters. It is also a useful method of study for those needing to earn while they learn or to gain more experience to offer future employers

n Distance Learning: a variation of part-time study which involves lit-tle or no attendance with on-line study materials, assignments and tutorial feedback

n As a general rule, part-time study takes twice as long as full-time study but it spreads the effort and financial burden. An employer may well contribute to or even fund a course of study if it benefits the or-ganisation.

Choosing where to studyChoosing a University Choosing a courseAll Universities including the Open University offer postgraduate cours-es. Many professional bodies offer courses linked to their professional expertise, which may be delivered in partnership with a university or may be provided solely by the profession-al body via distance learning.

In general, universities offer cours-es which build upon expertise developed for undergraduate pro-grammes. There are a small number of departments and colleges within universities which offer only post-graduate study.

Points to consider include:

n the availability of the courses

n the academic entry requirements

n the possibilities of funding

n the reputation of the course and institution

n any employers’ preferences

n the relative merits (or otherwise) of changing institutions

n personal considerations e.g. cost and availability of accommo-dation and the modes of study available

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Studying abroadIt is possible for UK graduates to un-dertake postgraduate study abroad. Within the European Union there are a number of union-wide and individ-ual country schemes. Fluency in the language of the host nation may be a necessity although some courses are taught in English eg Netherlands. Fees in some EU countries are low-er than fees for English University postgraduate courses and are worth consideration. Other English speak-ing countries, especially the USA

and Commonwealth countries, have schemes to assist UK graduates un-dertake postgraduate programmes. Often the application procedure is protracted and complex in compari-son to the UK. Fees can be charged for applying and course fees very high. Long lead times are common for the USA. Compensation is found in experiencing another culture, vari-ation of teaching style and in adding value and interest to your CV.

When should you undertake postgraduate study?

This will depend upon your career plans and your financial situation. Some graduates go onto postgraduate study im-mediately following their first degree but this is not a require-ment. In many cases it may be better to delay further study until you have a clearer idea about what course to pursue, to accumulate funds and to gain more experience to support your study. If you are thinking of postgraduate study, particularly a vo-cational course, it is worth planning ahead to be aware of early deadlines.

Funding your postgraduate studies

Fees and fundingPostgraduate study is expensive and most students find that they have to use their own or borrowed resources to meet tuition fees and living costs. There may be special arrangements for funding especially for some vocational postgraduate courses – course providers should give applicants the necessary infor-mation and contacts. It may also be possible to do part-time work while

you study paying for the course on a module by module basis. See also The Alternative Guide to Postgradu-ate Funding – available from Careers and Employability. Please note also that University of Chester students are entitled to a Golden Ticket which gives £1000 reduction on postgradu-ate course fees.

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Applying for postgraduate courses

Applying for postgraduate coursesSome postgraduate applications, such as teaching and some psychol-ogy courses are made via a clearing house and you can apply for several courses with one application form. If the course you are applying for does not recruit in this way, you will have

to apply to each course and each institution separately targeting your application carefully each time. If there is a closing date it will be in-dicated in the prospectus or on the website.

Writing the personal statement

When applying for postgraduate study it is often necessary to write a personal statement. This is an opportunity to show your motivation and enthusiasm, your understanding of the subject to be studied and your potential to succeed with this level of study. The personal state-ment may be included as part of the application form, with a strict space and word limit, or you may have to include an additional sheet, in which case one to two sides of A4 would be sufficient.

A personal statement should include:

n Reasons for applying to the course/research area. Explain your inter-est. You need to convince admis-sions tutors of your enthusiasm and motivation for the subject

n Highlight the relevance of your pre-vious studies, particularly specific modules, research projects or dis-

sertation topics, presentations, an-ything that is particularly relevant to the course

n Highlight any relevant work ex-perience, including placements

n Explain your career ambitions

n Describe your personal character-istics that would help with your re-

search such as perseverance and motivation

n Plan and structure the statement carefully. Make sure there are strong introductory and concluding paragraphs. There should be a logi-cal progression with statements supported by evidence throughout

n Don’t just repeat information that you have already given elsewhere on the application form

n Read through your statement sev-eral times, checking your spelling and grammar, and use the advice available from Careers and Em-ployability

n Always target the personal state-ment specifically for the course you are applying for. Make sure whoever will read it knows you have specifically chosen to apply for their course at their institution.

Additional guidelines for applying for Professional Courses

Applying for a professional course means that at the end of the training you will have the appropriate qualification to allow you to enter a spe-cific field of work, though in some cases this will be subject to the completion of a period of supervised employment. Therefore, you must convince admissions tutors of your rea-sons for wanting to enter this professional area as well as your academic abilities. They will need to be satisfied that you have a realistic idea of the demands of the profession.

An effective personal statement will be your chance to show this. It should include:

n Why you are interested in the work, why you have chosen to do it and what research you have car-ried out to confirm your interest

n What skills and qualities you can bring to the profession with exam-ples

n Details of any relevant work expe-rience both paid and unpaid and what you have learnt from this

n The relevance of your degree to the course and aspects that you have enjoyed. If the degree is less relevant to the course show how you have acquired the transferable

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skills necessary to ensure you have the abilities to complete the course

n Talk about anything else you have done that is relevant to the course

n Demonstrate a clear understand-ing of the work you are applying for

n Mention any long term career plans or specific areas of interest

n If you have previously spoken to someone linked to the course mention this briefly

Further Information n Prospects .ac .uk - the official

national graduate careers site – which includes pages on the following topics:

n Why Do Postgraduate Study? http://www.prospects.ac.uk/post-graduate_study_why_do_post-graduate_study.htm

n Postgraduate Study in the UK for International Students www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PGIntStud

n Explore working and studying abroad www.prospects.ac.uk/studying_abroad.htm

n A searchable database of post-graduate courses and research www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PGD-base

n Hobsons Postgrad www.post-grad.com/ Latest update on fund-ing news, immediate vacancies, new courses and research places

n Target Postgrad www.postgrad.com/ 20,000 searchable courses and search results can be com-pared in a table which includes

RAE scores, employability data from HESA, student reviews and employer ratings.

n Hot Courses www.hotcourses.com database of courses in the UK, including postgraduate courses and research. Type in your postcode to find course near you.

n Postgraduate Search www.postgraduatesearch.com

n FindAMasters www.Find-AMasters.com Advice on Masters degrees plus a database of these courses in the UK and overseas

n FindAPhD www.FindAPhD.com Current Research and PhD Stu-dentships – mostly in science but some social science and humani-ties opportunities

n FIND MBA www.find-mba.com global directory of over 2,000 MBA programs and community for prospective MBA students.

n New Scientist Study www.newscientiststudy.com/courses/ science studentships and courses

n Map of UK Universities www.ucas.com/sites/default/files/big-map-2013-uk-eu.pdf

n UK Pass www.ukpass.ac.uk on-line postgraduate study application service brought to you by UCAS. Only includes certain universities at present.

n Distance Learning and corre-spondence courses www.kent.ac.uk/careers/distance.htm

n Guardian www.theguardian.com/education/series/postgraduate-subject-tables-2014 "full details, fees and job prospects of each postgraduate and masters degree at every university in the UK".

n Education Guardian – postgradu-ate news and advice http://www.theguardian.com/education/post-graduates

n HEFCE University Research Assessment Exercise – this takes place every five years and assesses the quality of research in Universities and colleges in the UK. http://www.hefce.ac.uk/what-wedo/rsrch/rae/

n Teaching Quality assessments for UK Universities www.qaa.ac.uk

League tables

n The Complete University Guide www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk includes league tables

n Guardian www.educationguard-ian.co.uk/universityguide

n Independent http://www.inde-pendent.co.uk/student/

n Times www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug/ (you now have to pay to view this)

n Unistats http://unistats.direct.gov.uk

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www.chester.ac.uk/careers