Continuing Your Studies
The end of undergraduate study is not necessarily the end of your academic career. Students may wish to pursue further study at postgraduate level for a variety of reasons, usually career oriented. It is important that you consider your motivations for postgraduate study as it is expensive and you must be sure you will gain from it. It is unwise to use postgraduate study as a means of putting off making career decisions, as it may not add to your employability or may be irrelevant to your career path. If this is the situation you are in consider other options, such as taking a gap year to travel or doing work experience in a profession you think may interest you. Remember, you can usually return to postgraduate study at any time in your life, although there may be some funding restraints if you are not a recent graduate. Sometimes employers shy away from hiring overly-qualified candidates, as they may take specialism as an indication of narrow interests. Consider the effects of extra study on employability in your chosen industry - sometimes work experience could be regarded more favourably.
Postgraduate study comes in several forms, one year vocational diplomas, masters degrees, which may or may not be research based and doctorates.
Masters degrees require one year of full-time study and are usually tutorial based with extra research and the submission of a dissertation required at the end of the course. Doctorate degrees require three to four years of intensive research under supervision of the university department. Candidates must propose their own research topic, which should expand on existing knowledge in their field and add to it. After three years of research, students will spend up to a year writing their thesis, which must be of a publishable standard.
Before applying, you should consider whether you will be able to cope with the pressure of further study. Unlike undergraduate courses, which are structured around classes with lots of support and spare time for you to live the student life, postgraduate study requires a higher level of dedication and motivation. Will you be able to motivate yourself to study one topic intensively for three years, with support, but essentially on your own? Will you lose interest in repetitive research methods? Are you able to spend one year writing your thesis?
The application process
Masters degrees usually follow a similar application process to undergraduate degrees. Check with your chosen university for closing dates and make sure you are prepared in good time.
Doctorates often follow a more informal process, with no application deadlines. Candidates may be asked to submit a letter to the department concerned expressing their interest and giving a brief outline of their research proposal. Candidates will then be interviewed and asked for more details about their study plans. Other universities may have a more structured process, involving students submitting a formal application with their CV focussed on academic achievements, followed by interviews with staff who are likely to be involved with the student’s research.
