Why take a Postgraduate Course?

More than two in five of all Irish university graduates decide to continue their education with a postgrad course, according to the HEA (the Irish Higher Education Authority). This is after already spending three or four years in full time education gaining a degree or other third level qualification. So why don’t graduates jump straight into the labour market? Here are some of the most common reasons and motivations for pursuing postgraduate study or research…

It is necessary for a particular career

There are many careers for which a postgraduate qualification is a necessity. Teacher, Physiotherapist, Academic and Clinical Psychologist are only a sample of the lines of work for which postgraduate study is required. Increases in technology and specialisation within the Irish economy mean that postgraduate qualifications in engineering, business and science subjects are increasingly necessary even for entry level positions. However, in some career areas workplace experience and practical skills can be more valued by employers, so students should check in advance to find out exactly how useful a postgrad qualification will be.

To get a better job and make more money

The HEA statistics show that people with postgraduate qualifications have higher employment rates and average starting salaries than those with only primary degrees. In particularly competitive career areas, or when applying for prestigious positions, a postgraduate qualification can help a candidate stand out from the crowd. A postgrad degree can also help people move quicker up the career ladder in the following years.

Attachment and devotion to the subject

Studying a subject you have a genuine interest in is always a good idea. It will help motivate you when the going gets tough, and in general students get better results in subjects they like. However, practical reasons and long term consequences of your subject choice should also enter into any postgrad course decision. Some students get on very well with a lecturer who may suggest that they take a postgrad course in their department. This can be very flattering, but students should make sure that the course fits with their individual career aims. It is also worth bearing in mind that a postgraduate qualification may open doors that students don’t even know exist yet.

Soft skills

Many recruiters value the soft skills gained during a postgraduate course just as highly as the actual knowledge you learn. Postgrad students have much more individual responsibility over their course work or research, and employers value this added maturity. Examples of these skills include working in teams, giving presentations, problem solving, and managing projects. A postgrad course can also be a fertile networking place, where students meet lots of people who will prove useful as their career develops, including classmates, lecturers and industry contacts. Getting involved with college societies and extra-curricular activities can also be useful.

Training for a new career

Many graduates, who have worked in a particular area for a few years after college, decide to return to education to change career direction. Most colleges say that a primary degree in a relevant subject is required for entry onto a postgrad course, however ‘relevant’ can be loosely defined, especially in broad humanities or science subjects. There are also many conversion courses available, which can offer skills and training in subjects such as IT and business. People can take a whole year off to do a postgrad course, or study part-time while continuing to work.

I don’t know what else to do

This is a more common reason than you might think for taking a postgrad course. Student life definitely has its advantages and many people who don’t have a specific career ambition in mind drift into the postgrad arena almost by accident. Some people think that taking another year will give them time to discover what career they are most suited to, however taking a postgrad course can turn out to be merely an expensive and impractical method of procrastination. It is always a good idea to think long and carefully about all options in advance of committing to a postgrad course.