Is postgraduate study for you?

People sign up for postgraduate programmes for vastly different reasons. Some believe that an MBA after their names will ensure higher pay, while others do it so that they can move into a different area of work altogether. Some believe that the knowledge and skills gathered can help them in their work, while others feel that having a postgraduate qualification would give them an advantage over those who don't when it comes to securing a job. Whatever the reasons, more people today are beginning to feel a greater need for higher qualifications.

The need

For some jobs, higher qualifications are a must: if you wish to teach students at undergraduate level, you'll need postgraduate qualifications. Colleges and universities insist that you must have the right qualifications before they will take you on. Work experience might not even be a major consideration here.

In other sectors, the need for postgraduate qualifications is not so clearly defined. For instance, if an executive in the finance and administration department of a medium to large organisation would like to be considered for a managerial position, some years of experience and an MBA would be beneficial, because it proves to a certain extent that he or she has the knowledge and skills required by managers. People are seldom promoted based solely on academic qualifications - performance at work and experience are very important. If you have a technical background and you want to move into senior management or if you want to start your own business, a postgraduate qualification in business or management is advantageous.

However, if there is a vacancy in an organisation, with all else being equal, the fact that a candidate has higher qualifications would certainly help him or her stand out amongst a sea of applicants who only have undergraduate qualifications. After he or she gets the job, how they progress through the ranks is entirely dependent on job performance. The higher qualification in this case only helps to get a foot in the door.

The types

The term 'postgraduate qualifications' refers to a host of different types of courses and programmes. There are the traditional masters type of programmes, which are usually academic in nature and lead to an MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science) title. These programmes usually include some taught components and a research paper or thesis. The duration for these courses is usually one to two years full time or two to three years part time.

The MPhil (Master of Philosophy) is usually a research-based course and is similar in structure to the PhD. Students on the MPhil programme have to conduct an independent research and submit a thesis. Students who register for an MPhil usually transfer to a PhD after two years. The duration for the MPhil is usually two to three years full time or four to five years part time. Students usually pursue these programmes immediately after they have completed their undergraduate degrees.

Upon completing the MA or MSc (or MPhil), you can proceed to a PhD (short for Doctor of Philosophy) and when you successfully complete this programme, you'll receive the title 'Doctor'. A PhD programme usually involves original and independent research into a particular topic of interest, at the end of which you have to produce a dissertation of considerable length and depth (usually between 80,000 and 100,000 words). The student reports to a supervisor or mentor, who acts as a sounding board for the student's ideas and provides guidance whenever needed.

The MBA

The MBA (or Master of Business Administration) came about in response to the need for people at a managerial level to have a better understanding of how businesses are managed. It was first popularised in the US before it caught on in the UK and Australia. Basically, an MBA is a postgraduate qualification that covers a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills that people need to function effectively as managers in various types of organisation.

Generally, students in an MBA programme will be required to take subjects like marketing, accounting and finance, human resources, IT, organisational behaviour and strategic management. Depending on the programme, students may also have to complete a research or project paper as part of their course. There have been many new developments in this qualification. For example, some universities have recently begun to offer MBA programmes with specialisations in finance, international business, management, marketing, IT or human resource management. Such programmes have a higher concentration of subjects relating to the specialisation than a general MBA.

Entry requirements

You usually need a basic undergraduate degree from a recognised university to get onto a masters programme, whereas you'll need a masters degree to get onto a PhD programme. Some institutions admit working people without undergraduate qualifications onto their MBA programmes, but candidates who qualify are usually those who are already in managerial positions and have several years of relevant working experience.

For universities highly ranked for their postgraduate programmes, places are more competitive and admission criteria more stringent. You would stand a better chance of getting in if you have a first class or second upper honours undergraduate degree. Candidates might even be asked to sit entrance exams and attend interviews.

Course providers

Candidates looking for a postgraduate programme should not only look at the cost and convenience of the programme before signing up - the important things are also the quality and reputation of the academic staff and the institution, the contents of the course, the structure of the programme, teaching methods, access to research facilities, course and reference materials and support provided to students.

If you're not sure whether you should stay on or what sort of postgraduate qualification to pursue, don't despair. Spend some time working first to determine whether higher qualifications would help you in your work. Should you decide to move into a different area of work later, ask yourself what sort of qualifications would enhance your work performance, because ultimately, how you perform in your job will result in a greater enjoyment of your work, which will in turn impact upon your outlook on life.

The advantages

• A postgraduate qualification can help make your CV stand out
• You will develop additional skills and knowledge
• You may be able to move into more or different areas of work

The disadvantages

• A postgraduate degree will not guarantee a job
• The time you spent studying could be used for acquiring work experience which may be more preferable to certain employers
• You may not get more pay if your postgraduate qualification is not relevant to your area of work

© GTI Specialist Publishers. Reproduced with permission.