7 Things To Consider Before Doing A Postgraduate Course

It will help me to have a better job prospect and career progress

I want to be an authority in my field by contributing to research

Postgraduate studies will help me become an academic (e.g. a professor etc)

I like to have a title after my name

It will help me to compete well with my peers

There are some truths in the above statements. A postgraduate study very often will increase you appeal and boost your career prospect, and can also be a key path to becoming an authority in your chosen field. However before taking a leap of faith, there are a number of points that should be considered by every candidate. They include but are not limited to the following:

(1)Consider whether it is right for you

There is never a "one-size fits all" in real life so be sure that you really have clear goals /aims before deciding on a postgraduate course as there is a cost in terms of money and time.

(2)Consider what others who did a postgraduate course have achieved

It is helpful to check from your university, friends and the internet what are the prospects for those who did the same course you are interested in (or similar ones) in the past. That can often give you a clue as to whether it is worth doing a postgraduate course in that area

(3)Have I got the time to complete the study?

To many people this question might seem irrelevant, but it happens to be one of the crucial questions to ask at the start of any study because there is no point in starting something the one can't finish. It is important to decide from the start how long one can devote to doing a post-graduate course. This will enable you to decide which course to do. For those who are willing to spend 1- 2 years, the best choice would be to do a Masters course as 1-2 years is the typical time in the UK. Other with more time 4 year+ can embark on a PhD. Most often, students embark on a new course of study without a thought on the amount of time that they need for the course. This issue of time is more relevant for matured students (with families) as you need to fit the rest of your live (kids etc) around the course. So take time and plan well

(4)Have I got the financial resources for a paid course (if it applies)

There are a number of funded courses (especially at the PhD level) however it often happens that the funded courses that you have found are not in the areas you are interested in. In that case the student has to pay for the course. In setting out for a postgraduate course, the importance of calculating the cost and seeking funding opportunities cannot be over-stressed. Banks in most countries offer students loan etc and there are often scholarships from companies etc. It very important to seek out these funding opportunities as early as possible. The cost of a postgraduate course can also determine whether one should go for a shorter course (e.g. 1 - 2 year Masters courses for example in the UK) or for the 4 years + courses for PhDs)

(5)How easy is it to find funded courses for the area I am interested in

This point is closely linked to the previous point on (4). In some areas for example Business Administration (MBAs) there are few funding available due to the high cost of these courses. Most often MBA courses are funded by companies etc and there are often individuals who decide to pay for these courses themselves (when there are no funding available). So in choosing a course, be sure that there are funding available unless you intend to pay your way through.

(6)What do I aim to accomplish at the end of the post-graduate course?

As I mentioned at the start of this article, you have to be sure of your goals for doing a postgraduate study. Try and sort out your thoughts at the beginning and don't embark on a course simply because your mate is doing the same. Think of your future career and the time and money you'll need to invest. It has to be worth it.

(7) Can putting my job on hold (to study) have an adverse effect on my future career?

I have heard this more often than I care to remember. I have come across a number of working people who have been wondering whether they will benefit more by doing a postgraduate course rather than pursuing a career. There is so far ( from what I have seen) no clear answers to this question. It often depends on the area you are in and who you are asking. Companies do want a mixture of academic achievements and experience. Staying on a job leads to more experience in an area whereas a postgraduate course more or less adds to your qualification - with some experience as well. If your job is in R&D etc then a postgraduate course can boost your career prospect however having a PhD with less experience in industry will not be appealing in other areas. One clue is to check the qualifications of the top people in your company. That will give you an indication as to what your company values more.

Dr Kevin CU has a site and blog dedicated primarily to students issues at [http://www.neutralsearch.com] or [http://www.unitalker.com]