Why Do Postgraduate Study?

If you’re considering your options for career advancement and thinking about postgraduate study, you are not alone. A lot of people look to a postgraduate degree as a desirable path towards a more secure future. Today, we’ll explain why you should do postgraduate study to help you make the best decision for your career goals.

Is it worth studying postgraduate?

There are a lot of reasons why you might want to earn a postgraduate degree. Here are just a few:

Boost career

Then, there’s the obvious one… increased earning potential. There are already way more jobs for graduates than fresh degree holders as of 2020 and when you have a postgraduate degree then that pool is even more exclusive. Plus, postgraduate degree holders earn considerably more; nearly 20% on average, than first-time graduates. That’s a big increase and helpful given the current cost of living crisis.

Specialise

First, it can help you become an expert in your field or narrow your focus to an attractive subset of your profession. Let’s say you’re in computing. Cybercrime is a big concern and companies are paying handsomely for experts who can combat these threats. You might choose to go for an MSc in Cloud and Network Security to apply for those lucrative roles.

Change field

Lastly, getting a postgraduate degree is a great way to broaden your knowledge and prepare you for a career transition. Whether it’s a lateral move to a field similar to the one you’re in (like from marketing to operations) or something completely different; further study can help you survive market changes like a slowdown in the economy or disruptive technology like AI. And most people will need to change careers one or more times in their life to keep up with skill shortages and demand.

Network

Next, when you go back to school, you’ll meet new people; both peers and professionals within your chosen field. And this can be advantageous for landing a more desirable role after your postgraduate degree is complete. They’ll see you at your best, engaged and activated within your specialism and have some experience with your approach and methods too. All that can help you make useful connections that will enrich your future.

Research

A surprising benefit of postgraduate study; at least where academic research is required, is the development of rigour and test methods. This is actually a skill that’s quite hard to learn outside of the classroom unless you work in a laboratory or scholastic environment. And, when you do return to the world of work, you’ll have advanced research methodologies to bring with you - an aid to any data-driven environment, for sure.

Is postgraduate harder than undergraduate?

In some ways, yes. Both degrees require dedication and investment of time and attention to achieve. But a postgraduate course will also have other requirements like research. However, the earning potential for someone with a master’s degree, for example, is much higher on average. So, for most people, the extra effort and time are worth it.

Ready to take the leap and jump into postgraduate study? Our small class sizes and inclusive environment make Bolton a great choice for your next degree. Email us with any questions you might have at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call +44 1204 903142 to speak to a member of the team. At Bolton University, you’re sure to experience #UniAsItShouldBe.