• Types of postgraduate qualification 
  What do all the acronyms mean?
• Is further study for me? 
  Questioning your motivation to continue studying.
• Is a doctorate for me?  
  Issues to take into account when deciding on a PhD.
• Who can help me decide? 
  Where to turn for further help.
• How to choose a course/university 
  Issues to consider such as location and reputation.

Types of Postgraduate Qualification

There are basically two types of postgraduate qualifications available in the UK. These are:

Higher degrees (masters and doctorates) in which an academic subject is studied in depth through either a) a research project culminating in a dissertation (doctorates and some masters) or b) a course of instruction followed by a short research project, often described as ‘taught masters’. The research-based degrees usually take one to three years and generally require a first or a 2.1 degree. You graduate from these degrees with, for example, a PhD or MLitt. Taught courses normally last 12 months and you usually need a good honours degree to be considered. You graduate from these courses with qualifications such as MA or MSc.

Diploma and certificate courses are usually vocational in nature. These normally last one academic year and offer scope to those wishing to change direction after their first degree. They cover a wide spectrum of study such as teaching (the PGDE), law (GDL/CPE, LPC or BVC), housing management, secretarial skills and librarianship, and in some cases may be essential to get into a particular career.

Is further study for me?

There are many reasons why you may want to continue studying, but you need to consider carefully how much another course will help you in your future career.

• You are passionate about your subject, enjoy studying and can afford the time and money involved.
• You wish to enhance your job prospects in the European market.  European courses are generally longer than ours, so initial acceptance by a European employer may require 'top up' study.
• Some subjects like teaching, social work or law require a vocational course.
• Most research posts, particularly in scientific fields, require a PhD.
• A conversion course may be valuable if your degree is unrelated to the area you wish to work in, e.g. IT, human resources and librarianship (although there may be routes into these areas without further study).

• Doing further study will improve your poor first degree result - this is not necessarily the case and you may actually have difficulty securing a place on many postgraduate courses with less than a 2.1.
• Doing postgraduate study will give you more time to decide about your future - procrastination is unlikely to be helpful for a variety of reasons. Some taught courses can be very intensive and leave little time for reflection or job-hunting so you may graduate a second time with no clearer ideas about your future.  Also you need to persuade course selectors of your commitment and suitability - putting off career decisions will not be viewed as ideal motivation! If you feel that you need time to think about your future then consider alternatives such as short-term or voluntary work.
• If you think that a higher degree will give you an edge over others in the market, reconsider. Many employers are as interested in personal qualities as academic attainment, and might be wary of 'overqualified' candidates. Canvass the opinion of prospective employers and speak to your Careers Adviser  before making any decisions. Remember that a postgraduate qualification does not guarantee a job.
• You feel you must have a business qualification if your degree is non-vocational.  This is not essential, most employers want to know you are intelligent, flexible and willing to learn.  Many consider applicants from any degree discipline, and will provide the necessary business training.

Is a doctorate for me?

You must be self-motivated and sure that you will enjoy carrying out the research. Some students feel isolated and unsupported, despite the exciting demands of original research. Conversely, in some areas of science students complain about not getting on with other members of the close-knit groups in which some of them work. You must be interested in your topic and have enjoyed dissertation work in your undergraduate course. Check out the work, hours and lifestyle with current postgraduates. Think of a PhD as your first job. Select a supportive department and above all a helpful supervisor. Use the resources in the Careers Service to research what courses might suit you and find out more about the demands a PhD will make on you.

Who can help me decide?

• Discussing it with your Director of Studies, course tutor, dissertation supervisor or other members of your department.
• Consulting your Careers Adviser.
• Finding out relevant employers’ attitudes to further study.
• Attending talks on postgraduate study run in Semesters 1 and 2.

How to choose a course/university

Once you have decided that further study is definitely for you, you need to narrow down your choice of course and university to a manageable number.

Location

The main way of finding out where courses are offered, is to consult Prospects or search Coursediscover available in the Careers Service.  For further help see finding out more about further study.

Reputation

To investigate the reputation of individual courses, departments and institutions ask academic staff in your own department who may have inside knowledge of departments in other institutions. Professionals working in your area of interest may be able to recommend appropriate courses. The Teaching Quality Information (TQI) site is a good source of information. The TQI website has been developed to give potential students easy access to official information about the quality of higher education in UK universities and colleges.
You can also consult the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) to find out how university departments have been rated. The latest one is from 2008. League tables, which are occasionally printed in newspapers such as the Times, can be helpful providing you are clear about what is actually being recorded. 

Should I stay at Edinburgh University?

Staying within the same department can be a very attractive prospect. You know the staff and they know you well; you will probably be aware of their research interests (which may or may not match your own) and finance may be available for you to continue studying, as there is often additional funding for graduates who stay within the same institution. On the other hand, it is important to consider whether changing university might benefit you more in the long run. Making a change helps you to broaden your network of academic contacts, which may be crucial to getting a job later. It also allows you to give top priority to selecting the best supervisor for your area of interest when choosing your research topic.