Thinking about postgraduate study? January 19, 2012
Posted by Andrew Falconer in : further study and training, postgraduate , add a comment
This is the time of year when students start considering further study. I have already posted about funding postgraduate study but I think it might be useful to consider what postgraduate options there are and how to decide whether to invest the time and money in more study.
Many students only really consider undertaking a taught masters course. These are generally one-year courses with the emphasis being on lectures and learning in the similar style to undergraduate courses. Typically these tend to be MA or MSc qualifications. However you can also do research masters courses where the significant component will be an independent research project (e.g dissertation). These are often MRes or MPhil. Students who go on to start a PhD will often gain the MPil after their first year – that is, PhD students “upgrade” from a MPhil. MBA courses, particularly AMBA accredited courses, require significant management-level work experience prior to applying. You can explore many of these options at the MBA & Postgraduate Study fair.
So why would you think of doing a masters? For some students it is about gaining more knowledge. Perhaps you have done a broad or general degree and want to specialise. Or maybe you want to learn about a different discipline than what you studied – e.g. a biologist may want to study marketing.
For other students it can be about increasing their chances of getting a job. There is a perception that having a masters automatically makes you more employable. In the UK it doesn’t work like that. Some postgraduate courses will definitely increase your employability but most probably won’t enhance your career prospects so much. Generally speaking, the more specialist a masters course is the more specific employers will value it.
Careers advisers can help talk through these options with you. It may be that postgraduate study could boost your career or just be something you want to enjoy for the sake of it. Contact your careers service to make an appointment. Our colleague Callum Leckie also contributed to this useful video that may help:
Thinking about doing a research degree? August 3, 2011
Posted by Andrew Falconer in : further study and training, postgraduate , add a comment
Talking to some students recently it became clear that they didn’t know there are two types of post-graduate course available. The main one is a taught Masters programme. This is similar to undergraduate tuition but will usually have a signficant independent research compenent. The other is a Research Masters. These arise accross most disciplines but are often associated mainly with science related degrees. The research masters does not usually include a significant taught element but focuses on the student undertaking independent research.
Choosing a research masters route can be difficult. Our colleague Terry Jones is a specialist careers adviser working with postgraduate students. He has recorded a podcast of him in coversation talking about common questions such as deciding on a project, supervisor or university. The podcast is 17mins long and can be downloaded here. Other podcasts are available here. To find out about postgraduate options within the University of London click here.
So I got my PhD, but I want to do something different… August 23, 2010
Posted by Helen Curry in : postgraduate , 3comments
Image by clevercupcakes
It is a common enough situation to want a change, particularly after the stress of finishing that PhD dissertation, but where do you go from there?
I recommend treating this as your next research project. Think about the methods you can apply to find the information you need – from resoures, people and advice – can you apply those research methods here too? In that vein, here’s a reading list…
Websites
Vitae is an essential place to start as they have heaps of information and resources, including help if it is worries about family, age or disability that you feel are restricting your academic options. And if you are looking for career ideas, take a look at these reports to see what others in your position did next – What do researchers do 2009.
From our own website, The Careers Group, download these specialised information sheets on CVs and careers for PhDs. See also our general CV guide How to write a CV (pdf) which actually has an example of a CV from a post-doc moving our of academia, p.34.
For a real-life stories of career choices following your research degree, Beyond the PhD is fantastic for getting perspective.
If you are a science researcher, I really recommend the QM researchers blog - the opportunities posted there are open to all and cover a range of career ideas relevant to your expertise. There are also some good lists of links.
And another blog worth trying is Leaving Academia, giving peoples’ experiences of changing paths.
Books
Two titles spring to mind right away – both broad in scope and good for exploring your choices and motivations, as well as how to proceed.
What else you can do with a Ph.D. - Jan Secrist & Jacqueline Fitzpatrick, Sage Publications
I like this one for the depth of information and analysis – it is written well for its audience. It is particularly useful for analysing your skills and work personality – essential when you are applying to non-academic jobs. The book also covers job applications, interview skills, negotiation and evaluating job offers – it leads you through the whole process.
“So what are you going to do with that?” - Susan Basalla & Maggie Debelius, Chicago University Press
This book is a little less thorough, but its strength is in the career choice section. It is very helpful if you are unsure of whether leaving academia is the right choice, and where to go next. In particular the examples in chapter 2 from PhD students who went into a variety of careers makes for interesting reading.
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Does anyone have any other resources they’d recommend, or experiences to share?
University of London Postgraduate Open Evening October 30, 2009
Posted by Helen Curry in : postgraduate , add a comment
The University of London Postgraduate Open Evening will be taking place on Thursday 19 November 2009
4pm – 7pm
Senate House, Malet Street, University of London, WC1E 7HU
A range of University of London colleges will have stands at the open evening, so you can ask them face-to-face any questions you have about the courses, student support and general arrangements. These include: Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, King’s, London Business School, LSE, Royal Holloway, School of Pharmacy, School of Oriental and African Studies, UCL, the University of London External System and more – see here for the full list.
Entry is free. You can register online in advance or turn up on the day. Full details are available here.
Graduate entry into medicine February 4, 2009
Posted by TCG Info in : graduate entry medicine , 1 comment so far
Doing a research degree? January 20, 2009
Posted by TCG Info in : postgraduate , add a commentWondering if you should do a research degree? Unsure about the applications process?
In our latest podcast, careers adviser Terry Jones answers common questions about research degrees, including:
- What is the difference between research degrees and taught postgraduate courses?
- How do I apply for a research degree?
- How do I approach potential supervisors?
- How do I decide on a project, supervisor and university?
- How can I find the right topic?
If you have any more questions, leave us a comment and I can pass them on to Terry.
And remember to sign up now for the Guardian Postgraduate Study & Training Fair 2009 tomorrow!!
Thinking about an MBA? January 6, 2009
Posted by TCG Info in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe 10th edition of The A-Z of Business Schools was recently published as a supplement in The Independent on Sunday (21st December 2008). The guide aims to give people who are thinking of applying for an MBA – or a Masters or and undergraduate course – an idea of what the business schools in the UK and Europe are like. The results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) have just been published and are included in the supplement so you can see how business and management departments have performed in the UK universities . Embarking on an MBA programme is hard work and not a decision to take lightly before considering a number of key questions. The Association of MBAs’ Official Guide to Choosing an MBA is sitting on our library shelves at this moment and can help you decide if an MBA is right for you. The Guardian MBA Fair from The Careers Group is being held on 21st January 2009 and it’s a great opportunity to come along and meet people from institutions running business courses. You can also find out about the latest funding information and other aspects of MBA study in the free and comprehensive presentation programme.
For those of you more interested in exploring postgraduate study then The Guardian Postgraduate Study & Training Fair 2009 from The Careers Group is the event for you.
Funding postgraduate study December 19, 2008
Posted by TCG Info in : postgraduate , add a commentWe recorded a presentation ‘funding postgraduate study’ at the recent University of London Postgraduate Open Evening and it is now available here in MP3 form. The presentation is a really useful one, covering applying to Research Councils, scholarships, loans, finding funding from charities and other sources. At this page you will also find the Powerpoint slides and useful links on funding. The presentation was by Alison Ahern from Goldsmiths Student Support Services, and we were glad we chose this one as it was so popular we couldn’t fit everyone in the room!
If you are interested in postgraduate study, you might also like to sign up for our page on Facebook. This will be regularly be updated with news and tips relating to postgraduate study, and if you post any questions you have, we will get one of our careers advisers to respond:
And finally… I must also mention our Postgraduate Study and Training Fair on Wednesday 21st January 2009, 1-6pm. Find out more and pre-register here.
Exploring postgraduate study and research October 9, 2008
Posted by TCG Info in : further study and training , add a commentIf you have been considering a course of postgraduate study as an option then it is important to spend some time weighing up the pros and cons and clarifying your motives. There could be a number of reasons for studying such as wanting to improve your career prospects or helping to develop employability skills but equally you may feel that you have had enough of being a student right now, particularly if there are issues around financing the course. If you want to research the range of courses on offer then you can browse this week’s new acquisition – Prospects Postgraduate Directory 2008/09: The Official Guide to Postgraduate Study Opportunities in the UK and Ireland. It comes in 3 vols. according to subject and includes vital things you need to know about PG study, including information on costs and funding. Also on the subject of funding, there is the Prospects Funding Guide that explores a variety of ways that you might finance a course.
If you are interested in investigating the possibility of studying at the University of London then you might be interested to know about the University’s Postgraduate Open Evening on November 20th. Come and meet representatives from the colleges and get an insight into what it might be like to study the university.
