Many students consider further study as their next step after Graduation.
Employers look for evidence of skills and ask for relevant work experience as well as qualifications so if you're unsure whether postgraduate study is the right option for you, get in touch with one of our Careers Consultants for a one-to-one appointment to discuss your options.
Why do a postgraduate course?
There are various reasons to embark on postgraduate study, such as:
- You need to specialise further to achieve your career goals. Some careers such as teaching, law, healthcare and social work may require a postgraduate qualification as one way to get into them
- You want to switch to a new career such as computing, property development or law
- You love your subject and want to deepen your knowledge and expertise in this field
- You want to enhance your research skills for academic or professional growth
Further study requires hard work and dedication, and you must think carefully about your reasons for undertaking another degree. Employers look for evidence of skills and ask for relevant work experience as well as qualifications. So, before you apply:
- Talk to employers in your desired field about how they view the benefits of the postgraduate qualification you are considering and how it will help you to progress
- Find out what roles former students from the course go onto
- Research the course content and how the course will be taught and assessed
- Consider how your studies will fit with other commitments such as work or caring responsibilities. Do you want to study full-time, part-time or online?
If you're unsure whether postgraduate study is the right option for you, get in touch with one of our Careers Consultants for a one-to-one appointment to discuss your options.
Choosing a course or qualification
Postgraduate study can lead to a variety of qualifications, including a postgraduate certificate or diploma, a master's (taught or by research), an MPhil or PhD.
If you're interested in teaching, you may want to apply to our Explore teaching programme to gain work experience in a classroom.
Advice on qualifications and courses (both in the UK and abroad) can be found at:
You'll also find information on Postgrad.com, Findamasters.com, Findaphd.com and jobs.ac.uk.
When and how to apply
For most postgraduate courses in the UK you need to apply individually to each university. Check the web sites of the University for details on the application process.
Some vocational subjects have specific application procedures and may have alternatives to further study:
- PGCE Primary and Secondary Teaching: You can apply from early October and early applications are encouraged as most providers work on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the Department of Education 'get into teaching' website (England and Wales)
- Read information about becoming a barrister
- Read information about becoming a solicitor
- Read information about becoming a social worker
- For medicine and nursing, apply via UCAS
Have a look at the Prospects advice on applying for a PhD
Preparing your postgraduate study application
Personal statements are often required in your application for postgraduate study, in which you will be asked to provide evidence to support your application or address specific areas.
When writing your personal statement, make sure that you:
- Target your personal statement to the course and university you are applying for – don't use the same statement for different courses or institutions
- Make sure you clearly communicate your motivation, including why you have chosen this course, subject area and institution. Be specific about what appeals to you about this particular course and institution as opposed to other available options. Relate these reasons to your own experience, including reference to relevant modules and assignments in your first degree, work experience etc.
- Tell them why you think you should be selected for this course/degree. What relevant skills and knowledge have you gained during your studies, work experience and leisure activities? Why do you have the potential to do well on this course?
- How does this course fit into your overall career aims? At this stage, this may still be a general direction rather than a specific career goal
- Provide clear information about your academic record, including your grades and any employment history if not already covered
- Give your statement a clear structure with a beginning, middle and end, and make sure it is clear and concise – you don't want the important information to get lost in lengthy paragraphs
- Proofread your application for spelling and grammatical errors and ask someone else to check through it
- Follow the institution's instructions about supporting documentation, such as references and transcripts. Supply them as soon as you can
Funding
Work out how to finance your studies. Visit funding for postgraduate study - GOV.UK to find out if you are eligible to apply for a master’s loan.
The University of Westminster offers a 20% discount on the tuition fee to University of Westminster alumni. Visit the University's student funding pages for information on postgraduate funding options currently available to help pay tuition fees or meet living costs for further study at Westminster.
The following sites provide more information on postgraduate funding options:
- Graduate Prospects
- Gov.uk
- UCAS
- FindaPhD
- Jobs.ac.uk (masters and PhD studentships)
- FindAMasters Degree Worldwide - Postgraduate MSc MA MBA MPhil MRes MBA & LLM Course
Contact us
For further advice, book a one-to-one appointment with one of our careers consultants or email [email protected]