Deciding on postgraduate study

Investing additional time and money in further education is a big decision. Think carefully about your motivations for doing it. Common reasons include:

• Further your interest - postgraduate study gives you the opportunity to learn more about a subject or field that you are really interested in or passionate about
• Enhance your expertise - progressing into postgraduate study gives you the opportunity to develop deep knowledge and expertise in a particular subject. Developing such expertise, particularly in niche areas, can often be highly sought after in the workplace and provide excellent job security
• Meet the requirements - in order to progress into your chosen field you may have to obtain a postgraduate qualification. For example, if you want to become a school teacher, you will need to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). If you want to become a solicitor, you'll need to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
• Improve your employability - generally having a postgraduate degree can enhance your job prospects, but this really depends on what kind of career you are interested in. For some roles, it might be more important for you to have relevant work experience than an additional qualification. Use the job profiles on the Prospects website to check what qualifications are needed for  a specific role
• Move into a different sector or industry - there are courses (often called 'conversion courses') which allow you to enter into a field that is different to your undergraduate degree, often one that requires a specific qualification or professional accreditation. A good example of this is the MSc in Psychology here at Cardiff University, which is accredited by the British Psychological Society and will give you the professional accreditation necessary to pursue more therapeutic roles
• Delay entering the world of work - yes, continuing in education can give you more time to think about your next steps, but this motivation alone should not be enough to do it. Undertaking a postgraduate degree is a big step up from an undergraduate degree and typically requires a lot more autonomy and self-motivation. If you're not totally invested in the course, it's possible that you won't enjoy it and may struggle to complete it. Make sure you have done your research and are absolutely committed before investing more time and money to your education

Not all postgraduate courses will help you achieve your career goals. For some roles, a specific qualification may be needed, which may be accredited by a professional body or association. Use the Prospects job profiles to help you check this. If you're less sure about what might come next for you after postgraduate study, then the course should at least lead to some roles you might be interested in exploring. A good way to identify these is by looking at the web page of the specific course you are interested in - they almost always have details of what graduates have gone on to do after their course.

You could also speak to the admissions tutor about what jobs previous students have gone on to do. Don't forget you can book a careers appointment with a Careers Adviser via your Student Futures Account to talk about your career goals and further study options.

There are lots of ways you can pursue postgraduate study and some courses may be more suited to your goals than others. Most courses are either a Masters or a PhD, although it is possible to achieve postgraduate certificates and diplomas, for example the PGCE in teaching.

Find out more about your different postgraduate study options here. Think about your learning style too - how will a particular course be taught and does this align with how you like to learn?

Similar courses could be taught in very different ways at different universities. Research universities carefully and compare things like facilities and support services; teaching staff; graduate outcomes (a measure of how many students on that course have gone on to professional employment); university rankings (these will be available on the university's website); and research specialisms.

You could also ask relevant academics for their recommendations. If you're not sure which universities offer courses you are interested in, use websites like FindAMasters and FindAPhD to search for courses in the UK and worldwide.

Postgraduate study is a big step up from your undergraduate degree and requires not only the academic ability to learn the content, but also the transferable skills to cope with greater autonomy and a more intense workload. For example, postgraduate students need to demonstrate high levels of self-motivation, resilience and organisational skills.

Be proactive in speaking to students currently on the course you're interested in to get a feel for what the course will be like or reach out to the lecturers who are typically more than happy to tell you more about the course and what to expect. You could also speak to your current lecturers or personal tutor for their opinion on your academic ability to cope with postgraduate study and how it will support your future ambitions.

Think about how you will fund your further study, not just the course costs and tuition fees, but living costs, particularly if you will be living away from home. You could try an online cost of living calculator to work out roughly how much it could cost to study in your chosen location. Cardiff University has useful advice about funding your postgraduate course and you can find out more on the FindAMasters and FindAPhD websites.

You could be interested in studying close to home, elsewhere in the UK or anywhere around the world! Research the location of your postgraduate study course carefully, including things like travel links, the availability and cost of accommodation, living costs and the surrounding area. The Prospects website has excellent advice if you are considering postgraduate study abroad.

Top tips: Postgraduate study abroad

Remember to do your research if you are going to study abroad

Recognise that application processes for postgraduate courses vary all around the world. Some countries will ask for different documents or have their own centralised system, like UCAS in the UK. Get in touch with the course provider directly if you're ever unsure about what is required.

Check how specific qualifications will be recognised in the country you eventually want to work. Some jobs require specific qualifications, and in some countries, these qualifications are accredited or approved by a professional body.

Use websites like Prospects, FindAMasters and FindAPhD to research postgraduate study options around the world.

Some students will go straight into postgraduate study after their undergraduate degree while others will prefer to take a break in between. There is no right or wrong here - if you aren't sure if it's the right time to pursue further study, then it probably isn't! A PhD for example requires a lot of commitment - you are better off taking some time away until you feel more confident in your decision.