Deciding whether to study another degree
Studying for the right reasons
Take some time to think about whether further study is right for you. Before you start another qualification you need to consider your reasons, and how you will benefit.
Good reasons to continue your studies include:
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To achieve your career goal you are required to have another qualification.
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You have heard from people working in your profession that you will be able to progress further with a second degree qualification.
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You thoroughly enjoy the subject you are studying.
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You intend to work in research.
- You would like to develop some more qualities (such as logical thinking, report writing) before going into the workplace.
Poor reasons to continue your studies include:
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You are avoiding the workplace.
- You are avoiding making a decision about your future career.
Be careful not to use further study as an avoidance mechanism. Delaying making a decision, or clinging to student life, only means that you will have to face these things at a later date and your approach to confronting the issues is unlikely to have changed.
Further study is a commitment. You will also be stretched more than your bachelors degree. For many people this is enjoyable and helps them develop new skills and qualities. You will certainly need to be motivated to enjoy studying.
The benefits of further study
Undertaking further study can help you:
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Gain advanced and detailed knowledge about a specific subject.
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Extend your qualities. For example, you may improve your writing skills, oral presentations, group work or project management skills.
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Expand your career options.
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Demonstrate an ability to study at an advanced level.
- Explore a topic of interest.
Further study and careers
While some professions or employers require a postgraduate qualification for certain positions (particularly research-related careers), in general employers vary in their views of the value of a postgraduate qualification. In many roles, a second degree is not essential, but the extra skills that have been acquired are appreciated. Some employers don't place much importance on postgraduate degrees, and are more interested in relevant workplace experience. They would like to see how you qualification will be relevant in their organisation.
Before committing to further study, it's worth investigating how your potential employers view honours and postgraduate qualifications.
Extra qualifications do increase your skills and experience. However, you cannot rely on your future employer to understand the value of your qualification. When applying for jobs you will need to explain how your postgraduate qualification will be helpful to the employer. It is best to use specific examples, for example, you could explain how you developed project management skills and relate this to the work you will be doing.