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Real-world work experience will give you the chance to apply what you have learned in your Bachelor's degree and to identify any gaps in your knowledge which you want to fill in your postgraduate degree.
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You will get a lot more out of a Master's degree having worked previously, as you can put everything you'll learn into perspective, relate it to real-world problems, and thereby achieve a much more useful and rewarding learning
experience
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Doing your Master's after having worked for a few years provides the great opportunity to 'fine-tune' your qualifications. Working for some time in your chosen field might make you realise that it is not right for you. You will also have gotten in contact with other professionals and learned about their jobs which you might find appealing. Complementing your specialised Bachelor's degree with a generalist Master's (or vice versa) then allows you to give your career a new direction and work in the field you really want to be in - something you could have never done without the work experience.
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Academic standards are often higher on postgraduate degrees, requiring self-discipline and personal maturity from the student. Having worked (and being a few years older), you will be a much more professional, efficient, and - ultimately - successful postgraduate student.
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Working for a few years will allow you to pay back some student loans or save up for your Master's. You will have a lower loan balance and pay less interest. Factoring in the improved career progression after working and completing your Master's, there is a strong financial case for this model.
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Many students do not want to go back to university once they have found a job after graduating. While this is understandable initially, there are very good reasons to pursue further education after 2-3 years of having worked (see above). People also seem to disregard that they will be in a very strong position for finding a better job once they completed their Master's AND having work experience under their belt, which will ultimately make for better career progression.
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Some students bring forward the point that they are 'in the flow' after their Bachelor's and that they wouldn't mind going straight into a Master's, as it's only one/two additional years. I would like to counter this with the fact that it is quite healthy academically and personally to take a little break from academia and come back a few years later. Let me tell you from experience: you will be very glad to go back to the student life with relatively little pressure and lots of leisure time. Also, you will actually be hungry to learn and study again and really enjoy the experience.
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The 'excuse' to go straight to a Master's because one 'cannot get a job without a Master's' does not really count. If you did well on your Bachelor's, did some internships, have extracurricular activities and achievements on your CV and manage to sell yourself decently in interviews, you should have no problems finding a job. And if it doesn't work out in the UK, think about going abroad. Be flexible!
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