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What to expect when doing a Postgrad course ?
Hi,
I just finished my Undergraduate Degree and have now applied for a Postgrad course. I was wondering whether anybody could give me any tips or adive as to what to expect from the Postgrad course? I m really unsure as to what it will be like compared to the UG...
I just finished my Undergraduate Degree and have now applied for a Postgrad course. I was wondering whether anybody could give me any tips or adive as to what to expect from the Postgrad course? I m really unsure as to what it will be like compared to the UG...
Reply 1
Depends on the subject, but broadly, expect:
What you should not expect, in many disciplines, is any improvement in your employability - certainly no guarantee of a sufficient boost to cover the cost of the fees.
•
Fewer seminars, probably no lectures at all.
•
Longer essays requiring more critical thought and a greater depth of understanding.
What you should not expect, in many disciplines, is any improvement in your employability - certainly no guarantee of a sufficient boost to cover the cost of the fees.
Reply 2
Thanks for your answer ! sounds like you don't recommend doing a masters..
Reply 3
Depends on what you did and where you're coming from, tbh, as well as whether you'll be studying FT or PT and how this again compares to your undergrad degree. My MA was a walk in the park compared to my undergrad, for example, though I think for many people an MA is usually a step up 
Reply 4
Original post
by The_Lonely_GoatherdDepends on what you did and where you're coming from, tbh, as well as whether you'll be studying FT or PT and how this again compares to your undergrad degree. My MA was a walk in the park compared to my undergrad, for example, though I think for many people an MA is usually a step up
I did my Undergraduate in International Relations and Politics and am now going for an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics.. A lot of people are saying that a Masters isn't always worried and I am quite worried now tbh since it costs so much ..
Reply 5
QUOTE
=Mango2201;57626151]I did my Undergraduate in International Relations and Politics and am now going for an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics.. A lot of people are saying that a Masters isn't always worried and I am quite worried now tbh since it costs so much ..
I guess it depends on what your career ambitions are and whether a Masters is a necessity for your career? Or alternatively, would having a Masters definitely secure you a better wage in your chosen field?
The person who wrote above is quite right that often a Masters does not improve one's employability. So it's worth thinking over it carefully
=Mango2201;57626151]I did my Undergraduate in International Relations and Politics and am now going for an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics.. A lot of people are saying that a Masters isn't always worried and I am quite worried now tbh since it costs so much ..I guess it depends on what your career
ambitions are and whether a Masters is a necessity for your career? Or alternatively, would having a Masters definitely secure you a better wage in your chosen field?The person who wrote above is quite right that often a Masters does not improve one's employability
. So it's worth thinking over it carefully Reply 6
My masters has been far easier than my undergrad, in terms of workload and the intellectual challenge. It has been interesting learning about a new area, though.
There are no guarantees of increases in employability, however, you can use the extra year of study to do things outside of your degree that can enhance your employability. Work experience, volunteering, getting involved in extra-curricular stuff, part-time work, academic conferences (Presenting and attending), and so forth, can all add to your CV.
Don't just study and do nothing else with your time.
There are no guarantees of increases in employability, however, you can use the extra year of study to do things outside of your degree that can enhance your employability. Work experience, volunteering, getting involved in extra-curricular stuff, part-time work, academic conferences (Presenting and attending), and so forth, can all add to your CV.
Don't just study and do nothing else with your time.
Reply 7
Original post
by Mango2201Thanks for your answer ! sounds like you don't recommend doing a masters..
I would recommend it very highly indeed, but not for the purpose of enhancing your general employability.
To put it more constructively, I would talk to prospective employers in order to find out whether they would regard a Masters as a particularly valuable
And if they say they do, it's worth asking whether they'll fund you to do one once you're working for them.
Reply 8
17
In my Masters, I turned out the same amount of coursework in each of the first two terms, as I did in my entire undergrad third year. Deadline pile-up in term two, with one or two submission dates a week for six weeks. Very few "sit & listen" lectures and more interactive discussion seminars which needed a respectable amount of preparatory reading.
Reply 9
Original post
by Klix88In my Masters, I turned out the same amount of coursework in each of the first two terms, as I did in my entire undergrad third year. Deadline pile-up in term two, with one or two submission dates a week for six weeks. Very few "sit & listen" lectures and more interactive discussion seminars which needed a respectable amount of preparatory reading.
hey thanks for your answer !
and would you say it was worth doing ? do you feel like you learnt a lot or that it was useful? The postgrad I have applied for is just one year long, which seems very short to me in order to learn something worthwhile..Reply 10
Original post
by The_Lonely_Goatherd QUOTE =Mango2201;57626151]I did my Undergraduate in International Relations and Politics and am now going for an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics.. A lot of people are saying that a Masters isn't always worried and I am quite worried now tbh since it costs so much ..
=Mango2201;57626151]I did my Undergraduate in International Relations and Politics and am now going for an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics.. A lot of people are saying that a Masters isn't always worried and I am quite worried now tbh since it costs so much ..I guess it depends on what your career
ambitions are and whether a Masters is a necessity for your career? Or alternatively, would having a Masters definitely secure you a better wage in your chosen field?The person who wrote above is quite right that often a Masters does not improve one's employability
. So it's worth thinking over it carefully I decided to do a masters because my UG degree was so broad.. and because I am not entirely sure yet what I want to do :P Plus many people have said that once you go off and travel/work you won't want to go back to education/study, which is why I decided to do it straight away... even though I am still not 100% sure.. I am hoping I will learn something new and that it will give me more concrete ideas of what areas I want to work in..
Reply 11
Agree with the above comments. With the current trend looking for employability is a must. Studies plus part time work would be great for your CV. All the best.
Reply 12
12
Absolutely loved it and am really pleased I did it, but it was full on for the whole year. Lots and lots of reading, no more intellectually demanding than a first degree I don't think, but you are expected to be a more independent learner. If you like working hard and learning lots I'd recommend it 😀.
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Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 13
Original post
by Mango2201I did my Undergraduate in International Relations and Politics and am now going for an MSc in Human Rights and International Politics.. A lot of people are saying that a Masters isn't always worried and I am quite worried now tbh since it costs so much ..
With the subject matter of your masters it could be worth it- places like the UN do require a masters for most of their jobs. However it would only be one part of the application and the rest is up to you in terms of how employable you make yourself.
My experience of my masters was that yes there were fewer lectures, however it wasn't radically different to undergraduate level- the seminars were similar. I had about the same amount of coursework and most of it was the same length as undergraduate (2000-3000 words for the essays in both degrees). It's only the dissertation which has been a really knew experience for me, as I didn't do one at undergraduate level.
Reply 14
17
Original post
by Mango2201hey thanks for your answer ! and would you say it was worth doing ? do you feel like you learnt a lot or that it was useful? The postgrad I have applied for is just one year long, which seems very short to me in order to learn something worthwhile..
and would you say it was worth doing ? do you feel like you learnt a lot or that it was useful? The postgrad I have applied for is just one year long, which seems very short to me in order to learn something worthwhile..It was worthwhile for me in many ways. It was a pre-requisite for my PhD and also gave me a much more in-depth understanding of my potential specialism. It was very intense - I did far more reading than I did in my final undergrad year and I was no shirker when it came to those reading lists. I was also reading more focussed and specialist books and papers. Plus I had access to the top people in my field, both at my Masters uni and at other organisatiins via staff at my Masters uni.
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