5 Reasons to do a Postgraduate Diploma

These days, many students wish to further their study after graduation. For those investigating this potential route, a Postgraduate Diploma is one of the many different options available to you.

What is a Postgraduate Diploma?

A Postgraduate Diploma takes approximately 30 weeks to complete and is considered to be the equivalent of the MA qualification. While a Master's degree is made up of 180 credits, Posgraduate Diplomas are made up of 120 credits and do not require students to complete a a dissertation project.

So what exactly would be the benefit of studying for a PGDip over any other form of postgraduate qualification?

1.  Employability

Today, degrees are becoming ever more commonplace so it is important to make your CV stand out from the rest. Studying for a Postgraduate Diploma will not only help you acquire new skills that will assist you in your working life, but will allow you to have that competitive edge over other candidates potentially applying for the same roles.

2. Time Constraints

While the Postgraduate Diploma requires students to complete 120 credits worth of work, a Master’s qualification will expect students to have completed 180 credits worth of learning and is much more time heavy.

If you’re uncertain as to whether you want to commit to that much study, it is advisable to complete the Postgraduate Diploma and then, if you deem it necessary at a later date, convert your qualification into an MA through the submission of a dissertation.

3. Career Change/Learn New Skills

Many students opt to study something new at postgraduate level, but don’t want to commit to a content heavy course before finding out whether it is something they will truly enjoy. As such, studying a Postgraduate Diploma allows potential applicant to dip their toes in the water without committing to a year of highly intensive study.

4. Finance

In general, the average Postgraduate Diploma course will cost less than its MA equivalent, although this isn’t always the case. With postgraduate courses at all levels becoming more and more expensive, many graduates prefer to study on courses with lower tuition fee costs such as PGDip, and then potentially save up over a longer period of time if they’re interested in pursuing an even further course of study.

5. Networking Opportunities

If you’re working within a specific industry such as Law or Journalism, studying a Postgraduate Diploma at a reputable University will allow you the opportunity to network and make work-related connections.

Most courses will have industry experts in to give talks and seminars about working life, and may even offer prestigious work placements to their students. Many graduates use the contacts made while studying in order to find postgraduate employment

Next:

- Search for PGDip courses