In a competitive job market, standing out from the crowd is tough. That may be why more than 500,000 graduates each year go on to pursue further study in the form of a postgraduate degree.
However, postgraduate degrees come with a significant price tag and a substantial commitment of time, meaning students would be forgiven for questioning whether they’ll receive enough bang for their buck. The motivation for studying a higher level qualification is usually the belief that it will improve employment prospects, but is a postgraduate degree really worth it?
The latest figures from the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) show that six months after graduating, 74% of full-time and 90% of part-time master’s graduates were in work, compared with 69% of first degree graduates. Many programmes provide students with industry links, placements or networking opportunities which can ultimately lead to employment.
It was industry links that paved the career path for Ranvir Singh, news broadcaster and presenter for ITV. Ranvir studied an MA in broadcast journalism at UCLan and was introduced to the producers at BBC Radio Lancashire, which resulted in her being offered a six month contract. She now presents across various ITV news platforms including Good Morning Britain, ITV News and the News at 10.
Ranvir says: “I was offered my first professional job at the BBC as a direct result of my postgraduate degree. UCLan has “news days”, which is where news editors would come into the university to meet with MA journalism students. I was lucky enough to be introduced to the producers of BBC Radio Lancashire, who offered me a six month contract. I went straight from my postgraduate degree at UCLan into work at the BBC.
“I also had the opportunity to do some industry-relevant work experience at ITV and ITN, which was where I subsequently went on to work further along in my journalism career. UCLan has excellent industry links.”
Fellow journalism graduate Kayleigh Hooton agrees. Kayleigh graduated from UCLan with an MA in magazine journalism in 2012 and is now a junior sub-editor for Reveal Magazine. She says: “I didn’t feel that my undergraduate degree at another university gave me the practical experience to pursue the career path I wanted, but the master’s course offered this, as well as expert knowledge from the tutors and guest speakers. My master’s degree and the projects I undertook directly led to me getting my job.
“A master’s is definitely worth persevering with, as the end result is well worth the effort. Achieving your dream job is something to be proud of and knowing you worked hard to get there is even better.”
How much employers value a postgraduate degree depends upon the industry. However, many are crying out for the sort of specialist skills which are developed as part of postgraduate education. For Geoffrey Taylor, his MSc in forensic psychology meant securing a high responsibility role which required very specific skills. He is now a residential support worker, working with young people displaying harmful sexual behaviour, emotional and behavioural difficulties and mental health issues.
“My greatest achievement is working as a residential support worker at a young age with a lot of responsibility and success,” Geoffrey said. “My manager has the confidence in my ability to allow me to have input on court reports, assessment reports and placement plans.
“My MSc has had a massive impact on my work and my life. When I left my first degree I felt full of theoretical knowledge with no confidence in my ability to apply it to a psychological career. My master’s taught me to apply my knowledge efficiently, to be reflective at all times and it reignited my desire and belief, to excel in my career.
“It also taught me to be confident when talking to other professionals which has been critical in my job, as well as learning to apply negotiation strategies, de-escalation techniques and to critically analysis behaviour through observation, monitoring and recording.”
A postgraduate course can also be used to further an existing career. Former hockey player Bobby Crutchley, who won 80 caps for England, retired from hockey to become a full-time coach and was assistant coach to the England and Great Britain men’s team between 2005 and 2012. In 2013 Bobby studied the MA in sports coaching at UCLan and has since been made head coach for England and Great Britain.
Similarly, lawyer Martin Odey travelled from Nigeria to study the LLM law at UCLan to further his career in law. He says: “My LLM has given me the conviction that what I set out to do I can achieve. My greatest achievement since graduation is commitment and focus. I went back to the law firm making sure I did something profitable each day. I read books and began drafting proposed bills in the law library, broadening my scope even outside law; and I have successfully supervised and managed construction of two buildings in the Lugbe area of Abuja.”
The pursuit of postgraduate study to improve career prospects is a not a guarantee of success. However, as these examples prove, by making the most of the opportunities available, a postgraduate degree can be a very worthwhile investment.
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