Further Study
‘A PhD is long and very hard and most of the time experiments do not work, or hypotheses turn out to be incorrect. It is still worth it, of course, for those moments when you get that exciting result. However, you must be able to keep motivation and enthusiasm going the rest of the time. Working with a group of people that will help you when you have questions, support you when you are feeling down, and will share a laugh during tea breaks is so important. So choose very carefully the lab and the supervisor. The way I managed to achieve this was by choosing a PhD programme that allowed me to do a short rotation in several labs before starting my proper project, but there are other routes to achieving this as well.' Catarina C. Vicente, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford
Before applying for another course you need to ask yourself why. It’s important to establish whether it’s because further qualifications are necessary for your chosen career, or whether you just can’t think of anything else to do. Of course, these aren’t the only two reasons to study further but we recommend you think long and hard about yours.
It’s true that studying further can add value to your existing knowledge and experience or enable you to change direction. However, postgraduate qualifications are expensive and don't necessarily increase your prospects – there are no guarantees.
If you really love your subject, continuing to study is appealing but will it fit in with your long term career plans?
If you can’t think of anything else to do, staying in Oxford might seem the safe option but if further study doesn’t increase your career prospects you’ll just be in the same position but with deeper debt (courses can cost up to £5,000).
If you’re disappointed by your first degree results, further study can give you relevant vocational qualifications, experience and may increase confidence. However, employers do sometimes look at first degree results and A-levels.
If you want to change direction, it’s possible to do so through further study. However, remember that 60% of vacancies are advertised to graduates of any discipline.
Courses
Masters (MA, MSc) are one-year full-time or two-year part-time. They can be either a continuation of your academic studies or a preparation for a specific career, e.g. journalism or IT. Courses can be found using FindAMasters.com.
Vocational Courses are Certificates, Diplomas and Masters that provide training for specific job sectors. You can also train to become a doctor or dentist by undertaking an accelerated course. Prospects outlines the routes into these professions.
Research Degrees like a PhD involve in depth original research. They are three years full-time and up to six years part-time. Masters by Research i nvolve up to two years full time research. Mres normally lasts a year and combines a taught course with intensive training in research methodology in a particular subject area. Research opportunities can be found at jobs.ac.uk (under studentships) and FindaPhD.com
Short courses can develop a specific skill, such as IT or a language. These can be found at Hotcourses.
How to go about it
Thoroughly research the details of the course as titles may sound the same but the content can vary. Contact course leaders or past students for extra information. For vocational courses, check if there are opportunities for work experience. Ask your lecturers about course reputations and search www.hero.ac.uk/rae/index.htm, where all UK universities departments are assessed, or www.qaa.ac.uk, where universities are assessed for quality on a range of benchmarks. Arrange a visit, ask questions while you’re there and sit in on a lecture.
Check if a course will enhance your career prospects by finding out what previous students are doing now. Also, look at the Work Related Course Survey on Prospects and UK Grad statistics for what PhDs do.
For many courses there are no formal closing dates, but popular ones fill up quickly so apply early, especially if you need funding.
Most applications require a supporting or personal statement. This should include good reasons for wanting to study further, within the department and at the University. Incorporate relevant work experience, academic skills, IT literacy, personal skills and qualities, and future career plans. Pick out the most relevant modules of your first degree and illustrate with good examples.
Funding
Many students fund their studies through a variety of sources to make a package of funding. These may include University bursaries, income from part-time work and small grants from trusts and charities.
Contact the course provider to see what funding is available and how recent students funded their study. Some courses may offer studentships or assistantships, or other types of financial assistance.
Some research and taught programmes are funded by the Research Councils and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Most Institutions, including Oxford Brookes: www.brookes.ac.uk/studying/finance/support/pg_home offer a number of scholarships, Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant posts where fees and a salary are paid in return for work such as undergraduate teaching and other projects.
Bursaries may be available for vocational courses such as social work, healthcare, and teaching in shortage subjects. Check with individual courses or look at the Prospects course finder on: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Find_courses_and_research/p!eacge?mode=Main for more information.
Charities and Trusts are unlikely to cover the full costs of study, but could still prove useful. Apply directly to the charity. Funderfinder is a comprehensive database of funding opportunities, available in the Careers & Employment Centre Information Room.
Companies sometimes pay for staff to undertake postgraduate courses. These may include MBA, Diplomas and Certificates in Personnel & Development.
Unless you are doing another undergraduate course you won't be eligible for a loan from the Student Loans Company. Career Development Loans, available from banks for vocational courses, are the most common form of loan.
Sometimes your research or dissertation can be of value to an organisation, so it’s worth investigating whether someone will pay you a contribution in return for your research findings.
Teaching is funded by the government – visit www.teach.gov.uk.
Teaching
As a graduate, you can train to teach in secondary and primary schools in the UK. Information is available at www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit.aspx.
In England and Wales, most graduates enroll on a one-year Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). Applications for secondary PGCEs should be made as early as possible in the final year; the deadline for primary applications is usually early in December. Apply through the GTTR.
A very useful publication by AGCAS guides applicants through the process and provides invaluable help with the application form.
Study abroad
Postgraduate study everywhere is expensive, but if you want to study outside of the EU the fees can be even higher. However, living costs can be lower which can compensate for this.
Make sure the qualification you gain is recognised if you want to work in the UK or elsewhere. The application procedures may be different from in the UK and you may have to pass entrance tests. Organisations that help with postgraduate study in other countries include The Fulbright Commission (The USA) and IDP (Australia). More useful links on studying in other countries can be found on Prospects.