Postgraduate Study and Funding

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Postgraduate Study and Funding

• Postgraduate Study and Funding
• Gillian Coyle
• Careers Employability Service

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Introduction

• Why carry on studying?
• Issues to consider
• What is postgraduate level study?
• Varieties of postgraduate study
• Funding!
• Sources of Information

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Why carry on studying?

• Ask yourself why you wish to continue
• better career prospects
• vocational conversion
• enjoy studying
• put off working
• Are you sufficiently motivated?

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Issues to consider

• Benefits
• Timing
• Where should I study?
• Modes of study
• Availability
• Entry requirements
• Funding possibilities
• Reputation of university / department via RAE's
  website and QAA assessments
• Any employer preferences
• Employment prospects

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What is postgraduate level study?

• Generic skills/learning outcomes
• - understand basic research strategies
• - apply range of methods tools
• - be consistent with professional practice
• - understand alternative learned theories

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What is postgraduate level study?

• Academic subject area
• seven discipline-specific Research Councils in
  the UK eg. ESRC http//www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk
  publish guidance materials on content and skills
  across 18 subject areas.
• Activity visit the website for your relevant
  Research Council assess your current position
  in relation to the required professional
  standards at PG level.

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What is postgraduate level study?

• Effective academic skills
• - professional tools of the researcher
• - critical analysis
• - contribution to the creation of knowledge
• - appropriate communication skills.
• Activity reflect on any research activities you
  undertook at UG level your final year
  dissertation, perhaps. Do you want to further
  develop this sort of academic work?

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What is postgraduate level study?

• Effective personal skills
• - autonomous learning
• - self-directed study
• - time management work planning
• - motivation persistence
• Activity Consider your UG learning experience.
  What are the skills, attitudes and qualities that
  you are currently effective in? Which aspects
  might you want to develop further?

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Varieties of postgraduate study and qualifications

• PhD, MPhil, MRes, MSc, MBA, PgDip, PGCE
• Taught or research
• Part-time v full-time
• Purely vocational to purely academic
• Semi vocational
• Distance and overseas study and the Open
  University
• E-learning

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Taught courses Masters

• Likely to last 12 months full time
• Mainly set syllabus
• Sometimes professional exemptions
• Often with a dissertation (leave after 9 months?)
• Could involve a short placement or project with
  an employer

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Taught courses Postgraduate Diploma/Cert/Masters

• Likely to last 9 months full time
• (longer if modular/part-time)
• Often enable career conversion
• Usually professional recognition
• May be initial stages of taught Masters

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Taught courses Specialist courses

• PGCE likely to last 9 months full time
• Law (Graduate diploma in Law, previously the CPE)
• Professional qualifications whilst working eg
  CIPD, CIMA

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Research Programmes

• Doctoral degrees vocational (EngD) and pure
  research
• Masters by research
• Research outside universities

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Doctoral degrees

• After first degree or Masters
• 3 years full time (but can be longer)
• Some taught elements
• Can transfer to MPhil after 1-2 years

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Masters by research

• MA, MSc, MPhil, MRes
• 12 months full time (can be longer)
• some include a taught element
• can sometimes transfer onto PhD

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Research outside universities

• Government, industry, research institutions
• CASE Awards
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (formerly
  Teaching Company Scheme)

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Issues to consider

• Your motivation
• Have you identified a research supervisor?
• Have you the right academic background?
• A career in or outside academia?

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Funding

• Grants not automatic
• Complex and confusing situation
• Tuition fees and living costs
• Timescales
• Sources of funding

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Funding

• Ask course admissions people
• Could be university bursaries
• Check course information / careers adviser
• Is employer sponsorship an option?

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Funding how much?

• Vary according to course
• Typically between 3-6,000 for fees for a Masters
  level course
• PGDips are a lot cheaper
• Some courses much more expensive, particularly
  MBAs
• 6,000 living expenses (minimum)

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Funding timescales

• Vary according to course
• Apply early (PGCE primary in December)
• Usual closing dates in the Spring

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Funding sources

• Vary according to course
• Research councils
• University bursaries
• Specialised funding schemes
• Trusts and charities
• Employer sponsorship
• Teaching assistantships
• Part-time work

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Key Sources of Further Information

• AGCAS Booklet Postgraduate Study and Research
• AGCAS Booklet Your Masters......... what next?
• AGCAS Booklet Your PhD........
• what next?
• AGCAS Booklet Careers and Further Study for
  International students
• Prospects website http//www.prospects.ac.uk
• ECCTIS database
• Research Assessment exercise
• Vocational courses survey
• Prospects Funding Guide
• Funderfinder

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Careers Employability Service

• Location CSB Level 4
• Open Mon-Thurs 9.45-5, Fri 10-5
• Telephone 472124
• E-mail careers_at_hud.ac.uk
• We offer a daily drop-in service and booked
  appointments
• Careers resources reference, takeaway and
  online info.
• Website www.hud.ac.uk/careers Visit our further
  study section