Are you looking to enter a specific career
or want to fast track in your chosen field?
Might a work related Masters help get you there?
Are you looking to enter a specific career or want to fast track in your chosen field? Might a work related Masters help get you there?
MastersCompare have put together a number of questions you may find useful:
1. Will a master's level course REALLY help me move on in my career?
- See if you can identify friends, colleagues and stories of others who have done a master's to gain knowledge and expertise.
- Talk to your university careers service, even if you have already graduated - they are often happy to help alumni and should be able to give you impartial advice.
- Ask key employers about the knowledge or experience you need, and whether a master's would benefit. Do they know of any particular courses they have been impressed by?
-Take a look at relevant professional related websites: they may have an education or advice section. You may also be able to access an online community for advice.
2. What should I look for in a work-related master's course?
- Ask the university where alumni from the course have gone on to work, and what their job titles or levels were afterwards. They may be able to put you in touch with alumni who have gone on to interesting jobs. This can help you decide whether the course would be useful to you.
- Make sure the course content covers the areas you need or are most interested in.
- Does the course offer an internship, and which companies are these with?
- What are the department or course's connections with the industry?
- What events or networks run to help students on the course have contact with employers?
- Ask to talk to a current student.
3. What about the money?
- Courses can vary in cost, even if the content appears similar, depending on the expertise and reputation of the university, its location etc.
- Is the new postgraduate loan an option for you? See below for further info.
- If you are already working, you may be able to ask your employer for a contribution or to pay for the fees: think about how the course will benefit your employer? If they cannot offer you money they may offer you time off to study. However, be careful to find out if there are strings attached - do they require you to stay at their company for a set time, for example?
4. Is a work-related master's worth it?
- From your research above, how much will it help you pursue a career that matters to you?
- Is it 'worth it' in more than just financial terms? Think about the knowledge, experience and contacts you may gain. Will it be a long term investment with benefits for many years, and in many ways?
FIND OUT MORE:
Find your Professional & Work related Masters course
Take a look at over 70 Professional & Work related Masters courses on MastersCompare here
New Postgraduate Loan
Read the latest info on the Master's Loan Scheme 2016 and register to receive regular updates on Masters funding and courses.
Student Voices - hear from postgraduate students about their experiences of looking for and doing a professional or work-related Masters.