Every year, people embark on the journey of going to further on a course via post graduate study.But before that, there are some basics tips and steps you need to put into consideration before applying for that course.


Going into post graduate study are done for a particular reason, which ranges form
Seeking an academic challenge
To increase their knowledge, professional expertise and skills
To develop research skills (PhD and MRes courses)
To gain a qualification that will progress their career
To increase their chance of employment in a chosen field
To experience life in a different country at a university abroad

In essence, when jobs are difficult to acquire, more students tend to stay in university to complete postgraduate studies. There are thousands of courses to choose between and many seem to be very similar with almost identical titles. So how do you choose? Here are our top tips for choosing the right course for you.

1.Decide what you want and why

Ask yourself what kind of course you want and what you exp

ect to get out of it. PhDs give you professionalism in research. Many Masters and diploma courses are linked to specific careers. Some, such as a Master's in marketing or petroleum geology, may increase your employment potential in a particular career. Other courses, including the Bar Vocational Course and the Postgraduate Certificate in Education, are essential entry points into becoming a barrister or teacher. Research the courses that relate to your needs and try to discover which will deliver your expectations. Ask as many people as possible about the course, not just those who are selling the course and need participants. Seek out people who did the course previously or unbiased advisers in the university careers service.

2.Will you qualify as a professional?
If you are going to study in order to become a qualified professional check that the course is recognised by the relevant professional body. If it is not recognised then this is not the qualification for you. Some professional bodies, such as the Law Society, validate courses and may even grade them ‘Excellent' or ‘Satisfactory'. A Master's in law will not qualify you as a lawyer but the Legal Practice Course will. Marketing professionals usually prefer people with strong commercial experience to those with academic qualifications in marketing so don't expect a Master's in Marketing to be vastly more valuable than work in the sales team.


3. Small and intimate, or big is best?
Find out approximately how many students will be on the course. Clearly, if it is 100+ there is less opportunity to discuss directly what is said by lecturers than if it is 20 or so. The social aspects of the course will be different if the group is a large one. Which do you prefer?

4.Apply early
While many courses still have vacancies almost up to the start date the most popular ones fill up fast. You will need to apply early if it is a popular course, probably before the Christmas of the year before you want to commence a course (assuming the course begins the following October).


5.How is the department rated?
Check how the department is rated and its professionalism compares with other university departments offering the same course. A nation-wide research assessment exercise - the exercise that measures the quality of an institution's research - was completed very recently. A department that is rated 4* is world renowned for its research and this generally rubs off into its teaching, especially of postgraduate courses
Source:http://unnedu..com/2015/01/tips-to-consider-before-choosing.html