About postgrad study : When should I study?

Straight after a degree

• This route may be particularly appropriate when the knowledge gained in your undergraduate programme is relevant to your postgraduate programme. This ensures continuity; that you don’t get out of the habit of studying.
• You may have a particular interest in a specific topic and are keen to pursue it on a deeper level or to specialise in that area.
• Going straight into postgraduate study enables you to boost your CV before entering the job market. You may gain relevant qualifications or specific skills that would be advantageous for the area of work you wish to enter.
• You may wish to test whether a particular career direction is right for you by taking a course specific to it.

Elizabeth completed a Masters in publishing studies at the University of Stirling before applying for a job in publishing.

I chose to do my Masters as a way of testing that I was getting into the right career, as well as the fact it was reputed to make entry into the field a bit easier. I did it straightaway after graduation from my undergraduate study – I believe in being prepared and thought about postgraduate options during the last couple of years of my degree.

After a break

• You may feel that you have spent too long studying without a break and a period away from learning can mean you return to it refreshed and keen to study again.
• Some professional qualifications require or benefit from a period of work experience before you commence them, for example social work.
• Employers value transferable skills such as communication skills and team work, even if they are not gained from work relating to your target career. A period in work before starting postgraduate study may enable you to pick up some of these skills.
• A period in work allows you time to earn money to fund your postgraduate study.
• You may wish to go travelling but keep in mind postgraduate course application deadlines and consider the fact that you might need to be available for interview.

While working

• Being in employment may help you to adjust to the greater independence, responsibility and self discipline required for postgraduate study. 
• If you have the opportunity to be sponsored for postgraduate study by your employer you can benefit from studying and working simultaneously. This gives you the opportunity to put chunks of taught theory into practice. One day a week is the most usual way to combine study and work but other options are also possible, such as block release and distance learning.
• Having to fit your study around work in the evenings and at weekends can be tiring and will require you to be motivated and committed. It is therefore important that the qualification you are studying for is something you are interested in and really want to achieve.

Emily has just started an MSc in Environmental Water Management at Cranfield University. She has been working for the Environment Agency for a year and is now studying while working.

I feel that having one year of work before starting the MSc has been beneficial. The teaching style is different to undergraduate and you are expected to take a more proactive role in your learning. You are not spoon fed in the way you might be on an undergraduate degree. Because I have worked for a year I also now know what is essential to my job and what might be useful background material as we go through the modules.

After working full time

• Going back to studying after working full time may be an option if you would like a change in career. Taking on a postgraduate course may help you to focus on that career area and give you a way in.
• Bear in mind that if you are not sponsored by an employer you will have to adjust to the lack of a regular salary. However, if you have been working full time, you may have had the opportunity to save money to help fund your studies.
• You will have to consider whether you will be able to get back into the routine of academic study, although you may be glad of the opportunity to get out of the ‘rat race’ and be able to concentrate on learning a new subject.