The end of the academic calendar is fast approaching and so could the end of your undergraduate degree; we’re sure many of you are getting to that point where you’re thinking – what’s next? Some of you will be more than ready to hit the ground running and get stuck into the work place. But, some will also be contemplating whether to hang around a bit longer to complete postgraduate studies.

You should never stop learning

If you’re looking into further study, let us tell you, it’s one of the greatest investments you can make for a successful future career. It’s an opportunity to develop specialised skills and learn about a more focused aspect of your industry from skilled professionals and experts. It can also provide you with that competitive edge when standing up against other candidates who have undergraduate degrees in the same field.

Continuing to learn and absorb knowledge on a daily basis is so important that, according to historic legend Benjamin Franklin, “the smartest and most successful people are the ones who are constant and deliberate learners”.

The options

Courses are flexible in nature and allow you to study part-time, online or full-time; with duration ranging from six months to four years depending on the chosen course.

• Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma: an opportunity to develop vocational skills and expand existing knowledge in a particular field
• Entry Masters and Specialised Masters Degrees: a high-order overview of study comprising of coursework, project work or research (entry masters degrees require an undergrad from any discipline; whereas specialised masters require an undergrad from the same field).
• PhD: a doctoral research degree of the highest level requiring a detailed investigation to uncover new information, data and theories in a specialised area.

Prerequisites

You may not have a choice – your chosen industry may require you to have postgraduate study under your belt in order to qualify for a job; this is especially relevant for science and engineering based industries. In other industries, like business, work experience may be more important. So, do your research and find out if your line of work desire’s qualifications or work experience before you take the leap. Some organisations will even pay for employees to undergo extra training to make them more valuable.

The good stuff

Although extra studying may set your lifestyle back slightly and burn a bigger hole in your wallet, the additional qualification could be the door to a wealth of employment options and career progress. You’ll gain professional registration, opportunities for higher salary prospects, and undertake stimulating and challenging work. If nothing else, you’ll have chance to build a network of like-minded, equally ambitious and passionate colleagues, which could prove invaluable in itself late down the track.

Engaging in Postgrad studies at Curtin

Interested in hearing more about postgraduate degree options? Representatives from the Curtin Future Students team will be at Curtin Careers Fair 2018. Find out about Curtin’s courses, fees, scholarships, research, and the application process. Applications for Postgrad studies and Research Degrees are now open for Semester 1, 2018 and beyond. Postgrad studies could be the key to make tomorrow better.