Students aspire to pursue higher education to expand their knowledge and develop relevant skills to unlock promising career opportunities. However, opting for a degree course that aligns with your previous academic qualification and future career plan is crucial. Since multiple study programs are available, here’s a guide to help you make well-informed decisions.

Key highlights

Things to keep in mind while choosing a post-graduate course

·       Self-introspection

·       How to choose a master’s course based on the types of post-graduate degrees?

·       In-depth research

·       Map the demand for the career opportunities that your coursework will unlock

·       Education Consultants

·       Plan your finances

·       A master’s degree is a rigorous course 

Things to keep in mind while choosing a post-graduate course

·       Self-introspection

The process of self-reflecting to understand your goals, needs and thoughts to know your expectations from the course can open up new views. Journaling your perspective will assist you in crystalising your thoughts and arriving at the appropriate decision. Ensure you pursue a post-graduate degree for the right reasons and not due to peer pressure.

Ask yourself these questions to evaluate what you want:

1.    Which course and domain will be best suitable based on my previous academic journey?

2.    Can the course offer lucrative employment opportunities in some of the highly in-demand fields?

3.    If I aspire to pursue higher education after post-graduation, will the master’s degree be helpful?

 

·       How to choose a master’s course based on the types of post-graduate degrees?

 

o   Academic master’s degree: If you want to gain deep insights into your area of specialisation, this is for you, as this course is theory-based.

 

o   Professional master’s degree: This type of post-graduation course will impart practical knowledge to ensure you acquire the necessary skills to be career-ready.  

 

o   Post-graduate diplomas: If you want to enrol on a master’s level program with a short duration, this course is for you. Most master’s programs will require you to submit a dissertation, but with these diplomas, such projects are not mandatory.

 

o   Post-graduate certification programs: These courses are shorter than the PG diplomas. Hence, pursuing these courses from a well-ranked university is necessary.

Pro Tip: Evaluate your learning goals to identify the right type of post-graduate degree.

·       In-depth research

After identifying the type of post-graduate degree, you can carry out extensive research to find out the universities that offer you your preferred course. Well-ranked universities will provide you with globally-recognised study programs. So, find out if your preferred university appears in the top 200 universities according to the ranking websites. Furthermore, avoid making impulsive decisions without planning the entire academic journey. Instead, talk with peers and alumni to delve deeper into the research.

o   Some popular university ranking platforms:

For international universities

§  Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings

§  Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

For Indian universities

§  National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)

 

·       Map the demand for the career opportunities that your coursework will unlock

The ultimate goal of every student is to gain the knowledge and competencies required to build a successful career. Thanks to ever-evolving technology and automation, many jobs may not exist in the future. On the other hand, career avenues that did not exist 10-20 years ago are not only emerging but are becoming mainstream. For instance, some emerging jobs include career options such as Driverless Car Engineer, Big Data Scientist, Blockchain Analyst, and Cloud Engineer. So, it is better to examine if the course you aspire to pursue will be relevant and in demand in the near future.   

·       Education Consultants

If you want an expert to advice, you can always turn to educational consultants who are professionals in this field. These experts can guide you to find the right mix of course and university to fulfil your academic aspirations. They can also guide you through the university application process, career avenues, and entrance exams.

·       Plan your finances

Finances play a vital role in your higher education as you must consider tuition fees, travelling expenses, accommodation costs, and other education-related expenses. Whether you plan to study in India or abroad, education inflation keeps increasing every year. Therefore, many students opt for an education loan to finance their education independently. Before taking a student loan, estimate the cost of education by using College Course Expense Calculator.

·       A master’s degree is a rigorous course

Post-graduate courses are focused on imparting expert knowledge so you can be future-proof. Hence, it involves more challenging terms than your undergraduate degree’s semesters. Post-graduate courses will involve projects, dissertations, presentations, group study and other activities. So, when you decide to opt for a master’s degree, be ready for the challenge by stepping out of your comfort zone.

So, these are some tips to help you choose the post-graduate course that best suits you. If you aspire to fund your education independently, like millions of other students, you can opt for a study loan. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer loans for students that cover the holistic cost of education, including tuition fees, travelling expenses, accommodation expenses, living expenses and other education-related costs. If you have any queries, please connect us. We will be glad to assist you.