Options for further study Why further study?

Towards the end of your degree programme, you may wish to explore options for study at postgraduate level. Many students assume that the more highly qualified they are, the more attractive they are to an employer. This depends, however, on how relevant your qualifications are to the post you are applying for.

The Prospects website has some further discussion of the pros and cons of Masters study, and how it may be viewed by employers.

The option you choose will depend on your motivation for further study.

Think about whether you would prefer further academic study or a vocational course leading to a work-related qualification. Do you plan to study full-time, part-time, or through distance learning?

For academic qualifications, routes you might take are:

• a taught course that involves a short research project, leading to a postgraduate certificate, diploma or a masters degree
• research leading to an MRes, MPhil or PhD
• a combination of formal courses and research – There are so-called 'taught doctorates' in fields such as clinical psychology, education and engineering. These involve more lectures and seminars than a traditional PhD and the research project is normally directly related to professional practice.

I really love my subject and want to study it in more depth.

For vocational qualifications, you might consider:

• a mixture of university-based study and assessed work placements, leading for instance to an MA Social Work or a postgraduate teaching qualification (PGCE or PGDE)
• a conversion course, typically a one-year taught course which allows you to convert to a new subject area e.g. Graduate Diploma in Psychology (GDP), or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

It’s necessary to gain a professional qualification to make a career change.

Postgraduate study within the OU

You can look at our postgraduate programme website and explore the range of options available to you.

Postgraduate study outside the OU

The Prospects website has a comprehensive section on postgraduate study options in the UK, including a courses and research database. Postgrad.ie provides a similar resource for students in Ireland. Think Postgrad provides resources, information on funding and enables comparison of Masters courses.

Further study abroad

Do you wish to study overseas and would you be willing to relocate if necessary? The Prospects website offers information about studying abroad. Remember to check whether the overseas training and qualifications have the recognised status to allow you to practice in the UK, if you wished.