Where Next? Considering Postgraduate Study Careers Adviser Abi Sharma

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Where Next?

Considering

Postgraduate Study

Careers Adviser Abi Sharma

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Types of PostGrad

• Taught masters course: MA or MSc

• Research course: MRes, MPhil or PhD

• Vocational courses

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Why Do It?

Unfulfilled academic agenda / love the subject

Need further specialist knowledge for job

Vocational qualification

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Why not to do it?

- scared of ‘real world’

- student for longer

- don’t know what else to do

- exploring a job option

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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When is ‘doing it for your career’ a good reason?

Vocational courses:Law, Teaching, Medicine, Marketing,JournalismMasters:Any job requiring more specialist knowledge thanyour undergraduate providesPhD:Research roles (across sectors), lecturer,certain scientific roles

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Masters & PhD: making the right choice!

Is the course suitable for that area of work? Check in books on that career to find out which courses are suitable

Is the course officially recognised? Sometimes lots of courses of same subject

but only some recognised by employers

Is your background suitable?

e.g for MBA you need to have worked first

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Research & prepare!

Fairs: www.prospects.ac.uk/fairs

Magazines:

The Postgrad Guide (Hobsons) & Postgrad (Prospects)

Postgrad UK (prospects), The Finalist Directory

Institution websites and prospectuses

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Practical Considerations

Institution - course content / how

perceived by employers

PT/FT study - do you need the cash

flow p/t work gives you

Locality

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Practical Considerations

Tuition Fees: cost for UK students F/T Masters – approx £3000-£9000Maintenance: approx £6-8000 in London

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Funding

Research councils

Institutions

Charities and Trusts

Employer sponsored postgraduate course

Full or part-time work

Career Development Loan

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Application Forms

On personal statement include:

Relevant academic skills and knowledge

Give details of proposed research for research

based courses

Work experience for vocational courses

Demonstrate qualities the course will need

Show motivation for your subject

Why you want to study with their course

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

12Queen Mary Careers ServiceWG3 Queens Building – 020 7882 5065

Opening times:Monday-Thursday 10.30am-5pmFriday 10.30am-4pm

Drop-in sessions:Monday-Thursday 10.30am-12.30pm

2.00pm-4.30pm

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