Deciding to apply for a postgraduate qualification is a step that will bring you closer to achieving your career goals.
Before you apply, take some time to think about where you are now in terms of your career and how your proposed qualification will contribute to your career development.
Download the career reflection brochure and complete the questions to help you reflect on your career.
Learn more about doing career research to help you make effective career and study decisions.
Your choice should primarily be guided by the type of career and study opportunities for which you want to prepare, and whether you meet the admission requirements for your qualification(s) of choice. Read the admission requirements, curriculums and module descriptions carefully to make an informed choice.
Generally speaking, an honours degree includes a research module, which is not included in a postgraduate diploma. The research modules are intended for further studies at master’s degree level. Students who complete a postgraduate diploma and wish to apply for admission to a master's degree will then need to do a bridging module.
Postgraduate studies demand time, energy and commitment. In addition, you need to be able to tolerate frustration and be able to apply your problem-solving skills to manage your studies. Have you thought about the possible impact of your postgraduate studies on your life? The most important aspect related to study motivation at postgraduate level is whether you think you will succeed with your studies and your ability to manage challenges.
Postgraduate studies require a deepening of your academic skills. Once you are registered for a postgraduate qualification, you will quickly realise that how you have been studying will have to be adapted (sometimes radically so), for example: At undergraduate level, you were able to memorise the content of your study guides and prescribed textbooks. At postgraduate level, however, you will be expected to do more independent reading and research to demonstrate a deeper understanding of your subject.
Do you feel prepared for postgraduate studies? These are some of the attributes of a successful postgraduate student. Do you recognise yourself here or do you need to develop some of these aspects?
A successful postgraduate student can