Whether you’re close to finishing your first degree or already working in your field, postgrad study can take your career prospects to new heights.
Undertaking a higher-level qualification is ideal if you want to specialise and advance in your field, qualify for a certain profession or seek a career change.
Here are our 10 reasons to study a postgrad degree:
1. Develop your skill set
If you want to dive deeper into your chosen area, a postgrad degree is a must. Bachelor’s degrees are excellent at introducing you to independent learning, exploring your field/s of interest and completing assessments; whereas a postgrad degree will see you take the skills, knowledge and experience you learn in a bachelor’s degree and enhance them further.
2. Network with the best
Studying a postgrad degree allows you to make valuable connections that could stand you in good stead for your future career. Expand your circle and open up opportunities by meeting with leaders in your field, joining student clubs and associations, and attending key events and networking functions. You’ll be able to connect with like-minded peers, as well as professionals and researchers who are already working where you want to be. These could prove powerful when it’s time to enter your chosen industry.
3. It doesn't have to break the bank
Studying at UWA is more accessible than ever, with many postgraduate courses available through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). CSPs offer significant savings on course fees, making higher education more affordable.
In addition to CSPs, UWA provides a variety of scholarships to support postgraduate students in their academic journeys. These financial options help to ease the burden of tuition fees, allowing you to focus on your studies and achieve your goals.
4. Your future earning potential is higher
Data from the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey highlights that higher-level qualifications correlate with improved employment outcomes and higher salaries. The median salary for full-time undergraduate employees was $71,000, while postgraduate coursework graduates earned a median salary of $96,600. This evidence reinforces the notion that pursuing a postgraduate degree can significantly enhance your job prospects and earning potential.
This highlights that advancing your education not only helps you stand out in the job market but also positions you for better financial rewards in your career.
5. Accreditation for certain careers
UWA provides opportunities to gain professional accreditation as you complete your degree. For example, if you enrol in the Master of Professional Accounting (Chartered Accounting), you will complete the professional study requirements of the Chartered Accountants (CA) program as part of your degree. Most graduates don’t commence their CA qualifications until after they graduate, so completion of the Master of Professional Accounting (Chartered Accounting) will provide a unique point of difference in the employment market. UWA is the only Go8 university to offer this unique qualification.
6. Stand out to employers
Postgraduate qualifications signal to employers that you have invested time and effort in developing specialized skills and knowledge beyond your initial degree. This commitment helps you stand out when competing for jobs against candidates with only a bachelor’s qualification.
Research indicates that individuals with postgraduate degrees often enjoy higher employment rates and better salary outcomes. By pursuing a postgraduate qualification, you can enhance your job prospects and position yourself for success in a competitive job market.
7. You don’t have to leave your job
How often have you thought that working and studying at the same time wouldn’t be possible? Well, we all know life is busy, so why not choose a flexible course that allows you to balance your studies with work, family commitments, or self-employment.
The completely online, part-time Graduate Certificate in Commerce (Online) is a standalone qualification that can serve as an entry point into the Master of Commerce and is ideal for graduates who do not hold an undergraduate degree in business. Other online and part-time courses include Building Information Modelling, the Diagnosis and Assessment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and Health Professions Education. You can even do an MBA while working.
8. Articulated courses and exit options
In some areas, ‘articulated’ courses are offered at postgraduate level. This means the courses share common units, so if you’ve completed a shorter course in a sequence of courses (such as a graduate certificate), you could enrol in a longer course in the sequence (such as a master's) with credit from the units you previously completed.
Start out with a graduate certificate and progress to a longer course if you like it. For example, if you complete a particular MBA pathway graduate certificate, you could articulate into the MBA Flexible program (and be credited for those units), so you end up with both a graduate certificate and a master’s degree. The Graduate Certificate in Business Psychology also leads into the Master of Business Psychology.
To find out more about grad certs that articulate into MBA pathways see here.
9. Show your commitment
Completing a degree alongside your job sends a signal to your employer that you’re putting in the effort and that you want to advance. This kind of dedication demonstrates your commitment to both your role and your organisation. It shows you’re aware of your current skill set and where you can potentially improve and build upon to be ready for the job you want when it is available.
10. Reconnect with your industry
Perhaps you’ve been working in your role for a while and things are feeling a bit stagnant. Use a postgrad degree to refresh your skills and knowledge by accessing up-to-date information in your field. Learn the latest trends and see what’s coming on the horizon for your industry.
Thinking of studying a postgrad degree?
Take your career prospects to new heights – apply now.
