what is a postgraduate course

by Prof. Russell O'Conner DVM 4 min read

A postgraduate is a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree level course at a college or university and is undertaking further study at a more advanced level. What is a Postgraduate Course? A postgraduate course is typically one year’s duration full time or it can take two years to complete part-time.

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What is difference between postgraduate and graduate?

What is a Postgraduate Course? A postgraduate course is typically one year’s duration full time or it can take two years to complete part-time. A postgraduate diploma, postgraduate degree or Master's degree offers the student an advanced level of education in their chosen area of study. The course content is designed to build on the knowledge obtained at undergraduate degree …

Why should you study a postgraduate qualification?

Postgraduate diploma programs are offered to students who have already earned a bachelor's degree. They are rare in the United States, with most programs offered by institutions in other foreign countries, like the United Kingdom, that are internationally recognized. Depending on the country, this type of program may also be called a postgraduate certification, advanced …

What does it mean to be a postgraduate student?

Definition of postgraduate. (Entry 1 of 2) : of, relating to, or engaged in formal studies after graduation : graduate.

What are four professions that require postgraduate work?

2 days ago · When it comes to choosing a postgraduate course there are more flexible options available these days than ever before: students can still immerse themselves in a one-year full-time or two-year ...

What is meant by post graduate course?

A postgraduate is a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree level course at a college or university and is undertaking further study at a more advanced level.

Is a postgraduate course a Masters?

The term 'undergraduate' refers to first-degree students studying for a Bachelors degree, while 'postgraduate' is used to describe graduate students studying a second-cycle qualification, typically a Masters, postgraduate certificate (PGCert) or postgraduate diploma (PGDip).

What is a postgraduate course UK?

'Postgrad' certificates and diplomas allow students to study something new or build on the skills and knowledge already gained during their undergraduate degree. They are usually shorter than a master's and you won't have to do a thesis or dissertation.

Is postgraduate same as degree?

Postgraduate is used interchangeably with graduate. Like a graduate degree, postgraduate refers to the range of higher degrees past the undergraduate degree. This includes both master's degrees and Phds.Jan 29, 2020

What's the difference between a Masters and a Bachelors?

Assuming full-time enrollment, a bachelor's degree is typically a four-year degree program that is earned at the undergraduate level, while a master's degree is a graduate-level degree that usually takes two years to earn, on average.Oct 7, 2021

What percentage of people have a Masters degree?

It's not just metaphorical to say that a master's degree is the new bachelor's degree: about 13 percent of people aged 25 and older have a master's, about the same proportion that had a bachelor's in 1960.Aug 14, 2021

What are the 4 types of degrees?

College degrees generally fall into four categories: associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral. Each college degree level varies in length, requirements, and outcomes.Jan 20, 2022

What comes after a postgraduate degree?

After receiving your master's degree, there are still more options to study in graduate school, including an additional master's degree, doctorate programs (Ph. D., Ed. D., and others) and certificate programs to consider. These degree and certificate programs all vary in level, time to complete, and more.Jun 26, 2019

Why do a postgraduate degree?

gain a qualification. improve your career by deepening your knowledge. change your career by gaining skills in a new area. increase earning potential.

What are postgraduate students?

A postgraduate degree or qualification is an advanced area of study in your respective field. You can undertake postgraduate study after you have completed an undergraduate degree or have equivalent work experience. The postgraduate degree or programme allows you to specialise or acquire a specific skill set.Feb 11, 2019

Is Bachelor degree undergraduate or postgraduate?

The term 'undergraduate' refers to a Bachelors degree, while 'postgraduate' is used to describe graduate students studying for a second qualification, typically a masters, postgraduate certificate (PGCert) or postgraduate diploma (PGDip).May 20, 2020

Is diploma undergraduate or postgraduate?

A Graduate Diploma is a one-year qualification at bachelor's degree level, normally taken by those who have already obtained a degree. A Postgraduate Diploma is an award at the level of a master's degree, but normally taking less time to complete.

What is a postgraduate diploma in education?

Postgraduate Diplomas are taught courses that do not have a dissertation or thesis. If you undertake a masters course but do not compete the dissertation this is the qualification you will probably find yourself finishing with. Postgraduate Diplomas can be a great way for those unsure about whether they need or want to complete a full masters course to specialise their careers.

Why do we need a postgraduate degree?

A postgraduate degree is an excellent way to specialise, retrain and develop new skills in an efficient manner once you've learnt the academic basics with an undergraduate degree. Further postgraduate study gives students the opportunity to learn and gain a deep understanding of their chosen subject and is well worth the time and money.

What is a masters degree?

A masters degree can take a number of different forms but what they all have in common is that they usually require an undergraduate degree to gain entry. The majority of masters courses require a thesis or dissertation to graduate in addition to any coursework. In the UK most masters courses are a year in length, apart from some professional masters courses such as Masters of Architecture (MArch) which are generally between two and three years. Most masters courses in the US are also a year in length and many masters courses in Europe are two years in length.#N#Masters degrees are gained either through a taught or research course. In a taught masters students are awarded a Masters of Arts (MA), Masters of Science (MSc) or a Master of Philosophy (MPhil). There are variations between countries, for example in Scotland students can study towards a Masters of Letters (MLitt) in subjects such as Creative Writing, History and Theology. Masters are also available through research (MRes) and these are awarded entirely on the basis of your own independent study. The designation of a masters course is important as for some subjects it shows the emphasis of the course as some subjects such as Anthropology can have courses with radically different approaches depending on the designation of the degree.#N#Some Masters courses like an MArch or an Masters of Engineering (MEng) are taken after completing the relevant undergraduate course with a long-term view to qualify as an Architect or Engineer. These masters programs are essential parts of the qualification routes and those who wish to become Architects or Engineers must complete them to be able to practise in their chosen career. Other masters courses are about specialising or focussing a career choice, especially those in the Law or Medical professionals. There are some masters courses that are for those graduates who already have a first degree but wish to retrain in another subject, such as a Masters in Town Planning or Journalism, for these courses it is assumed that the student has a number of academic skills that are transferable to the new subject.

What is a masters in town planning?

There are some masters courses that are for those graduates who already have a first degree but wish to retrain in another subject, such as a Masters in Town Planning or Journalism, for these courses it is assumed that the student has a number of academic skills that are transferable to the new subject.

What is a PhD?

PhD. A PhD is a significant undertaking and often involves an element of both working and researching at an institution. The majority of students who go on to complete a PhD have already undertaken a masters course in a relevant subject. Often this will be an MPhil or MRes but this is not exclusively the case.

How old is Alice Tucker?

Alice Tucker is a 21-year-old student studying an MA in Human Rights at the University of Manchester. She experienced a whole range of emotions when she discovered she was being awarded one of our bursaries, saying, “I was shocked but extremely grateful.

What is a postgraduate degree?

The Postgraduate degree is generally a degree earned after the bachelor’s, and the bachelor also serves as a prerequisite for being admitted into a Postgraduate program, although there can be exceptions.

What is the difference between a postgraduate and an undergraduate?

The undergraduate has varieties of course loads which can be General, electives, and core subjects while the Postgraduate has limited subjects as they are more specialized. The Postgraduate program is much more flexible than the undergraduate. You can decide to study and at the same time work along.

What are some examples of research degrees?

Some examples of Research Degree Programs: 1 Doctor of Applied Social Research (DASR) 2 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 3 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) 4 Masters by research 5 Master of Research (MRes) 6 Doctor of Medicine (MD) 7 Doctor of Engineering (EngD) 8 Doctor of Education (EdD)

How many types of postgraduate programs are there?

The duration of the Postgraduate program varies according to the one you choose, and there are four types of programs at the Postgraduate level. Taught courses are divided into two categories: Master’s degree and the Postgraduate diplomas.

How long does a professional diploma last?

On the other hand, the Professional diploma and certificates are both technical and academics; the length of study for the Postgraduate certificate is four months while the diploma can last up to nine months. They can lead you to a specific career or use them to further into advanced learning.

What is conversion course?

Conversion courses are used to transfer to a subject area; it is for an individual that does not have knowledge relevant to a particular subject. Professional courses are tailored according to a specific career. For example, Juris Doctor, Doctor of medicine, and LPC.

How long is a masters degree?

The length of study for a taught course is generally one to two years (masters) and will involve that the student submits a researched thesis at the end of the program. And you can decide to consider studying the bachelor together with the master’s degree depending on how much you can cope with.

What is a postgraduate degree?

Generally, a postgraduate degree is a degree which you study for once you have finished a bachelor’s degree. Some postgraduate degrees require the completion of particular bachelor’s degree, others don’t. Currently, approximately 540,000 students are enrolled on postgraduate programmes in the UK.

What are the different types of postgraduate degrees?

There are four main types of postgraduate degrees: taught courses, research degrees, conversion courses and professional qualifications. Many postgraduate courses are studied at university, but some courses are taught in a commercial environment.

How long does it take to get a masters degree?

A taught master’s degree usually takes place over one or two years and mostly involves the completion of a dissertation or project.

How long does it take to get a postgraduate certificate?

A postgraduate certificate normally takes around four months, whereas diplomas usually last around nine months. You could study a subject which is completely new to you, or you could choose a course which builds on what you learned in your bachelor’s degree. Postgraduate certificates or diplomas can provide a route to particular careers, ...

Is a postgraduate degree necessary for a career?

Postgraduate degrees aren’t all about academia and shimmying up the academic career ladder. Further postgraduate study is sometimes needed for certain careers. Postgraduate conversion courses give you that vital lifeline if you haven’t studied a relevant undergraduate degree for the profession you want to pursue.

What is a research degree?

Research degrees are often referred to as doctorates . The main types of doctorates are: PhDs, DPhils, integrated PhDs and professional doctorates . Doctorates can be taken after a master’s degree or, in some cases, after a bachelor’s degree, during which the master’s is usually earned along the way.

How long does it take to get a PhD?

Doctorates are generally completed over two to four years. The main component of a PhD is the doctoral thesis. This is a research project on a specialist topic and can be between 40,000 and (wait for it) 120,000 words. It should be worthy of publication and add something new to your field of study.

What is postgraduate education?

Postgraduate education can involve studying for qualifications such as postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas. They are sometimes used as steps on the route to a degree, as part of the training for a specific career, or as a qualification in an area of study too narrow to warrant a full degree course.

What are the different types of postgraduate degrees?

Types of postgraduate degrees 1 Graduate certificate, six-month full-time coursework 2 Graduate diploma, twelve-month full-time coursework 3 Master (of Arts, Science or other discipline), twelve to 24 months coursework, sometimes including a six-month dissertation like the Australian undergraduate honours degree 4 Professional doctorates, which are usually more strenuous and of a longer duration than a master's degree, e.g. 36 months in duration.

What is an honorary degree?

Honorary degrees. Most universities award honorary degrees, usually at the postgraduate level. These are awarded to a wide variety of people, such as artists, musicians, writers, politicians, businesspeople, etc., in recognition of their achievements in their various fields.

How many modules are required for a masters?

Some universities require eight taught modules for a one-year programme, twelve modules for a one-and-a-half-year programme, and twelve taught modules plus a thesis or dissertation for a two-year programme. The academic year for an Australian postgraduate programme is typically two semesters (eight months of study).

Which universities offer masters degrees?

^ Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin continue to award Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees to undergraduates without any further study seven years after matriculation. These universities also award Bachelor's degrees for some forms of postgraduate study (e.g., see BCL)

Where did postgraduate education originate?

Although systems of higher education date back to ancient Greece, ancient Rome and ancient China, the concept of postgraduate education depends upon the system of awarding degrees at different levels of study, and can be traced to the workings of European medieval universities, mostly Italians. University studies took six years for ...

How many modules are required for a one year program?

Some universities require eight taught modules for a one-year programme, twelve modules for a one-and-a-half-year programme, and twelve taught modules plus a thesis or dissertation for a two-year programme. The academic year for an Australian postgraduate programme is typically two semesters (eight months of study).

What is a postgraduate diploma?

A postgraduate diploma program offers students advanced, practical knowledge of one subject area. This may provide knowledge in new subject areas for students who are thinking about changing careers or disciplines. Students can even pursue preparatory courses for a master's degree program.

How long does it take to get a postgraduate degree?

A postgraduate diploma takes between six months and two years to complete, typically consisting of 2-3 semesters of work. A postgraduate diploma offers studies at the graduate level. This type of diploma may be awarded in some countries to those students who have completed most of a master's degree program, without the dissertation or thesis paper.

Is a thesis required for a postgraduate degree?

A thesis is not required as part of a postgraduate diploma which, for some, can seem like a great benefit. A postgraduate diploma gives students opportunities to focus precisely on one subject. This type of diploma program also concentrates less on theoretical learning and more on hands-on, practical applications for the job market.

Examples of postgraduate in a Sentence

Adjective After college, she spent her first postgraduate year studying abroad.

English Language Learners Definition of postgraduate

What made you want to look up postgraduate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

What does "postgraduate" mean?

1. postgraduate - a student who continues studies after graduation. grad student, graduate student. college boy, college man, collegian - a student (or former student) at a college or university. Adj. 1. postgraduate - of or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree; "graduate courses". graduate.

What does "graduate" mean in education?

1. (Education) a student who has obtained a degree from a university, etc, and is pursuing studies for a more advanced qualification. 2. (Education) ( modifier) of or relating to such a student or to his or her studies. Also (US and Canadian): graduate.

What is a postgraduate student?

A postgraduate student is someone who is studying a postgraduate degree (such as a Masters or PhD ). Postgraduate students have normally already completed an undergraduate degree (such as a Bachelors).

What is a masters degree?

A Masters is one type of postgraduate degree (more advanced courses, usually studied by people who already have undergraduate qualifications). Some other types of course, such as Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas, aren't full Masters degrees.

How many credits are in a PGCert?

A PGCert (Postgraduate Certificate) is a short postgraduate course, worth 60 credits in the UK. PGCert courses usually include one term (or the equivalent) of Masters-level material, with no dissertation.

Is a PhD a masters or a PhD?

Masters and PhDs are both postgraduate qualifications, but a PhD is more advanced. Masters degrees explore existing subject knowledge in greater detail. PhD study focusses on original research that adds significant new knowledge to a subject.

What is a PGCE?

A PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) is a postgraduate teacher training qualification, for people who want to qualify to teach in UK schools. A PGCE is worth less credits than a Masters, though some students complete extra course components to earn a Masters with their PGCE.

Is a masters degree a graduate degree?

Is a Masters a graduate degree? Yes. Masters degrees are classified as 'graduate' level degrees in the USA and North America, and are usually studied within universities' graduate schools, or graduate programs. In the UK and Europe, a Masters is commonly referred to as a 'postgraduate' degree instead.

What is a conversion course?

A conversion course provides professional training for people who wish to change career or qualify for a job that isn't related to their existing qualifications. The GDL (graduate Diploma in Law) and PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) are examples of postgraduate conversion courses.

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Types of Postgraduate Degrees

Research Degree

Master’s Degree

  • There are some professions, of which in the UK, teaching is the main one, that have a Postgraduate Diploma (PGCE in Education) that allows graduates who did not study Teaching to quickly qualify. Postgraduate Diplomas are taught courses that do not have a dissertation or thesis. If you undertake a masters course but do not compete the dissertation this is the qualific…
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The Difference Between Postgraduate and Undergraduate Degrees

Taught Courses

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The Postgraduate degree is generally a degree earned after the bachelor’s, and the bachelor’salso serves as a prerequisite for being admitted into a Postgraduate program, although there can be exceptions. The duration of the Postgraduate program varies according to the one you choose, and there are four types of progr…
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Research Degrees

  • As the name implies, they are centered on research, and they are mostly referred to as the Doctorate. It is possible to obtain a research degree or doctorate after obtaining a master’s degree. Sometimes, it can also be obtained after completing a bachelor’s degree, i.e., in a situation where the master’s degree was earned at the same time as a bachelor’s degree. In this degree, t…
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Conversion Courses

  • The academic learning is in levels, and the next level after the undergraduate program is the master’s. It is more advanced, although it has a shorter length of study than the bachelor’s degree. It is different from the bachelor’s and associate degrees in that you have an option to study various courses that include general, electives, and core. The Master’s degree is more specialize…
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Professional Qualifications

  • The length of study for undergraduate programs is between 2 to 4 years, while the Postgraduate studies can be as little as a year or up to eight years depending on the course, institution, and mode of study. The undergraduate has varieties of course loads which can be General, electives, and core subjects while the Postgraduate has limited subjects as they are more specialized. Th…
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Overview

  • There are two main types of taught courses: master’s degrees and postgraduate diplomas (or certificates). A taught master’s degree usually takes place over one or two years and mostly involves the completion of a dissertation or project. You can do a Master of the Arts (MA), a Master of Science (MSc), a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Engineerin…
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Types of postgraduate qualification

  • A huge part of postgraduate study revolves around independent research. Research degrees are often referred to as doctorates. The main types of doctorates are: PhDs, DPhils, integrated PhDs and professional doctorates. Doctorates can be taken after a master’s degree or, in some cases, after a bachelor’s degree, during which the master’s is usually earned along the way. Doctorates …
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Argentina

  • Postgraduate degrees aren’t all about academia and shimmying up the academic career ladder. Further postgraduate study is sometimes needed for certain careers. Postgraduate conversion courses give you that vital lifeline if you haven’t studied a relevant undergraduate degree for the profession you want to pursue. They give you the option to transfer to a different subject area. C…
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Australia

  • There are also a number of professional qualifications offered by professional bodies, which are essential entry qualifications for various careers. For example, if you want to be a solicitor, you will have to take the Legal Practice Course (LPC). These qualifications offer practical training and are mainly focused on providing entry into a profession, or allowing you to develop your career f…
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Brazil

Postgraduate education (graduate education in North America) involves learning and studying for academic or professional degrees, academic or professional certificates, academic or professional diplomas, or other qualifications for which a first or bachelor's degree generally is required, and it is normally considered to be part of higher education. In North America, this level is typically referred to as graduate school (and often colloquially as grad school).

Canada

There are two main types of degrees studied for at the postgraduate level: academic and vocational degrees.
The term degree in this context means the moving from one stage or level to another (from French degré, from Latin dē- + gradus), and first appeared in the 13th century.

France

In Argentina, the admission to a Postgraduate program at an Argentine University requires the full completion of any undergraduate course, called in Argentina "carrera de grado" (v.gr. Licenciado, Ingeniero or Lawyer degree). The qualifications of 'Licenciado', 'Ingeniero', or the equivalent qualification in Law degrees (a graduate from a "carrera de grado") are similar in content, length and skill-set to a joint first and second cycles in the qualification framework of the Bologna Proc…

Germany and the Netherlands

Programmes are divided into coursework-based and research-based degrees. Coursework programs typically include qualifications such as
• Graduate certificate, six-month full-time coursework
• Graduate diploma, twelve-month full-time coursework