Choosing whether to continue your studies and start a postgraduate degree is one of the biggest decisions you can make about your academic and professional journey. Yet it’s not as simple as just deciding whether you want to undertake a postgraduate degree or not. There’s a range of factors you should consider when deciding this is the right next step for you.

Do you need a postgraduate degree to have the career you want or work in the industries you like?

The biggest thing to think about is to consider your professional and life goals. Are you interested in starting a PhD and therefore need a master’s degree? Are you passionate about your undergraduate major and want to further pursue it at a higher level? These are all questions you should ask yourself when evaluating whether this is a logical step for you to take.

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then great, you’ve overcome the hardest part of this process!

The next step is figuring out what you want to study, and here it’s important to think about some other criteria.

If you want to study your undergraduate degree programme at a more advanced level, then obviously looking for programmes that allow you to do that is key.

However, some students use master’s degrees to switch subjects in accordance with a career change or have other interests they want to explore. I know so many people who have used master’s degrees to do that. In that case, strongly consider how you want to make that shift and which universities offer you the paths to accomplish that goal. If you are looking at master’s degrees that require a significant amount of background knowledge in that subject as many do, that is something to consider if you’re new to the field.

Finally, it’s always crucial to think about financing your degree.

When you’re choosing the best postgraduate programme for you, you’ll need to look at those fees and see what your options are to pay for it. Does the university or universities you are considering offer scholarships or financial aid? Are there external funding sources you can apply to for help with paying for your degree? Do you have the personal financial means to pay for your degree? These are all questions you’ll need to answer before ultimately selecting the best postgraduate programme for you.

Postgraduate study isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve decided you want to take that step, ask yourself these questions when evaluating where you want to take your talents. Advanced learning is a very rewarding experience!