Students decide to undertake further study for a number of reasons. Some students have been considering further study as a reaction to the difficult economic climate. If you’re serious about your future, then you’ll need to carefully consider your motivation for further study.
Use these pages for:
Achieving your career ambitions
For some career areas, postgraduate study is a minimum requirement for entry into a profession, such as:
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teaching
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legal careers
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social workers
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careers in research
In other career areas ─ for example, journalism ─ it’s not essential but highly desirable.
Developing your expertise
You may be motivated to continue your studies because you wish to explore your subject further or to specialise in a particular area. Depending on your longer term career direction this may be attractive to a future employer ─ for example, within the scientific or engineering fields.
Potential financial rewards
Postgraduate study can be an investment in your future. For example:
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the average starting salary of Nottingham students graduating with a PhD is £29,479, with a maximum salary of £68,000
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the average starting salaries for PhD graduates is 39 per cent higher than for first-degree graduates
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the average salary among those graduating from taught masters courses is £24,152, with a maximum starting salary of £90,000*
* Known destinations of all full-time Nottingham leavers in 2009/10
International students
International students from non-European Economic Areas (EEA), wishing to stay longer than the period given by the Home Office in order to undertake postgraduate study, must apply to the Home Office to extend their 'leave to remain' in the UK. For further information, see the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.
More information
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Read the AGCAS About Postgrad Study leaflet for further information about postgraduate study options, finding a course, factors to consider, application timelines, and advice on writing personal statements.