If you have spent the last three or four years working towards an undergraduate degree, it is now time to decide the next step. You may already have a firm idea of what you want to do so will be in a position to start applying for jobs or further study. If you are unsure about your career plans, postgraduate study may be an option but you need to consider the benefits carefully before reaching a decision. You also need to think about the demands of studying at a higher level and if you are able to commit.

Points to consider:

• Required for your chosen profession: for some professions, a postgraduate qualification is part of the entry requirement. This includes teachers, lawyers, doctors and other health related roles.
  
  
• Research and academic careers: again, postgraduate study is necessary to enter academic and research careers, with a PhD being preferred in some professions.
  
  
• Career progression: a postgraduate qualification will, in some cases, allow you to progress further up the career ladder. Though not always essential, it may give you the edge over other candidates when applying for higher level jobs.
  
  
• Flexibility: many postgraduate courses are offered on a part-time basis, so can fit around work/family commitments.
  
  
• Change of career: some postgraduate courses act as a conversion course qualifying you to enter a new sector such as IT, law, medicine, psychology, and teaching. Visit university postgraduate open days to find out more: www.prospects.ac.uk/events