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Posted May 11, 2026

Degree 2.0 – because sometimes adulting needs an upgrade

Degree 2.0 – because sometimes adulting needs an upgrade

Continuing education is not everyone’s cup of tea. There are some who believe in hitting pause just after studying a bachelors degree, and then there are some who believe in continuously up-skilling themselves to stay with the times. In today’s fast-paced, rigorously advancing environment, the right set of skills are the need of the hour. While education provides you with the foundational knowledge, work experience allows you to adapt that knowledge into practice. But then comes the Catch-22 – when you need knowledge to be eligible for a skill/job and also need to have a job/skill to gain more knowledge. That’s when further education comes into the play – addressing both the knowledge factor as well as the skills opportunity.

To PG or not to PG – that IS the question.

To address this question, you need to ask yourself these three things:

1. The Pursuit of Specialisation

Does a PG degree actually make sense in my case? Is it offering me a further specialisation?

STEM professionals, Medicine Grads, Academic Researchers all seek to do specialisations in order to gain the edge above others or make themselves more competitive in the market. A postgraduate degree allows you to further streamline your career objectives which becomes a necessity if you want to be ahead in the game. A specialisation allows you to become more “useful” than just “qualified”, wherein you are capable of presenting not just generic answers but exact solutions.

2. The Social Climber

Do I need another degree to advance in my corporate career?

Corporate advancement is another reason for continuing education, or rather resuming education after a significant work stint. A postgraduate degree becomes a necessity for organisations who believe that the right education sets people for the right positions. While an MBA program remains the most popular choice, universities globally are now providing very specialised corporate pathways like analytics, innovation management, financial risk management, data sciences etc.. which help you climb the corporate ladder.

3. The Curious Case of Career Reinvention

Am I happy in my current line of work? Is there a way to switch career paths?

There’s no age limit when looking at re-inventing yourself. You may find yourself stuck in a mundane job or a non-progressive sector and are desperate for a change. Most universities offer conversion courses which specifically address this issue. A humanities grad can now study a computer science masters, as long as they show some skills and aptitude for the subject. Similarly, an engineer can now pursue an occupational psychology or a human resources degree. A niche trend also shows STEM grads choosing a philosophy degree, thanks to the need for ethical solutions in the age of AI.  

Considerations when deciding to study a masters

Key points to remember when making the decision to study further:

1. Do not sign up for a PG degree just because “everyone’s doing it”. You need to be sure for yourself, if this next step is indeed for you. A postgraduate degree without a direction can be a misstep in your career trajectory which can lead to delayed outcomes.

2. If you’re in an industry where skills are valued over degrees, choose your next step wisely. Building your portfolio and skillsets through work experience will add more value than another degree in your CV. Sometimes that also allows you to understand if that industry is in fact for you, and if you’ll thrive in this work sphere.

3. Never think of a PG degree as “buying time”. If you’re doing so, then you’re simply avoiding the job market and delaying your prospects. Doing a PG degree does not compensate for lack of confidence or clarity in future career choices. It needs to add value and not postpone decisions or create uncertainty.

In conclusion...

Finally, getting a postgraduate degree is not just about education, but also exposure and networks, especially when you are opting to travel internationally. An international degree allows you to experience different systems and psyches. It fosters intellectual and personal development, challenges you to thrive in a new environment and exposes you to situations and opportunities that you may not come across otherwise. It’s the Hunger Games in the real world, and when played well, not only are the rewards multi-fold, but you accelerate your career towards newer zeniths.

UCL Davina SmithAuthor’s bio: Davina Smith is a Student Recruitment Manager at UCL and is based in India. She has spent over two years at UCL, managing recruitment and operations for the India market. 

With over a decade of experience within the UK higher education sector, Davina is dedicated towards helping students navigate their educational and career choices and empowering them as they step into the next exciting chapter of their lives. 

You can email her on davina.smith@ucl.ac.uk for any UCL-related questions.

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