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Posted May 7, 2013

Pursuing Different Paths for Undergrad and Postgrad Degrees?

One question that comes up time and time again from  prospective postgraduate students , looking to further their education with a masters or PhD is:

‘Is it possible to pursue different paths for my undergraduate and postgraduate degree?’

Why are so many students posing this question? Because they want to ensure that they are making smart choices from the get go, and ones that won’t interfere with their education further down the line.
 

For example, if Elijah were to complete an undergraduate degree in Criminology for three years, would he then be able to jump to another subject entirely and study a postgraduate degree in Psychology?
 

Or would he have to start all over again for another three years doing an undergraduate degree in Psychology before being able to go ahead and complete a postgraduate degree in the subject?
 

The crux of the matter is that you can get a master’s degree in anything you like, the only issue that will get in your way is if the master’s program has specific prerequisites that your undergraduate course did not cover.
 

Have Your End Goal in Mind

If you already have your end goal in mind, such as an Elijah’s case where he is aiming for a postgraduate degree in Psychology, then it is recommended that you research the universities that you are interested in attending and look at their admissions requirements. This way you are well aware of what will be expected of you beforehand.
 

Many master’s programs are not concerned with your undergraduate degree at all. Entry requirements for these courses are more focused on the level of degree that you achieved for your bachelor’s.
 

Planning is Key

Although it isn’t always easy, having a well thought out plan for your degree decisions is beneficial. Having a whole host of degrees and qualifications in an array of different subjects can make you appear as though you lack focus and direction when applying for jobs. With that being said, some of us are just naturally multi-passionate and we shouldn’t let societal norms get in the way of us pursuing our dreams and ambitions.
 

If you are already on your road to completing your bachelor’s degree and you have had a change of heart along the way, fear not. Everything can be figured out! Don’t automatically assume that you will not be able to apply for the postgraduate course you are pining after. Many students decide that they want to focus their energies into a different area of study during their undergraduate degree. This is completely normal and something that the postgraduate admission board is more than familiar with.
 

Just remember to focus on your degree at hand, this way you will arm yourself with the best possible shot of nabbing yourself a place on the postgraduate course you want.
 

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