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Posted Dec. 31, 2025

What is a Graduate Certificate (GradCert) and is it worth pursuing after your bachelors?

The qualification before the postgraduate degree, the Graduate Certificate is a lesser known credential that could just help you achieve your dream of completing a masters. While generally considered an American qualification, which is equivalent to a bachelors degree level qualification in the UK, its status as a stepping stone to postgraduate study is important to note.

Read on to discover all you need to know about the Graduate Certificate – or GradCert as it is often abbreviated – and whether it is the right next step for you after your bachelors degree…

What exactly is a Graduate Certificate?

A Graduate Certificate is the qualification that sits between a bachelors degree and a masters degree. As mentioned previously, it is essentially a stepping stone between the two, offering the chance for the graduate to advance in their career and specialise in a specific field that is more similar to their masters degree yet may be slightly (or entirely) different from their bachelors degree.

A GradCert gives you the chance to refine your knowledge in preparation for more advanced study, giving you greater chances of success in the long term – but more on that later!

How long does it take to study for a GradCert?

GradCerts aren’t referred to as ‘mini masters’ for nothing! While a masters degree takes a full 12 months to complete – two years for a part-time masters – a Graduate Certificate takes four to nine months, depending on the specific course.

How much do GradCert programs cost?

With the shorter duration comes a lower price tag, and it’s one of the reasons why many people choose to pursue a Graduate Certificate instead of a full masters degree as Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management details:

“Graduate certificates often cost significantly less in tuition, allowing professionals to gain specialized skills without incurring substantial student debt. Moreover, these programs typically have fewer credit requirements, reducing both the time and expense involved. For individuals seeking to upskill or pivot into a new industry, graduate certificates provide a cost-effective way to enhance their credentials...”

So, is a GradCert a replacement for a masters?

While billed as a more affordable, accessible masters degree, the GradCert is certainly no substitute. It’s true that it can provide a cost effective and time efficient way to gain specialist knowledge and skills, but it is a pathway to studying for a masters and allows for a smoother transition.

Some use a GradCert course to ‘test the water’ in a new field before going the whole hog with a masters degree program. Others find the Graduate Certificate just enough to develop their skills to the desired level, unlock career goals and earning potential, and expand their professional networks.

Where can I study for a Graduate Certificate?

There are several institutions that offer Graduate Certificate programs. This includes but is not limited to Goldsmiths, University of London; Birkbeck, University of London; University of Sheffield; Keele University; Northumbria University; University of Lancashire; University of Reading; and Ulster University.

Search postgraduate courses, including GradCert programs, right here at Postgrad.com.

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