Why should you study a PG program in 2021?

Postgraduate student in 2021 With 2020 finally coming to a close, most of us will be pleased to see the back of it!

2021 is just over the horizon, and the perfect year to start your postgraduate studies.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why…

Career needs recalibrating

With all of the economic turmoil caused by Covid-19 and the associated lockdowns, many of us will be looking at careers that aren't quite as glittering as they once seemed to be. Do your options suddenly seem a little limited compared to just one short year ago? If so, then a postgraduate course might help you change direction. Many postgraduate courses accept students who have relevant experience rather than an undergraduate degree or one that is a little short on the grades front. For lots of people, the lockdown was a chance to re-evaluate your lifestyle, so if you are considering a move to the country, you'll want to have a skill-set to match the available jobs.

Employer wants to invest

In the same way as many people re-evaluated their lives during lockdown, so did many companies and organisations. The post-Covid recovery period will offer lots of opportunities for companies and governments to invest in new areas and new technologies. Perhaps 2021 is the year to speak with your employer and see if your plans and their plans align with each other. If your employer agrees to fund postgraduate study, then expect to sign an agreement to work for them for a couple of years after you've completed the course.

Gap in the market

As you've watched the world change this year, maybe you've seen a way to improve it for 2021? If you have, then maybe you should opt to study a PG program in a relevant – and lucrative – field. For example an MBA with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship should help you to develop that world-changing business plan. MBA programs are a great way to meet with other like-minded students and network with people who can offer solutions to all sorts of problems. You never know, you might meet a future business partner or financier at one of the networking events held at business schools around the world.

Not started your career yet

For those students who have been working at undergraduate degrees throughout 2020, the next natural step is onto postgraduate study in 2021. The job market might be tough as the world emerges from toe Coronavirus Pandemic, so get as much work experience as you can while you study. University career services can help you find placements, internships and even your first job after graduation, so make sure you use them while you complete your postgraduate course.

Online options have grown

One of the advantages of the Covid-19 crisis is that it has forced many universities to offer many courses in online formats for the first time. This is great if distance had previously prevented you from attending your ideal course. Have a look at all the online options available and decide for yourself.

What are your PG options?

It may surprise you to know that full taught masters program isn't the only option if you are looking towards postgraduate study. This table illustrates what postgraduate courses postgraduate students in the UK were studying in 2018.

Postgraduate qualifications
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