As you head into the last leg of your final year, chances are you’ll have started to think about what comes next. If you’re unsure about a ‘career’ following graduation and aren’t excited by the prospect of a 9-5 just yet, then further study might be for you. But there’s a lot to consider when it comes to further study, so here are just a few things to get you started:

Good reasons postgraduate study might be for you

• You absolutely love the subject you have been studying at undergraduate level. You still have a passion for it and feel you have the enthusiasm and commitment for further study.

• Furthering or enhancing your career prospects. If this is your main reason for thinking about postgraduate study, think carefully about the skills you would learn from further study and how these can be transferable to the roles you are interested in. You will need to be able to articulate the additional skills extra studies have given you. Consider if the course you’re interested in has opportunities such as placements or projects you can get involved with that will increase your employability.

• Postgraduate study is a prerequisite for your chosen career. For some jobs, postgraduate study is a requirement. You will need a PGCE, for example, if you want to go into teaching. You might also be interested in taking a postgraduate study as a conversion course to give you opportunities in a field you have not studied at undergraduate level. Make sure you do your research about the right or most useful courses. It might also be helpful to chat to a careers advisor.

• You’re looking for a change of direction. Further study might be the chance to study something you’re more interested in. Maybe you’ve taken a module in a different subject that has made you reconsider your academic choices or seen a Master’s course in an area that wasn’t available Undergraduate level. In these cases postgrad study could be a great way to explore your current academic interests. Remember many postgraduate courses accept people from a range of related academic backgrounds.

Funding postgraduate study

We know this can be a big issue when thinking about further study and it’s important to explore your options

The University website has information about funding and the University also has a bursary for students who are looking at studying a Master’s at Manchester as well as offering discounted tuition fees to alumni.

Further advice and information

It’s important to understand the different types of courses available at Master’s level so you know what’s right for you. Content Creator, Daisy helps to explain the differences between an MRes and an MSc in her post MRes vs MSc: Reflections from the Halfway point.

Sign up for one of our subject-specific or general information sessions to get a sense of what it’s like to study for a Master’s, and specifically what it’s like to study for one at Manchester.

And sites such as FindAMasters , Find A PhD, Postgraduate Studentships and Prospects are all really useful sources of information on further study and funding opportunities in general.

On a final note, it’s easy to feel rushed or pressured at this time in your studies if you don’t have anything definite planned, but it’s important that you really think about whether postgraduate study is the right option for you. Further advice on your next steps, including postgraduate study can be found at The Careers Service.