Your HND: Postgrad study

• Types of postgraduate study
• Masters
• Doctorates
• Applying for postgraduate study
• Next steps after postgraduate study
• Case study

As an HND Diplomate you should be aware that there are opportunities for postgraduate study available to you. Many people believe that you need a higher qualification, like an honours degree, to join a postgraduate course. However, there are certain courses where your practical experience is highly valued, especially in areas like teaching and social work.

Types of postgraduate study

There are several different levels of postgraduate qualifications. Masters and Doctorate are two levels of postgraduate qualification. Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip), and Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) are also recognised by the framework for HE qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as postgraduate degrees.

At postgraduate level the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) offers Masters and Doctorate degrees. The Masters Degree is at least one year of postgraduate study which could lead to a Doctorate degree or career progression. A Doctorate degree is achieved after completing a thesis that requires the equivalent of three years of full-time higher education and research.

The PgCert and PgDip might be offered as specific, stand-alone Certificates and Diplomas, e.g. Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). More often however, they are linked to a Masters degree and awarded to students who have completed either one third or two thirds of a full-time postgraduate programme.

Some of the reasons that HND Diplomates consider postgraduate study include:

• a particular postgraduate qualification is required for their chosen career;
• a desire to demonstrate a high level of academic achievement;
• to gain an advantage in the job market.

back to top

Masters

A direct entry to a Masters degree course is available when the subject of your HND is closely related to the subject of that particular postgraduate course and you have significant work experience.

Masters degrees, postgraduate diplomas and postgraduate certificates are usually taught courses that offer an opportunity for entry into specific professions such as law, architecture and medicine. However, some Masters courses are research-based and closer in structure to the Doctoral programmes.

back to top

Doctorates

Doctorate courses are intensely academic, requiring a high level of achievement in your intermediate study. Usually you need a good honours degree and thorough knowledge of the subject to be offered a place on a PhD course. In many cases these are students who have done some research and their work has developed to a doctoral level.

back to top

Applying for postgraduate study

There is no central clearing system, like UCAS, for postgraduate applications. In the majority of cases, you make your applications directly to the institution. This means that there is no limit to the number of applications you can make. Many postgraduate courses have no formal closing date but, nevertheless, fill up very quickly.

There are exceptions when applying for postgraduate study:

• applications for teacher training in England, Scotland and Wales are made through a central system called the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR);
• applications for postgraduate courses in social work are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Both have closing dates well in advance of course start dates. This emphasises the importance of planning ahead and checking application procedures.

Visit find courses and research to find available postgraduate courses and the institutions that offer them.

back to top

Next steps after postgraduate study

For more information on the next steps following a postgraduate course, see:

• destinations of Masters and PhD graduates, which are available directly from academic institutions;
• your Masters...what next?;
• your PhD what next?.

back to top

Case study

My HND course has given me more confidence. It has given me exposure to aspects of management that I couldn’t have gained on the job. Being fully engaged in industry also allowed me to relate theoretical aspects of the educational material to day-to-day activities. Currently I’m taking a postgraduate course at a university. The course is specifically tailored to management in the rail industry, contributing to my Continuing Professional Development (CPD) file. Hopefully this will help me with my career aspirations and affiliation to the Association of Project Management. I’m also seriously considering returning to university to complete a BA in Business Management - work and (a very young) family commitments permitting.

Michael, project engineer

	Written by higher education careers professionals	Date:  Spring 2008
© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd | Disclaimer Want to give feedback about these pages?