10 reasons to go to graduate school

A postgraduate degree is a great option if you are passionate about academia and would like to work at a university, be involved in emerging research and publish academic texts in the future. 

Students who would like to pursue a career in academics will usually have a PhD as a long-term goal and many PhD programmes require applicants to have a master’s degree and so for new graduates considering their postgraduate options, a master’s is a good place to start. 

A postgraduate degree allows students to develop their skills and gain a more in-depth knowledge of their subject. It will also give students more opportunities to get involved in the industry through work experience placements and projects.  

This makes them a more qualified prospective employee and allows them to apply for a promotion or a more senior position. 

An MBA is also a great postgraduate option for anyone working in a corporate or business role who wants to develop leadership skills. MBA programmes can be tailored to your specific career goals, for example:  

• Finance
• Marketing
• Management
• Business analytics
• Consulting
• International trade

An MBA, or postgraduate degree in general, will give you both the knowledge and the skills, experience, and confidence to apply for more senior positions. 

Networking can be difficult but studying a postgraduate degree is a great place to start. Graduate school students are among the most academically high achieving and so speaking to and forming relationships with other students is a good low-pressure way to start networking.  

During your undergraduate experience, a lot of importance will be placed on socialising and making friends to ensure that you are comfortable living at university. At grad school the emphasis is shifted slightly, encouraging students to form professional relationships and contacts with their peers which may benefit your job prospects in the future.  

Knowing someone who already works at the company you are applying for or having a mutual contact with your interviewer or someone on the leadership team may prove to be very useful. 

In addition to networking with peers, students also have the opportunity to network with university staff and guest speakers that the graduate school may host.  

Many lecturers and academics have extensive experience working in your industry and will have plenty of connections who they can refer you to for jobs, internships or work experience placements.  

This can be a great way to get your foot in the door of a competitive industry and is a huge advantage of grad school. 

One major advantage of studying a postgraduate degree is the chance to enhance your financial prospects. Holders of postgraduate degrees earn more on average than holders of undergraduate degrees or non-degree holders because they are considered more qualified for senior positions.  

According to Statista, the average salary for a university graduate was £40,000 in 2023. For a postgraduate, that average salary rose to £45,000.  

Salary expectations will vary greatly depending on the subject, job role and your previous experience but across the board, a postgraduate degree contributes to increased financial prospects.  

While an undergraduate degree will often aim to give students a broad and comprehensive knowledge of a subject and teach them skills that will allow them to thrive academically, such as essay writing, postgraduate programmes usually have a more practical approach.  

Studying a postgraduate degree will allow you to develop skills such as communication, project management, project presentation, independent research and schedule management which will benefit a student directly in the workplace after graduation.  

Having a skillset which is well developed means that a job candidate will require less guidance and teaching, making them more attractive to prospective employers. 

Many job markets are experiencing increased volatility around the world. Having a postgraduate degree means that you will have the knowledge and skills to apply for a more senior position and fully ingratiate yourself within your role.  

Being in a prominent role within your company is likely to protect you from any market volatility and so a postgraduate degree will often be a worthwhile investment. 

Living in another country is a dream for many people but it can be a dream which is difficult to realise. Navigating immigration policies and searching for a job and a home somewhere you don’t currently live can be very difficult.  

Deciding to do a postgraduate degree is a great option for those who would like to study and eventually work abroad. 

Firstly, depending on the industry, student visas where the recipient is required to have a university acceptance letter before applying are generally easier to obtain than work visas when the applicant does not currently have a job or experience working in that country.  

As previously mentioned, graduate school allows students to develop their knowledge and skills and there are plenty of networking opportunities and ways to get experience within the industry while at grad school.  

In many cases, students who complete their postgraduate degree can choose to extend their visa for a year or more to work as a professional in the country they studied in. Later, they can apply for a more long-term work visa or permanent residency.  

Studying a postgraduate degree abroad will often make the process of moving abroad a smoother transition and so grad school should be considered as an option for anyone looking to explore this path.