Why go on to further study?

• Pure interest and enjoyment! For many people no other reason is needed. As well as PhDs all sorts of specialist masters courses allow you to develop the bits of your degree that have fired your imagination.
• Because you have to. If you want to become a lawyer, landscape architect, speech therapist, archivist or one of dozens of other jobs you've got no choice.
• Because it will get you a better job. The benefits aren't always clear-cut. Sometimes the advantage is so great that postgrad study is pretty much essential - research science for example. Other times the employment value of a postgrad course is more questionable. Vocational postgrad courses don't always offer a great deal of advantage, even if you've got a non-vocational first degree. Check with employers and careers advisers before committing yourself. Ask course providers what jobs their graduates go on to.
• To compensate for a disappointing first degree. Many postgrad courses aren't asking for a 2(i) and some students try to make up for a lower than expected first degree by doing a masters. Apart from personal pride it's often seen as a way to improve employment prospects. Sometimes this strategy works, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on the course, the employer, the individual.
• For a fresh start. From computing and finance to media and personnel, postgrad courses offer lots of enticing new directions. Sometimes such courses offer real advantages, but other times they may be unnecessary. Check with employers or careers advisers.

Next page: What type of course?

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