Choosing your course
When choosing the right course as a postgraduate student a number of factors need to be considered.
The first step is to identify why you want to go on to undertake postgraduate studies. There are several reasons for this including reasons such as upgrading to a higher level of knowledge and skills, to gain valuable academic qualifications that satisfy the criteria of your chosen career pathway, or perhaps you want to diversify your studies into other points of interest.
Whichever one is the key motivation behind your choice to take up further studies, the right course needs to be selected in order to fulfil your goals.
If you are looking to simply upgrade from an existing bachelors degree or an equivalent qualification, then you need to refer to coursework and research interests that are directly relevant to what you have previously studied. Find the postgraduate courses that relate to what you have previously studied in our Course and Units Catalogue by searching your degree or major title. You can also browse by discipline area and click through to look at specific courses.
If however you wish to enter into a totally different area of interest, start by browsing the discipline areas. If you are unable to locate the area of study you are looking for, feel free to contact us and we will help you identify the right path. Be sure to check the entry requirements in the Course and Units Catalogue to determine if any previous qualifications need to be met, particularly if you are changing areas of study.
If you are interested in undertaking higher degree research, you should also consult the Research Services section of the website to see what our research priority areas are and to explore the rules and support available for your research.
Other Factors to Consider:
Apart from knowing what courses you wish to undertake as part of your further studies, there are a number of further considerations that should be taken into account in order to choose the right course for you.
• Entry Requirements -> This will constitute a major component of whether you can be eligible for entry into the course. Generally, graduate certificates and diplomas are easier to enrol in as opposed to higher degree research programs. Furthermore some courses may also require some form of previous experience in their relevant field.
• Course Difficulty -> Postgraduate studies will generally involve a deeper and more demanding level of study than undergraduate studies or its equivalent. The level of difficulty will mostly be reflected in the prerequisites that are required for that course and higher degree research programs will generally require greater levels of insight, professionalism, knowledge, and skills.
• Duration of the Course -> Most certificate courses and postgraduate diplomas will usually take up to one year full time, whereas coursework masters will usually take up to anywhere between one – two years full time. Doctorate programs usually take up to three years full time.
• Career Opportunities -> These may be of prime importance in choosing the right course and there may be several courses that may lead to the same career opportunities but which could cover different areas of interest.
Support Services to help you Choose:
There are various support services here at UNE to help you choose the right course for you. The team at Student Assist provide assistance in career development by providing helpful advice in planning your career and helping you choose the course that is right for you and how it will enhance your career pathways. They can also assist in planning your degree and helping you make decisions that will facilitate a smooth study experience here at UNE.
Furthermore, if you wish to find out more information about general degree administration, please contact us.
