Published: 29 May 2020
Each year, undergraduate students at the University of Sunderland in London have to make a choice. Should they go into work or carry on at the University for their postgraduate degree? Last academic year approximately 33% of bachelor’s students in the UK went on to further study, and that number is going up each year. But it’s not an easy decision to make, so take a look at our top five reasons you should carry on studying with us.
Career prospects
Pretty much the first thing you should think about when you’re considering applying for your degree is what you can do with it when you graduate. Several years ago, having an undergraduate degree was seen as the best way of making sure you got a good job. But as over 76% of people in the UK have a bachelor’s degree, the job market is becoming more competitive. A higher degree might be the thing that gives you the edge.
Changing careers
It’s not just your first job that a postgrad can help you with. If you’re thinking about a change in career and you already have an undergraduate degree, it might be worth considering this route. Lots of first degrees give you the experience you’ll need to take on a different subject for your master’s. For example, if you did a BA (Hons) Business and Management, you’ll be in a good position to go for the MSc in Tourism and Hospitality. The good thing about an undergraduate degree is that it gives you the knowledge and experience, or transferable skills, to take on a whole range of other subjects. One of the first things students learn is how to study, how to write essays and how to find and understand the information they need. All of these skills are important when studying for your master’s, which includes a lot more independent research. So if you want to change your subject area, don’t think you have to start again at the bachelor’s level. For a better idea of the entry requirements for your potential master’s course, take a look at the course pages.
Study around your schedule
The University of Sunderland in London prides itself on a course schedule that works around you. Most of our courses have around two days of lectures per week, which gives you more time for work, family and social life. With our postgraduate degrees, you have a range to choose from, depending on what you need from your course. Most of them are for one year, or two years if you choose to go part-time. But you could also opt for a dissertation only degree like the MSc in Tourism and Hospitality (Dissertation Only) which lasts for six months.
The joy of challenging yourself
A postgraduate degree is a more focused, more intense degree than the undergraduate. That’s why the potential rewards are higher. If you’ve discovered a love for learning and the University during your bachelor’s, a master’s degree is your chance to become a specialist in your subject. You might even find it can lead to a career in academia.
Making useful connections
At the University of Sunderland in London, we’re lucky to have a small campus with a close community of students and staff. So it’s likely that you’ll have gotten to know your lecturers already. But with a higher degree, you’re building even closer relationships that you’ll find useful in your future career - whether that’s through letters of recommendation for jobs you’re applying to or introductions to postgraduate research supervisors.
Our postgraduate students are hard-working, intelligent and welcoming people - the perfect community for you to join. If you’re thinking about taking the next step in your academic career, visit the course pages for Business, Management and Finance, Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Engineering, Nursing and Health, or go consider our MBA courses to become an expert in a wide range of business topics. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Recruitment team on 020 7531 7333 or email them at recruitment-london@sunderland.ac.uk.
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