How to Choose a Postgraduate Course in UK

Every year Indian students decide to embark on a course of postgraduate abroad. The main reason beghind this decision are:

• To gain a qualification that will progress their career
• To increase their knowledge, professional expertise and skills
• To develop research skills
• To experience life in a different country at a university abroad
• To increase their chance of employment in a chosen field

In the era of recession jobs are difficult to acquire, yet there are thousands of courses to choose between. So how do you choose the right course for yourself with promising future opportunities? Here are some tips for choosing the right course.

1. Decide what kind of course you want and why

Ask yourself what you want and what you expect to get out of it. PhD will give you professional experience in research. Many masters and diploma courses are linked to specific careers. Some may increase your employment potential in a particular career. Other courses, like the Bar Vocational Course, are essential entry points to become a barrister or teacher. Research well about the courses that meet your needs and will deliver your expectations. Ask as many people as possible about the course, you need honest reviews and opinions. Look out for people who have completed the course.

2. Does the course provide what you need?

Always read the prospectus carefully. Many courses have core compulsory subjects plus electives. Will it be possible to study elective you want? Compare the syllabus of one course with another course that claims to cover the same subjects. It is possible that one might meet your needs better than the other.

3. Talk to ex-students

Research on what happened to students who have completed the course. The admissions department may give you exaggerated data, and tell you their graduates got into best jobs. However, every British university's careers service carries out an annual research about what the students from their university's courses are doing. www.unistats.com website gives some information on employability.

4. Will you qualify as a professional in India?

If you are going to study in UK, check that the course is recognised by the relevant Indian professional body. If it is not recognised then you shouldn’t go for this course. Also in certain professions, like Marketing, companies usually prefer people with extensive commercial experience and background over those with only an MBA in marketing. So don't expect an MSc or MBA in Marketing to be more valuable than working in the sales team.

5. How is the department’s reputation?

Check how the department is rated and how its professionalism compares does with other universities offering the same course. A department that is rated 4 is world renowned for its research. You can check the rankings on www.rae.ac.uk. All University departments are also rated for teaching quality. you can check the quality of teaching through the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education www.qaa.ac.uk

6. Class size: Small or big?

Find out how many students will be on the course and your class. If they are more than a 100, there will be less opportunity to discuss with teachers and lecturers than in a class of 20. On the other hand, the social aspects of the course will be different in a large one as there will be more socialisation and interaction. Which of these do you prefer?

7. Apply early

While many courses have open seats available almost up to the start date, the most popular courses fill up fast. If it is a popular course, you will need to apply early, probably around October-November. Check with the college about deadlines; do they have early admission deadlines or just the regular ones?

8. Check the grants and bursaries offered by the college

Universities often have bursaries to offer. Some universities offers these, while others may be specifically linked to a particular department of study. Ask the university registry for more information and details. The ‘grants register' and directory of grant-making trusts detail trusts that may offer help to international students.

9. How much are you required to pay as fees?

Look up the fees for your course on the university website to know when and how it must be paid. Universities with same courses do not necessarily have the same tuition fees or similar payment structures. Some universities ask for fees to be paid up front, others ask for 2 instalments and some let you pay every time you start a module.