What to Know Before You Consider Getting a Postgraduate Degree

In my line of work, I have interacted with many postgraduate students, and their primary motivation for pursuing the postgraduate program is often to increase their income. If financial gain is the sole reason for embarking on this journey, it may be worth reassessing your goals. Chasing higher earnings alone this way can lead to dissatisfaction, as increased income often brings lifestyle inflation and greater financial commitments. Instead, focus on solving meaningful challenges — financial rewards of relatively greater measure will naturally follow. Income is a byproduct of creating value and making a meaningful impact.

Pursuing a Master’s or PhD represents a significant decision that can influence your career trajectory, intellectual development, and personal growth. While graduate studies provide access to specialized knowledge, research opportunities, and potential career advancement, they also demand considerable time, financial resources, and perseverance.

Consider working or interning in various settings—such as research, academia, or industry—to enhance your skills, gain experience, and discover your interests before committing to postgraduate training. Exposure to different organizations can provide valuable insights and help you clarify your long-term goals.

Below are a few tips for consideration as you contemplate a postgraduate degree.

📍Clarify the ‘Why’

• Why do you want to embark on postgraduate training?

• What challenges do you wish to address?

• Do you need an advanced degree for your career aspirations?

• Will a Master’s or PhD significantly enhance job prospects?

• Will you be able to gain the needed skills through work experience or short courses instead?

📍 Evaluate Your Passion for Research

Postgraduate training, particularly a PhD, is highly research-intensive and best suited for those with a genuine passion for solving complex problems in a specific field. It requires self-motivation, curiosity, and the ability to work independently on long-term projects. If you enjoy reading academic papers, designing experiments, and analyzing data, a PhD may be a fulfilling path for you.

📍 Choosing a Supervisor

I understand that this process may be daunting and especially nearly impossible for students who are assigned supervisors. However, it’s important to seek out a supportive supervisor who can enhance your graduate experience—someone with expertise in your research area and a strong track record of successfully mentoring students. Connecting with current and former students can provide valuable insights into their experiences with the supervisor and the program.

📍Financial Implications

Graduate school is a significant investment, and therefore counting the cost and planning is key. While some programs offer funding, others require self-financing. Explore scholarship and grant opportunities early. Carefully assess whether you can cover tuition, living expenses, and research costs, especially if the program is not funded. If you plan to pursue a PhD, securing funding or scholarship is crucial, as doctoral training requires a substantial financial commitment.

📍 Commitment and Workload

Graduate studies demand long hours of work, resilience, and persistence. A Master’s degree typically takes 1–3 years, though it may take longer if pursued part-time. A PhD can range from 3–7 years, depending on the research scope. Expect intensive reading, writing, and independent research. It’s also important to plan how you will balance graduate training with other life responsibilities, such as family, work, and personal commitments. Be fully prepared for the commitment before embarking on this journey.

Pursuing a PhD or Master’s is not a race or competition—choose the path that aligns with your aspirations, circumstances, and long-term growth.

Some people also choose to go to graduate school because they don’t know what else to do; if that’s your reason, then you probably shouldn’t go yet. Graduate school is for people who have already figured out what they want to do. For example, someone might decide after graduation that he/she wants to be a dietician, so graduate school is the next step. Maybe you want to be a physical therapist – again, graduate school is the next step.

If graduate school was free, it would be a more viable way to fill the time while you decide what you want to do. But no one wants to get a master's degree only to decide they want to pursue something totally different. It’s imperative that you are decisive before you expend the resources, time, and energy to get a graduate degree.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Go to Graduate School

Will the Degree Teach You Skills?

All majors are not created equal, and all postgraduate areas of study will not lead to niche skills that you can turn into a high-paying job. Business owners value employees who can do things they can’t; that is why people hire other people. You want to be that person who has skills that other people need. If those skills are in high demand, you can charge lots of money for your services.

Good examples of skill-centered fields are professional degrees such as accounting, law school, physical therapy school, and pharmacy school. All of these programs teach and certify you to do certain tasks that our economy highly values. On the other hand, a master’s degree in art, theater, English, a foreign language, and many others don’t lead to skills that can easily be turned into money. Although there are opportunities for students in those fields, there just aren’t as many opportunities, and it’s much harder to find a well-paying job.

Can You Tolerate Doing That Job?

Accounting is a really popular major because accountants make good money, but it’s a super boring, tedious job. Some people can tolerate it, and others cannot. Being a doctor is a highly-respected profession, but if you can’t handle the hours and being on call constantly, it’s better to select a different profession.

Most jobs fall into two categories: task-orientated and people-oriented. An elementary school teacher is an example of a people-oriented job, and a software developer is an example of a task-oriented job. The economy needs both types, and you probably have a good idea of which will suit you the best.

What are Your Chances of Getting that Job?

Some jobs have so many applicants that, even if you have the skills, your chances of getting that job are practically zero. Big name, Hollywood actors are one example of this– everyone wants that job, but there are only a limited number of openings. The people in charge are highly selective, and the competition is fierce.

Additionally, many jobs are closed to new graduates and require intensive on-the-job training to advance to the level you desire. Some won’t get to that level, and some will. College coaches, CEOs, and presidents of companies are good examples.

So, it’s good to have an idea of what will be needed in addition to a graduate degree in order to get that dream job. You can find lots of statistics online regarding what jobs are in high demand and the number of qualified people who are applying for those jobs. Use them as a loose guide as you think through your options.