Why Do We Choose Postgraduate Studies?

What does choosing the postgraduate course mean for a person? It is going up the level higher than the first degree. What are the reasons for taking postgraduate studies? The first one is the stimulus of the intellectual challenge: working with concepts, approaches, methods and ideas, developing skills of analysis and research among the researchers and academics.

The second reason is the personal challenge. What is the difference between the undergraduate and the postgraduate level? Undergraduate level develops study skills and the ability of independent studies, and the postgraduate course specifies skills perfection, responsibility, independence in one’s own learning, ability to work with complex ideas and concepts and developing them.

Next, there is the serious problem of career prospects, more interesting and highly paid jobs. PhD degree or degree of Doctor of Science can be an obligatory requirement for entering the career, the researcher career or securing promotion to higher levels. In some professional fields the joint programs of universities and employers are undertaken both at undergraduate and postgraduate level and these programs are defined as the first stage of learning for the trainees.

For a number of postgraduates entering academic career as the university teacher and researcher is important. Besides, with rapid extension of higher education in some countries high-status academic position is available only with the Doctorate. It means the increase of the demand for people educated to Doctorate level.

Task 4 Read the dialogue and discuss your motivation to enter the postgraduate studies. Make up a dialogue.

Motivation to Enter the Postgraduate Studies

− Jane, I have not recently seen much of you.

− In fact, I was very busy with entrance exams for postgraduate studies.

− How clever of you!

− You see, mostly it’s my choice of intellectual challenge: working with concepts, approaches, methods and ideas, developing skills of analysis and research among the researchers and academics. Besides, it’s the personal challenge as well. I would like to master my personal skills. They improve the development of my future career.

− I myself would also like to take undergraduate course in Computer Science to be able to carry out research projects at the high-tech level.

− Good luck.

Task 5 Answer the questions and speak about your supervisor. Present your own ideas of the scientific work.