Is a postgraduate degree worth it?
Before embarking on a Masters or postgraduate qualification, you’ll probably be asking whether it's worth the time and money spent.
In some professions such as law, teaching, finance, surveying, architecture and research, postgraduate qualifications are essential for certain job roles. Many of our postgraduate courses are professionally accredited, which will help to set you apart to employers and demonstrate your expertise. In these cases, investment in postgraduate study can help you to achieve your career goals.
In other areas a postgraduate qualification is not required, but you may decide to study a Masters to convert to a new subject area, gain professional skills and networking opportunities, or to showcase your subject knowledge, commitment and ability to study at an advanced level.
Masters starting salary
Whilst a Masters doesn’t guarantee a job, it can certainly help you to stand out against other candidates, and some employers will look for Masters-level qualifications when hiring.
Overall, a graduate with a Masters is more likely to earn a higher wage than a graduate without. Here are the average salary statistics for Masters graduates in the UK.
Should I study a postgraduate degree?
You might want to consider a Masters degree or postgraduate qualification if any of these motivations speak to you:
Get the qualification you need for your career
Some professional sectors require a postgraduate degree as standard, including teaching, medicine, finance, psychology, law, and academia. These highly vocational postgraduate courses are designed to qualify, train, and prepare you for a specialist job, providing you with specific expertise for the profession.
Some courses provide an industry accreditation alongside the advanced training and qualification. Some of the most high-paying careers that demand a Masters degree are in business management, investment banking, engineering, architecture, and computer science sectors.
Improve your professional prospects
Postgraduate study can build your experience, develop your skills, and give you a valuable competitive edge. You can stand out from the crowd with specialist knowledge and expertise.
Postgraduate degree holders are around 12% more likely to be in a professional and more senior role than those held by first-degree graduates. (Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2022).
Change your career path
If you feel that you can't progress in your current employment, that it's not quite as fulfilling as it could be, or you’re looking for something completely different, postgraduate-level study can provide a path to change your career.
Most postgraduate degrees don’t require previous study in the subject. For some subjects though, you can fast-track with a conversion course, which is an intensive postgraduate degree.
Increase your earning potential
Employers recognise the skills that come with studying a Masters or other postgraduate degree, and it’s true that postgraduates have the potential to earn more. The median salary for working-age postgraduates in 2023 was £45,000 – £5,500 on average more than working-age graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2023).
PhD researcher Erin tells us how she uses research from the past to help us understand today.
Pursue your passion
You may have set your sights on a career in academia or research, and a Masters, Masters by Research, or PhD, is the perfect opportunity to learn at the very forefront of your subject.
Furthering your in-depth knowledge and expertise in a subject you enjoy is hugely rewarding. But if you're worried about the jump from your most recent level of study, check out our guides:
Find your postgraduate course
Whatever your motivations for pursuing postgraduate study, discover the options available to you at NTU.
Types of postgraduate courses
There are many types of postgraduate qualifications, not just Masters degrees! Find out what courses you can study at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and decide which one is right for you.
Postgraduate subjects
Explore the subject areas available for postgraduate study at NTU.
PhD opportunities
Discover our PhD opportunities that drive innovation and delivers real-world impact. Browse our PhD projects, or submit your own proposal.
Why choose NTU for your postgraduate study?
You've read why you should do a postgraduate degree, here's 10 reasons why you should choose NTU.
Here for your career
A postgraduate qualification can make you more employable. Find out how our Careers and Employability team can support you during your postgraduate degree.