Studying a postgrad program part time is a popular choice for students who are slightly older or have more responsibilities such as caring for others or working full-time. Many professionals will have long-term career plans in mind and might have the backing or sponsorship from their employer for a part-time course, especially professional courses that lead to a professional qualification.
Working and studying part-time is a significant undertaking as most part-time masters courses last at least two years, and unless the university arranges special lectures for part-time students then most classes will be during the day. There are some PhD students who study part-time, and this is usually because they do not have the necessary funding lined-up or it is not available for their subject. There are a large number of universities and institutions that cater for postgraduate students who need or want to study by distance learning or online , and most universities have some form of online learning.
Distance learning is usually a combination of textbooks and reading materials that is sent to the student, as well as the possibility of a couple of residential weeks of lectures throughout the year. Online students tend to be based entirely online and there may be no need to ever attend the campus where the course is based. Postgraduate students who work this way tend to be professionals working full time as the coursework can be completed in the evenings.
This makes the courses an intensive undertaking and the postgraduate student will need to be highly motivated to continue working without other students around them. Some postgraduate students find this way of working isolating and difficult compared to a campus-based full-time course. Even if they choose a specific major, they may end up changing it. Undergraduate programs allow students to switch majors.
It is also fairly easy to transfer to another school for any given reason. You would have to fulfill new requirements and go through the application process all over again.
Another big difference is class size. Undergraduate classes tend to be much larger than graduate classes. In graduate programs, class sizes are much smaller.
Because of the difference in class size, teacher-student interaction also differs. There are also fewer opportunities to participate in class. Graduate programs are more intimate and thus, more dynamic.
Students have more opportunities to participate in class discussions. They also have more opportunities to work with their professors. Other requirements include a minimum GPA , letters of recommendation and personal statements. Colleges and universities all have their own requirements. Many graduate programs require students to take the GRE. They also require undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.
The course content is designed to build on the knowledge obtained at undergraduate degree level. Often the course content is more practical in nature to better prepare the student with the skills they will need in the workplace.
Completing postgraduate studies helps students further their career prospects and deepen their understanding of their area of study.
If you choose a to undertake a postgraduate course at Griffith College, there are a wide variety of courses available, in areas as wide-ranging as computing, design, law and business.
You will benefit from a great student to lecturer ratio small class sizes , an award-winning reputation, experienced lecturing teams, a lively international campus community and industry-informed programmes created to enable you to develop a successful career in your chosen area. You can obtain a postgraduate degree which is awarded at QQI Level 9. More information here.
Leaving Certificate there may be minimum grade requirements , Portfolio, Interview Varies depending on course requirements. Certificate programmes are highly specialised and intended to help you delve deeply into one specific area of study. Some of these programmes can also prepare you to gain an official certification, like our CPA Certificate course.
These courses can be a quick way to gain experience to supplement your work or college qualifications. A postgraduate diploma can be particularly useful to those looking to embark on a new direction in their career. Diploma courses usually take one or two years; they often consist of the same coursework as a Master's degree, only lacking the research or dissertation element.
Many of our Postgraduate Diploma courses, though, allow students the opportunity to progress on to a related Master's degree, such as the PGDip in International Business and Law. The MA and MSc offer students an unrivalled opportunity to spend one or two years studying both deeply and widely in their field. These degrees are often capped off with a research project in the form of a dissertation, which contributes original research to the subject.
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