Why study a postgraduate degree at the University of Brighton

Dr Ioannis Pantelidis, BBS senior lecturer and director of Doctoral Studies at the University of Brighton Doctoral College, spoke to us about study at postgraduate level at Brighton and breaking down some myths and legends about postgraduate study in general.

At a time where more people are revaluating where they want to work and reassessing their priorities, now is a great time to be considering postgraduate studies. But why should you do it and why at the university of Brighton?

Types of postgraduate masters courses

Masters level study can be delivered as a taught degree or a research degree, and both type of degrees are available at the University of Brighton.

Why a postgraduate (taught) degree?

1. Improving career prospects
2. Specialising in your field of interest
3. Expanding your knowledge
4. Accelerating career progression
5. Change the direction of your career
6. Intellectual reward

Dr Pantelidis notes that you must proactively seek this reward, and emphasizes that it is so important to put the effort into working hard on your taught degree.

Why a postgraduate research degree?

Not as common as taught degrees, research degrees give the chance for students to take a more proactive role in their studies. They offer the chance to:

1. Discover something new
2. Achieve something amazing
3. Expand your knowledge
4. Career progression
5. Improve your thinking

Although a research degree can also help you progress in your career, especially if you are in an academic career, the way it changes your thinking approach is what Dr Pantelidis notes as one of the most rewarding reasons. And if your research studies progress into a PhD, the fact that once you finish a doctorate, you will be the top expert in your topic is also hugely rewarding.

Why postgraduate study at the University of Brighton?

1. The environment and culture
2. Academic community
3. Discounts for alumni
4. Expertise for your field

Dr Pantelidis notes that the academic community at the university of Brighton is one of the most student-centric he has ever seen in his academic career.

There are also scholarships and sponsorships, and particularly for our international students we offer several exclusive awards for a reduction in tuition fees.

However, one of the most important things when choosing a postgraduate degree is that you feel comfortable to talk to experts in your field of study, so it is important to research the course programme, but also research the experts that will be teaching or supervising you. At the University of Brighton, we are proud to have some amazing academics in our community, and a long history of supporting international students’ postgraduate study.

Misconceptions about postgraduate study

1. A postgraduate degree automatically guarantees you getting a job – A postgraduate degree enhances your chance of a career, but it doesn’t mean it is automatically given. You’ll still need to work hard to secure a job.
2. You are the only one with a postgraduate degree – There will be others in the jobs market with postgraduate degrees, so you will still need to work hard to stand out.
3. There are easy ways to get a postgraduate degree – There are no easy ways to get your degree – what matters most is the person you become in the process of obtaining your degree. The piece of paper at the end of it is just a nice affirmation of who you have become, but it is the effort and hard work that defines you.
4. A PhD would please my parents – You shouldn’t do any degree to please others – it’s a nice added bonus, but the key reason should always come from within you.
5. Having a full-time job alongside a full-time postgraduate degree – It is not advised to have a full-time job alongside full-time studies, as your performance in at least one, if not both, will likely suffer. There is always the possibility to do a part-time MSc or PhD, Dr Pantelidis completed both his masters and PhD part time and thinks it is really worth the effort.

 

Legends about PhD study

1. PhD’s tend to lean towards academic careers – A PhD can lead to an academic career, but in some industries, for example pharmaceuticals, a PhD can lead to a research-based job.
2. A part-time PhD can be finished in 4 years – A part-time PhD can be finished in 4 years, Dr Pantelidis notes of a colleague who managed to finish a part- time PhD in four years but this required a lot of focus and hard work, and the student was also self-employed, so could adjust her job workload accordingly.
3. A postgraduate degree can increase your income – A postgraduate degree can help you increase your income by either going for a promotion if you are working for a company or this justify charging higher rates if you are self-employed.
4. You can do an MRes that will lead onto a PhD, saving years and money – You can do an MRes that will lead to a PhD, saving years and money from your studying. The University of Brighton has several different research masters and after two years of a masters by research course, you can transfer to a PhD pathway.

You can watch Dr Pantelidis’ full video below.