Top 4 reasons to study a Masters qualification

The conflicting view-points around the value of tertiary education today make for an interesting discussion. We have all heard of the highly successful Silicon Valley based entrepreneur, whose accolades and fortunes were achieved without a University degree. Conversely we hear from many students themselves lay claim that their new University qualification has little to do with their actual job.

“But whether the fault lies with the educators or the employers, there is a need for pathways that lead individuals into jobs” (The Economist, Lifelong Learning, 2017)”.

Whilst in many cases the automatic link to employment is not guaranteed, what is often over-looked is the holistic value a postgraduate qualification can give you. When I asked an ex-colleague of mine, do you think your MBA was worth it? He replied by saying: “It’s hard to determine exactly if my qualification got me the job, but one thing is for sure I would much rather have it on my resume than not. I would be inclined to think it is often the difference between getting an interview and not.”

Let’s take a closer look at the broader value postgraduate study can give you:

1. Professional Evolution: The average person will change careers five to seven times during their working life according to career change statistics. This, coupled with the rise of automation and its effect on the type of jobs that will subsequently be available in the future, career pivots and new skill acquisition are paramount.
2. Learn to Earn: The New Zealand Ministry of Education reports that people with postgraduate qualifications attain 95% more than the median income.
3. Cognitive Performance: Cognitive factors are those characteristics of a person that affect the way they learn and perform. The brain requires challenging activity in order to achieve its maximum level of performance. Therefore, a brain that has neglectfully been deprived of practice will underperform in many scenarios.
4. Personal Development: The average age of a postgraduate student is 37, indicating that there is a significant gap in time between completing undergraduate studies and pursuing postgraduate studies. Students who return to study later in life often find the experience to be much richer, more meaningful and rewarding. The sense of achievement is heightened due to the fact that most students are juggling many additional life components. Full-time work, family and personal time constraints, require returning students to be more focused and time managed, to ensure they meet the demands of postgraduate study. All this makes for an enormous sense of personal gratification upon completion.

Pursuing postgraduate study is a big consideration which should be carefully researched. It is crucial the programme you wish to pursue, as well as the mode of delivery best suits your goals, life and location. Additionally, explore your reasons and motivations to study as well as the over-arching benefits a postgraduate qualification can give you. As discussed in this article, there are many reasons to study towards a postgraduate qualification, an experience we believe is worth its weight in gold.

If you are interested in one of our online Masters programmes, or have any further questions about studying online, please contact one of our Programme Advisors – Enquire now!