WHY UNDERTAKE POSTGRADUATE STUDY?
TOPIC RELATED VOCABULARY
ЗАЧЕМ УЧИТЬСЯ В АСПИРАНТУРЕ?
ЛЕКСИКА, СВЯЗАННАЯ С ТЕМОЙ
motivation – мотивация
variety of reasons – разнообразие причин
to undertake further study – продолжить обучение
to do a degree/to take a post-graduate course /to work towards a PhD – заниматься в аспирантуре
to develop skills – развить навыки
competition – конкуренция
competitive environment – конкурентная среда
advantage –преимущество
to provide ~ – предоставить преимущество
advantageous – преимущественный
to be ~ to smb – обладать преимуществом
to tailor a course – разработать курс
work experience – опыт работ
to put theory into practice – использовать теорию на практике
to succeed academically – достичь успехов в учебе
skill –навык
higher level ~ s – навыки более высокого уровня
to develop ~– приобрести навыки
problem-solving ~ s – навыки решения проблемных вопросов
to assimilate ideas – воспринимать идеи
to make smb more employable – сделать более привлекательным для приема на работу
to produce a dissertation – написать диссертацию
to benefit (from) – извлечь пользу
to generalize – обобщать
other-worldly – не от мира сего
outdated – устаревший
to treat favourably – относиться с предпочтением
to value – ценить
to specialize in a particular field – специализировать в конкретной области (знаний)
long term aims – долгосрочные цели
to take seriously – серьёзно воспринимать
What qualities does research demand from postgraduate students, those young people who make up their minds to devote themselves to research activities? Some of these qualities are mentioned in the text below. Think of the other ones, for example, you may enjoy solving problems, you may have creative abilities or things like that. Are you patient enough, industrious and hard-working for this kind of activity?
Different types of study require similar qualities from the people who undertake them. Thus, working towards a research degree demands an inquisitive mind that will maintain the motivation to learn and discover new information. It also demands a high level of intellectual ability in order to cope with the pressures of understanding the possible complex arguments, facts or theories, requires a high degree of organizational ability and time management, as so many different things need to be attended to.
Why undertake postgraduate study? There is no definite answer to this question. There are various reasons for choosing postgraduate study but some reasons are more positive than others. Look through the opinions below and get ready to discuss motivating reasons to do a higher degree.
Tom Brown:
“I really enjoy my subject”
This is a highly motivating reason to do a higher degree. It’s worth considering the long-term implications of your choice. Does your choice of the course fit in with your long-term career plans? That does not mean that you should only consider postgraduate programmes related to your area of work interest. All further study programmes will enable you to develop skills that you could market to an employer.
Emily Wright:
“I need it to pursue my chosen career”
This is an obvious positive reason for undertaking further study. Some career areas do require a professional qualification, for example law, teaching, social work, librarianship or clinical psychology. For other employment areas a postgraduate qualification, although not essential, will provide a distinct advantage to applicants, particularly when competition for places is fierce. In any case it will make you stand out from the crowd and get a better job. Research the area of work that interests you to identify whether a postgraduate course would be necessary or advantageous to you.
Martin Scott:
“I don’t know what to do – this will give me more time to decide”
Past experience suggests undertaking a further year or more of study is unlikely to lead to careers inspiration! If you choose a course for this reason, it is important to use the duration of the course to decide what options are open to you, what skills you have to offer, what you want out of a job or may be jobs, what jobs would suit you in general.
Apart from the above reasons you may have some others worth
mentioning. Think of them and put them down in the order of
preference in writing.
There can be less optimistic opinions about taking postgraduate or doctorate courses. Some people consider post-graduate and
doctorate study a mere waste of time and effort. Express your opinion on the problem. If you disagree with something, debate and give your arguments.
Pamela Bain
The idea of original research can conjure up thoughts of constant intellectual excitement and cries of ‘eureka!’ The reality may be rather different. Studying for a research degree is very different from studying for an undergraduate degree. Consider carefully whether or not you would enjoy the basic research techniques you are going to use. Can you imagine counting black dots down a microscope for weeks on end? OK spending a year, or two, building equipment before generating a single result? Will you be happy working alone in a library for days on end? The breakthrough, when it happens, can be euphoric, but when results refuse to come it can be deeply disappointing.
Tom Sight
Doctorates don’t count for much outside academia – and in fact they may count against you. If you can’t find a directly relevant area for subsequent professional work, then many employers are likely to look at you, a 25-30 year old person with three-six years of post-graduate work as being a strange and slightly worrying employment prospect. Another thing you won’t be told is how many people don’t complete their doctorates. I’ve heard various figures mentioned, but I believe that around 50% of people who start doctorates don’t get a PhD out of it. An enormous proportion of people simply never finish the things because it’s not quite what they were expecting when they started.
What is your motivation for taking a post-graduate course? Is it only because it helps in future career development? Sum up all pros and cons. The text below provides you with extensive information worth thinking about and will help you find the right answer.
Career Prospects for Postgraduates
Postgraduate sector is mushrooming today. Further study is undertaken for a variety of reasons but usually with some career aim in mind. Just getting a university degree isn’t enough nowadays, many undergraduates feel an extra qualification is a way to distinguish themselves from a large number of job-hunters clutching a first degree certificate. A higher degree can open new options to them when entering the same job market as an undergraduate. Employers are increasingly looking for graduates who can hit the ground running, who can demonstrate both breadth and depth of subject knowledge.
To find the right career for you, you need to think about the occupations and jobs available – the skills, qualifications, experience and aptitudes you need and whether they are right for you. Postgraduate study is fundamental to the development of higher level skills. The process of achieving a research degree develops an enquiring mind, independence of thought, problem-solving abilities, an ability to work autonomously and the ability to assimilate, articulate and defend new ideas. The benefits of post-graduate education are obvious: development of key skills, the chance to put theory into practice, greater understanding of career choices, valuable career contacts for the future.
Postgraduates are among the most intelligent students. They tend to be people who have succeeded academically. The view that postgraduates are other-worldly and lacking in drive is outdated, and there is evidence that employers are taking postgraduates much more seriously. Having organized their own studies, postgraduates can be good project managers, experts in analysis, and capable of working through complex processes without being intimidated.
A postgraduate qualification from the BSU is one that is recognized globally and will provide an excellent route to better career prospects. Major companies say they would rather employ students from the BSU. The University’s graduates benefit from the tradition of strong ties with business and industry. The BSU’s high quality facilities and teaching and its interdisciplinary approach to research will enable trainees to make the most of research and learning opportunities available whilst studying for a scientific degree. All students here receive “appropriate and relevant preparation, training and support for their development, are helped both to complete a high-quality master’s or doctoral thesis and to develop a range of knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for their future employment”.
The current crop of PhD students are surely busier than their predecessors, and are being required to professionalize earlier. Not only are they working to finish their dissertations within the three-year period of their awards; but engaged in other activities entirely appropriate to their stage of career: they often do teaching, attend conferences, make research trips, attend meetings. By the end of the second year of the program the postgraduates are taught to make practical progress in the number of key areas of academic endeavor, with a view to having a significant body of experience by the time they complete their degrees. By this stage of the programme they will have had experience in delivering their material in a public forum, and will have made an attempt to develop their presentation skills.
Combining subjects in a degree programme is a popular way of tailoring a course to reflect one’s career aspirations. Employment opportunities demand well developed language skills. The course of a foreign language will provide a broad range of language training opportunities for all students whatever course they are taking.
Tuition also helps to focus students’ minds on the key question of whether or not to further pursue academic careers. As such study involves commitment and investment of time and money, those pursuing it may well seek reassurance that it is worth the effort. It is therefore crucial to present them with opportunities to hone their skills in this area.
Students working towards a PhD have already completed a Master’s degree. It is crucial that learners considering this option have a deep interest in their subject and a commitment to producing a piece of original research despite the pressure to complete the dissertation on time and have a certain number of publications. It is equally important that they have a research topic which is both interesting to them, and viable in the context of a research degree.
Whatever career path a postgraduate chooses most employers are sure to value the skills he has developed while doing a degree.
It is difficult to generalize about the reasons for doing postgraduate study as everyone will come to it with different circumstances, motivations and aspirations. Research the area of work you wish to enter to identify how potential employers would view applicants with postgraduate qualifications. What new experience and knowledge will you gain from the post-graduate course?
Discuss with your groupmates the issue of…
a) motivating reasons for doing a post-graduate course (to undertake further studies, career plans, to make more employable, to provide advantage, to stand out of the crowd, to enjoy the subject);
b) qualities a young researcher must possess to be a success (to enjoy problem solving, creative abilities, industrious, patient, inquisitive mind, a high level of intellectual ability, a high degree of organizational ability and time management, to work in a library);
c) career prospects for post-graduates (better career prospects, a key role, to make a person more employable, to put theory into practice, to benefit from, specific skills).
Progress Questions
1. What are the main motives for undertaking study for master’s/PhD degree?
2. What is your motivation for taking a post-graduate course?
3. Is there a difference between studying for a research degree and studying for an undergraduate degree?
4. What qualities should a post-graduate student possess and develop?
5. Do you agree that a master’s qualification is a way to distinguish yourself from the large number of first degrees on the job market?
6. What are the benefits of having a postgraduate qualification in relation to future employment?
7. Do you think that most employers will appreciate the skills that you bring after your postgraduate course?
8. Why did you choose to take a postgraduate course at the BSU?
9. Do you think that now you have any definite opportunities for a career promotion?
10. Are you going to deepen your research experience and enroll for studies for another degree?