Choosing the right course for you to study after completing your degree can be challenging for anyone, including those of us with a passion for business. Courses usually only run for one year, so it’s vital that you choose the best option for you to make sure you’re making the most of your short time.
Online universities, like VU University, often offer multiple postgraduate courses specialising in areas of business alone, so you can imagine how difficult it is to narrow it down to just one! Luckily, we’ve gathered a few tips and tricks to help you decide what’s best for your future.
1. Choose your specialist subject
To become a master of business, you need to first know what area of the field you want to specialise in. Business features plenty of moving parts, so there are lots of different avenues you can go down here. You can choose from the following here at UV University:
- Business administration
- Finance and financial planning
- Change management
- Business
And more! Once you know which area of business you want to specialise in, you’ll be able to narrow down the right courses for you.
2. Part-time or full-time?
The great thing about postgraduate classes is that they’re often more sparse and therefore leave you with more room in your schedule for a part-time job and other business ventures you have on the side. Many people choose to study business part-time while working on their own business in their downtime, so they can use the skills they learn in both ventures with the other.
The great thing about being your own boss is that you can work around your post-grad course. However, even if you’re working for someone else, many established businesses will allow you to work around your post-grad degree so you don’t have to worry about compromising job security for your degree.
Only you will be able to know whether you are better suited for part-time or full-time studies. While part-time will take longer to complete, you might also benefit from studying during industry changes and learning how to adapt. Full-time simply gets you your qualification quicker and gives you one less thing to concern yourself with when trying to run a start-up.
3. Career opportunities
You’re spending more of your time and money on another form of learning, so it makes sense that you’ll want to know what it might be able to offer you at the end of it! While postgraduate degrees often open up more doors in all fields of business, some are better for networking opportunities which can further push your career in the direction you’re hoping for. You might want to think about your course supervisors and their connections within the industry, and how this can affect you in the short and long term.
By playing your cards right, you might be able to broaden your career opportunities through your further studies. Consider this: there are one hundred people applying for a job alongside you, but while all of you have a business degree, only a quarter of them have a postgraduate degree in the field. Who do you think will be the better candidate?
4. Class delivery and size
The design of the courses you’re looking for will determine which is the best postgrad course for you because everyone learns differently. Part-time courses can be offered during the evenings and full-time courses can even be offered online, so you have plenty of class delivery types to fit your lifestyle. Some courses won’t be offered in a way that’ll fit your schedule, especially if you have a busy schedule. So, it’s incredibly important that you check the class delivery schedules before you start applying.
Similarly, the class sizes might be an important consideration to make sure you’re hoping for lots of peer-to-peer learning. Likewise, you might want to look for smaller classes if you value more individual time with your supervisors and course leaders. The way you learn will influence which course is best for you, so don’t skimp on shopping around!
Final thoughts
Getting ready to study a postgraduate business course is an exciting and hopeful venture, but to get the most out of your course you’ll need to make sure you’re applying for the best course for you. Make sure you shop around for the best specialist subject and class delivery to make sure your studies are furthering your future rather than hindering it. For example, if you have a start-up business on the side while you’re studying, you should make sure your course is tailored to what you’re interested in, applying the information learned to your entrepreneurial ventures. Good luck!