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Posted May 12, 2020
How to become a postgraduate student
Hopefully, you don't need to be told that to become a postgraduate student you need to study at the postgraduate level – if you did well, then now you know!
In this blog we’re going to run though the whys and wherefores to becoming a postgraduate student.
Choose your PG program
What do you want to study? Is postgraduate study part of a grand career plan or are you picking something that you love? These are questions you should probably have some sort of answer to, if only to start thinking about being successful with your application form and in interviews. Speak to other people, especially those who know about the subject area you're considering or work colleagues and contacts about what would be a good career move.
Choose your university
The next thing you need to consider is where do you want to study? How far can you travel or do you fancy studying abroad for a year or two? Attend open days, or go on to virtual open days if you can't attend on-campus events, and make contact with current or past students on social media through the institution you're considering. Read industry magazines and have a look at ranking lists, but remember the perfect institution for you might not necessarily be the top-ranked university listings so only use thiese as a gudie.
Apply for the PG program
Make contact with academic staff involved with admissions or with other members of staff involved with the admissions process. This will mean that the department and institution will be expecting your application. Complete the form and write an excellent personal statement explaining your motivations for applying for the course. Then, spend some time away from the form to clear your head before you go over it again. You want to make sure that there are no silly mistakes, so if you can get someone else to read through it checking for spelling and tone.
Ace your interview
Obviously, your application was amazing and you are invited for an interview. Prepare for the big day and if it's going to be an interview online, then make sure that you've got a good internet connection. And if you need to attend in person, make sure you plan your trip to the university so you're not late.
Sort out your funding
Get a good grip of what the expected costs will be and if you're lucky, you might find a scholarship or bursary. Many institutions assess every applicant to see if they can offer fundinf assistance, but it's a good idea to find out what funding you personally need to apply for and what ifunding s assessed automatically. Most universities – for example King's College London and Georgetown University – list scholarships. Many countries offer funding for students wishing to undertake postgraduate study, so check with your local government. Private career development loans are also a popular choice in many places to fill any funding gaps. Private loans are available for those postgraduate students who don't qualify for government funding. Prodigy Finance is a great option for postgradiuate students as they are a private loans company focussed specifically on funding students and they offer a range of loan options for postgraduate study around the world. Prodigy Finance offers funding help to enable international postgraduate students get to the UK's best universities without collateral or a co-signer, and are also able to help UK students get to the campus of their dreams – both in their home country and at overseas universities. Find out more here.
Find your accommodation
If you're travelling for your course, then going for accommodation recommended by the institution is an easy option. A good second option is to get someone to check out the room and conditions before you sign anything.
Start your PG program
Now the real work starts – it’s time to start studying.
Postgraduate students at universities around the world
This table provides details of the numbers of postgraduate students studying at prestigious universities around the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Please note that the information here does not constitute financial advice. Prodigy Finance is one of many potential funding options for international postgraduate students. Other student funding options are available and Postgrad.com advises you to research all your options thoroughly before making such a commitment. Postgrad.com accepts no responsibility for your choice of loan and does not endorse or support Prodigy Finance. Prodigy Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and entered on the Financial Services Register under firm registration number 612713.
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