PGCE, MRes, MA, MSc or PhD; what does it mean and which should I go for?

PGCE, MRes, MA, MSc, or Ph.D.?

Oftentimes, people get confused when they see these abbreviations because they may not look familiar with what you already know. But not to worry, we will direct it in this article.

 

Postgraduate courses come in many formats, ranging from vocational diplomas and certificates (PGCE, PGD) to Masters (MSc, MA, MBA) and doctoral qualifications (Ph.D.).

 

The two most common categories of postgraduate study are postgraduate taught (PGT) courses and postgraduate research (PGR) courses. Both of them are commonly called MASTERS DEGREE (Msc or MA).

 

Postgraduate taught (PGT) courses usually comprise several months of taught classes, much like undergraduate study, followed by an intensive independent research project for the final few months. They are also often used as a stepping stone to more advanced research degrees.

 

Postgraduate research (PGR) courses tend to contain fewer taught classes, but you will usually receive training in research techniques. It places much more focus on individual research, with as much as 60% to 100% consisting of a personal or group research project.

 

Both PGT and PGR help prepare a student for a doctoral program (PGR) or a career that requires specific research skills and techniques.

 

Doctorate courses

These courses take about three to four years of full-time study to complete, but the exact duration of a doctorate course depends on whether you get involved in teaching, how long your research takes to complete and how long it takes you to write your doctorate thesis.

 

Successful Ph.D. candidates are awarded doctoral qualifications such as a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or doctor of engineering (EngD), depending on their field of research.

 

Research is the core component of a Ph.D. program, and you will be expected to produce original work on a specific subject topic, usually in the form of a thesis.

 

Doctorate qualifications are often a prerequisite for a career as a university academic, researcher, or scientist in the industry.

 

While some schools may require you to get a BSc and MSc before proceeding to a Ph.D. degree as they should, many schools in USA and Australia for instance give a direct Ph.D. admission to BSc holders.

 

Other postgraduate courses

Aside from the most common postgraduate degrees we know, there are many other unpopular ones. Examples include the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), which leads to a career in teaching, the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Master of Law (LLM), which opens the door to the legal professions, or the Master of Business Administration (MBA), which is a common choice for business professionals looking to gain entry to C-suite positions.

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I hope this helps you to make informed decisions on which degree program you're most suitable for.

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