If you are thinking about taking a postgraduate course, there are several factors you should consider to ensure you make the right decision, taking into account the goals you want to achieve.
 
Completing a postgraduate course can be a good option for those who intend to continue investing in their professional area - or even get to deepen their knowledge in another field of interest that they would like to explore and, who knows, pursue as a career.
 
But it is essential to make a well-structured choice, considering the large number of specializations available today, as well as the educational institutions that teach these advanced training courses and the professional possibilities they may offer, once completed.
 
A postgraduate degree does not automatically open doors, but it can be a great help in securing better or new professional opportunities. In addition, the knowledge developed during training of this kind can also provide skills in managing a business, which, given current market demands, becomes an asset, increasing your negotiating power and competitiveness.
 

What does a postgraduate degree entail?

 
A postgraduate degree is a specialization that can generally last anywhere from a few months to an academic year - depending on the course and educational institution you choose - and that allows you to deepen more technical or scientific skills in relation to a particular area.
 
Related article: What are the advantages of pursuing a postgraduate degree?
 
For many people, postgraduate courses are beneficial in the sense that they allow constant updating and deepening of theoretical and practical learning that is more specific than what was acquired during the undergraduate degree.
 
Others look to this training as an opportunity to grow in terms of position and salary within the company where they work - if they are already included in the professional world - or to explore another branch of interest within their area of expertise.
 
Regardless of the area, you should do a graduate course when you feel the time is right for you, either right after an undergraduate degree or years after you have started working, already with some experience.
 
It is important, however, to know that to enroll in a postgraduate program, you must have completed at least high school, however it is recommended to have a bachelor's degree (or legal equivalency). In addition, you can do more than one training at the same time, if you wish (a master's degree, for example), but you should be informed about the work that a postgraduate degree entails so that you do not feel that your expectations of this training are unfulfilled and that you cannot meet the proposed goals.
 
Related article: What is the difference between postgraduate and master's degrees?
 

How to choose the right graduate course

When it comes to choosing which postgraduate course to take, you should consider several aspects:
 

Defining a professional profile

Focusing on your goals, it is important to define a professional profile for yourself, a decisive aspect when making your choice. As there are different postgraduate courses for different purposes, you should think about what you want to do, what you want to achieve and how long you want to take, making sure that the skills you acquire add value to your previous knowledge. You may realize, for example, that it is best to go for a master's or doctoral degree if you intend to pursue a career in academia.
 

Evaluate the cost/benefit

Some graduate programs cost a substantial amount of money (MBAs, for example), so you should not only rationally evaluate whether you can afford to spend this money at the time in question, so that your financial account will not be too impacted, but also understand whether this training can be seen as an investment: will the postgraduate degree guarantee you benefits in the near future?
 

Analyzing the range of offers

When choosing which postgraduate degree to pursue, it is essential to do some research regarding which educational institutions have the most credibility and offer the most professional opportunities (for example, you can consult the Eduniversal Best Masters Ranking 2022). In addition, you can evaluate the course curriculum, the quality and practical experience of the faculty, and the flexibility to attend classes at a distance. It is important that you are not disappointed when you begin your education.
 

Assess the time needed

Another essential point is to understand how much daily time the postgraduate course will demand, not only in terms of classes, but also of work and project development. If you are already in the labor market, this assessment is even more important, because you have to manage both employment and training.
 

Thinking about your career

If you want to make a career change, the choice of post-graduation must be even more careful, since the step you are about to take is huge and, therefore, you have to ensure that you will acquire specific knowledge that will allow you to work in that field. At this point, it is essential that you analyze the trends of the market in question, the technological updates that exist, and assess what is being invested in more.
 

About NOVA IMS

NOVA IMS is the School of Information Management and Data Science of the Nova University of Lisbon. It was created in 1989 as a response to the shortage of senior staff specialized in information management, and to the growing need for the use of new information technologies. The postgraduate and master's degree programs are spread over 7 areas of knowledge.