What's Next For You After Graduation?

Should you pursue a Master's degree or set foot on the career ladder?

Tough decisions!

Whether you take a Master's degree will depend on many factors — and there's no right or wrong answer here. An advanced degree may open up new career opportunities, help you get further in your chosen career, and may lead to a higher salary.

Professional/master's degrees may also be required to practice in some professions; for example, Doctor, Lawyer, Pharmacist. If you are a born academic and passionate about learning, you might be considering a Master's program solely for the opportunity to expand your knowledge in a subject that really interests you.

However, the costs can be high, and you need to bear in mind that you won't be working full-time during the course duration and will need to support yourself.

Here are four pro tips to take into consideration when making your decision:

Passion

Are you passionate about your subject area? Are you willing to commit to one, two or three years of further studies, research, writing papers etc? To keep you motivated during this time period, you need to have a strong interest in your program.

Return on investment

If a Master's is optional in your chosen career (not compulsory), what return on investment are you likely to get from it? Will it likely lead to a higher salary or promotion? Master's programs come with a big price tag, especially if you are considering studying abroad.

Pro tip: one thing to consider is that in some countries, you can obtain your Master's in just one year instead of two (for example, England). This means that although you'll be paying international fees, you'll only pay for one year of tuition and accommodation.

Available funding

What type of funding is available? Does the university offer scholarships of any type? Are there any opportunities to work as a Research Assistant or a Teaching Assistant. Are you eligible for any tuition waivers?

If you are looking to go abroad, some governments offer scholarships to international students: check the embassy websites. What's more, in some countries, for example, Germany, many Master's programs are free to all students, including those from overseas.

Post-grad work permits

If you are looking to do a Master's program overseas, check out opportunities to work after graduating. Many countries offer 'post-graduation' work permits for one or two years. It's a great opportunity to get international work experience and develop a network of colleagues from all over the world.

To find out more about Master's programs at top universities around the world, check out the free Study and Go Abroad Virtual Fair on February 11th.