Knowing what course you intend to study in graduate school is a vital step in the study abroad journey and making this decision may not be an easy one due to different academic exposures, experiences and even work experiences one has had over time.
However, rather than relying only on your interests, passion and exposure to arrive at a decision, there are other important things one should consider during course selection for postgraduate study. Here’s a few
1. Eligibility
Eligibility for the courses or programs being applied to is often overlooked by prospective scholars. It is usually very important for applicants to familiarize themselves with the requirements for a particular course and determine eligibility accordingly.
For instance, some course requirements usually clearly state that the course is not available to be taught to non-nationals of the country in which the university is located, other courses could require you to have prior knowledge of a language, concept or a preparatory course without which there might be difficulty in progressing with the course of choice.
It is thus very important to pay careful consideration to the instructions and requirements during the process of applying for any course or program, as well as to apply to programs that you are most eligible for. This significantly increases the chances of being selected, as opposed to wasting time on applications for which you might not be considered at all.
2.Future Prospects.
This entails answering the question, an academic or industry related career?
Determining what you would like to do in the future can make a big difference in your choice of course for a master’s degree. Are you interested in research? Would you like to be involved in training the next generation of students/researchers? Are you more interested in an industry-related career rather than academia?
As a prospective scholar, it is important to self-reflect and provide honest answers to these important career questions, as this is another step in the right path to choosing the course best suited to you for your master’s degree.
3. Study Destination.
The location of your studies is just as important as the choice of course itself for important reasons. Some universities and countries are better suited to teach some particular courses than others, either due to the geographical location in which they are situated or due to the strength of expertise of their staff and faculty members, as well as the availability of resources, infrastructure and facilities (laboratories, techniques, technologies, etc.) in general to support effective learning.
It is in your best interest as a prospective scholar to look out for such geographical locations if your goal is to have the most effective learning experience. As a student whose learning would require a lot of research (for instance), you should pay more attention to universities that do the kind of research you are interested in, and whose teaching would contribute the most to the development of your expertise. Typically, countries that are leading in innovation and development of novel approaches to problem solving are more likely to invest greatly in the training of students to become the next generation of researchers.
Therefore, according to your learning needs, ensure to look out for the most favorable locations in which your course of choice is being taught.
4. Language of education.
The language in which your course of choice is taught in your university of choice is an important thing to look out for. Unfortunately however, not all prospective scholars are meticulous or careful enough to take note of this factor.
It is imperative to consider the language in which a particular course is being taught and ensure that it is the same as your first language (or a language you can effectively communicate in; a language you can speak, read or write in and not just something you have a passive or shallow knowledge of). This is necessary to prevent communication barriers between yourself and your professors and peers, as well as to make the learning process generally effective and result-oriented.
Imagine going through the (sometimes) rigorous process of getting into graduate school – the admission process, the costs, travelling – only to discover that you don’t even understand the language your course is being taught in. This oversight could cost you a lot; so naturally, the smart thing to do is ensure to pay attention to such details during the process of course selection.
4. Study Duration.
Studying at master’s level in different parts of the world takes different amounts of time to complete. Some master’s courses last for one year, others last for two years. Depending on your learning goals and the kind of degree you plan to end up with, it is imperative to consider the duration of study while making a decision on your course of choice.
Furthermore, aside from the obvious truth that you would need to know exactly what you are committing to and for how long, another thing to remember is that the time taken to complete a master’s degree is sometimes used as a criterion in some parts of the world to measure the relevance of the degree. Knowledge of the proposed study duration is also important for mental preparation; to get your psych ready for the time you will need to put into studying.
5. Cost.
Depending on various contributing factors (scholarships or the absence thereof, country/location of choice, etc.), postgraduate study can be a really big deal when considering cost. There are several things that would require payments of varying amounts – tuition, living expenses, student fees, transportation, health/medical insurance, to mention a few. It is thus very important to take note of the costs for everything you would need for the successful completion of your degree, assess the feasibility and plan accordingly.
Whether you are a self-funded scholar or you are intent on applying for scholarships, look carefully and consider everything that would require payment in order to prepare the necessary funds. If you are getting sponsorship in the form of a scholarship or grant, it is important to note the expenses that your sponsorship may not cover and plan for alternative means to cover the costs. It is therefore advised that you pay attention to every detail about the cost of graduate study in order to avoid oversights that could be detrimental to your study goals.
Finally, considering all factors discussed above including your academic background and interests would help you make a more informed decision on the choice of a post graduate study program.
