THE NO-REGRETS GUIDE

The No-regrets Guide to Choosing the Perfect Postgrad for your Career And what UL has to offer

CONTENTS The psychology of choosing a postgraduate

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Is a postgrad the right move? The essential requirements Which postgrad should I choose? Career inventory tests

Career prospects for UL postgraduates

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A snapshot of UL’s Postgrad employment Key STEM industries for postgraduate employability Popular career paths for Arts and Business postgraduates Make sure you’re tech-ready for STEM UL’s 2016 postgraduates: Where are they now?

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

Fees and funding options for your postgrad

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Government schemes, grants, and tax relief Bursaries and scholarships UL student stories: how did they fund it?

The work-life balance: can I work while doing a postgrad?

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UL student stories: how did they manage?

Why UL for your postgrad degree?

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The next steps: how to evaluate your career options

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Embarking on a postgrad degree is one of the biggest decisions you will make. You are essentially carving out your own career path, and taking on all the skills necessary to achieve this. Many of you will be funding your postgrad from your own pocket – and it may be your first big investment.

“Can I afford this? Is it the best step for my future career?

What prospects will be available to me when I finish?

How can I foot the bill?”

This ‘no-regrets’ guide will equip prospective postgrad students of UL (and elsewhere) to answer these questions with leading decisionmaking techniques, resources and real advice from UL’s past postgraduates and career team. Turn the page to begin your next steps.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

Your postgrad journey starts here At UL, our career team helps potential postgraduate students make this choice every year.

Although every prospective postgraduate is unique, the same concerns are voiced from different students. Worries range from funding, to the right programme of study, and maintaining a work-life balance:

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The Psychology of Choosing a Postgraduate

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

How do you go about choosing a postgrad? Start with this stepby-step approach based on the essential requirements, your career values and interests.

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postgrad can give you the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge and skills in a niche area. The first step is to decide whether a postgraduate is really the right choice – do you have the minimum undergrad results, and are you really invested in the topic? If you can answer yes, then you need to tie down the area of study you’d like to pursue, aligned to your interests, your strengths, and your values. This

is a crucial step in the process, as matching your interests to your postgraduate degree will ensure you’re satisfied and motivated in your career.

UL helps prospective postgrads identify and strengthen their ‘UL’ – their very own Unique Language for their careers.

“Prospective postgrads come into the careers centre and say, ‘I am not sure what to do…’ but they do

know. It’s just about asking the right questions,” says Head of Careers at UL, Gavin Connell.

A face-to-face meeting with a college careers advisor will help you make these decisions through best practice techniques.

Is a postgrad the right move?

The essential requirements Before embarking on a postgrad, a careers advisor will help you decide if you are ready to take this step, and if you have the required academic results and are prepared (the prerequisite for a research Master’s is a 2.1, for example).

Taught courses can be intensive at postgrad level, so it’s important to be 100 percent positive it’s something you want. “Some students

Which postgrad should I choose?

Career inventory tests Identifying your own interests and skills with ‘career inventory tests’ is important, as according to Professor Kevin Murphy, (Chair of Work and Employment Studies at Kemmy Business School, UL), “there is a substantial body of research showing that workers whose occupations match their basic interests are more likely to be motivated, satisfied and successful.”

What topics do you feel strongly about? The environment, property economics, the theory of relativity?

A ‘career-test’ can help measure the strength and importance of each interest.

Your career advisor will go through this profiling with you, but before the meeting, you can find useful tests online, such as The Holland Interest Profiler (official O*Net test).

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

“We will ask students their motivations for considering a postgrad – if this is something they really want, and not just something they feel they have to do,” says Gavin. “The careers advisor will encourage you to ask yourself, “Why do I want to do a postgrad? Is it an area I’m truly interested in?”

may consider a bridging programme if it’s a major subject change, to see if it’s a subject they like, before doing the Master’s programme,” Gavin advises.

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The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

‘‘Hi, I’m Colleen and my UL is I’m driven and I’m going to be a judge.”

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There is a substantial body of research showing that workers whose occupations match their basic interests are more likely to be motivated, satisfied and successful.

Professor Kevin Murphy, Chair of Work and Employment Studies, Kemmy Business School, UL

A ‘value self-assessment’ will then help you identify what will motivate you in your career. For many, money is not the sole motivator; it can be social responsibility or developing a public profile. What over-arching purpose will get you out of bed every day? A good online test is The Career Values Test (provided by Stewart, Cooper and Coon).

Undergrad to postgrad: What are my course options?

There is opportunity for crossdiscipline jumping between faculties for those considering a change of direction, Gavin assures. Of course, it

Gavin has recognised a trend among Arts, Humanities and Social Science graduates to specialise in business subjects which involve skills in human behaviour, research, creative solutions, and analysis. Examples are psychology or sociology graduates, who go on to do a postgrad in HR or recruitment. Students with a BA in Arts also regularly go into teaching or lecturing with the MSc in Education.

Arts students can also study IT topics within the emerging areas of art and tech, and courses such as the Postgrad diploma in Technical Communication and E-Learning.

Other cross-discipline moves are from a BA in Business to an MA in Law (which is an Arts degree). With the rise in FinTech and IT skills needed in business, many Business undergraduates are also moving into IT related courses, such as Financial IT, Computational Finance, Business Analytics and Economic Analysis.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

Gavin’s tips are to investigate the module content of programmes with course leaders, as the full detail may not be evident from the module content of the programme’s title. Finally, researching where your course will take you three-to-five years down the line is an important step. He stresses that, “although the postgraduate course itself is important, this degree is your ticket to entry into different industries, and it can open doors you will not be aware of.”

is difficult for students to begin a techheavy course at postgrad level (an undergraduate with a BA in Business will not usually make the move into an MSc in Engineering).

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Career Prospects for UL Postgraduates

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

This chapter will give you an insight into the career highlights for UL’s past postgraduates, and key career opportunities in leading industries.

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nce you discover your key strengths, values and interests, you should have narrowed down a focal area of study, and key postgraduate courses within this.

The next step is to think about the practicalities and to weigh up the economics of your choice.

Your career potential is not just dependant on internal factors, but also external factors – such

as the growth and decline of industries and economic trends when you are joining the workforce.

According to a study by The Irish Times, “The higher your standard of education, the more chance you have of getting a job and of being paid well in it.”

It’s important to be informed of the particular skillsets, average

The Careers Service is available to postgrad students at UL.

salaries and prospects which are unique to individual industries and postgrad courses.

1. Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 2. Business 3. Education & Health Sciences 4. Science & Engineering 5. Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

The Irish Times

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

UL offers students postgraduate degrees across the main areas of study:

The higher your standard of education, the more chance you have of getting a job and of being paid well in it.

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The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

A snapshot of UL’s postgrad employment UL’s First Destination Report is an annual study which highlights the level of employability among postgraduate students, nine months after they finish their degree. The figures below reveal the percentage of postgraduates in employment, their average starting salaries, and key career opportunities in emerging industries.

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91%

of postgraduate Diploma graduates are in employment or further study

86%

of taught Master’s and research Master’s graduates are in employment or further study

93%

of PhD graduates are in employment or further study

Average starting salaries for UL postgrad programmes* Postgraduate Diploma

€35,413

MSc taught

€29,589

MSc research

€39,200

PhD

€44,00

Research supports the view that by strengthening links with employers and investing more heavily in career-support functions, universities and other third level institutions can play an important role in matching graduates with jobs.

ESRI, Research Bulletin

* UL’s First Destination Report 2017

Key STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) industries for postgraduate employability The Irish economy is making a swift recovery, and there has been a surge in graduate opportunity in four key industries: Bio-pharma, Financial Services, Health and MedTech, and FinTech. In addition, these are areas of research strength for UL. Ireland is a hotbed for large international companies which require a mixture of niche skillsets, as fresh approaches and technical solutions mean the birth of new types of careers. IT, programming and digital knowledge are fast becoming the top skillsets needed across all industries.

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS: Accounting, project management, taxation, business management, statistics, linguistics, psychology, sociology and technology. * UL’s First Destination Report 2017

As a result, careers are emerging across a range of specialities, such as product engineering for biomedical devices, but also on the business side, as entrepreneurs interested in selling these new products launch start-up companies. Ireland is leading the way in connected health with a global MedTech hub, and is the home to the top ten bio-pharma companies in the world.

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS: Nanotechnology, software, business management, education, HR, ICT, maths, statistics, informatics and bioprocessing and material science.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

Financial Services Ireland is the now the fourth largest exporter of financial services in Europe – opportunities in this sector jumped in 2017 with IDA investments and Ireland’s potential role as the sole English speaking country in Europe post-Brexit.

Health and MedTech Ireland comes up trumps in this industry, as the biggest MedTech employer in the EU with 29,000+ people employed here. Digital technology and IT are transforming the health sector, with innovations in medical technology and ‘connected health’ – medical devices which are connected to healthcare providers through data.

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Ireland is one of the leading locations for bio-pharma in Europe with 10 out of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies having an established presence here.

FinTech This includes innovations in financial software and mobile solutions for customer service and internal banking processes. Technology is also disrupting the financial sector, driving the growth of FinTech.

This brand-new industry could see the creation of up to 5,000 new jobs by 2020.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS: Programming, IT development, software engineering, financial services, accounting, technology, linguistics, computational finance and business management.

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Bio-pharma Ireland is one of the leading locations for bio-pharma in Europe. For a country of just 4.7 million people, Ireland punches well above its weight and is undoubtedly a world player in this sector – with ten out of the top ten global pharmaceutical companies having an established presence here.

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS: Bio-pharma requires specialised skills from a wide range of areas – with a focus on health, technology, science, maths, and arts.

Popular career paths for Arts and Business postgraduates Career prospects in these industries are not exclusively for IT and tech undergraduates, Gavin explains, and there is a potential to jump industries for prospective postgrads.

Employers in business industries seek Postgrad Arts students who have niche skills, like research and behaviour analysis from an MSc in Sociology, or communicative skills from a postgrad in linguistics or international studies.

“40 percent of graduate recruiters* interviewed at a recent UL career fair said they were seeking postgraduate students,” Gavin says.

There is a growing demand in tech companies for postgraduates with degrees in linguistics, to work on AI programmes based on natural

Gavin recalls a girl who completed an undergraduate in psychology, and then went on to work in a large IT consultancy for five years. However, her interest was always in sport and fitness. She decided to go back and study an MSc in Sports Performance at night, and then started working in the sports psychology area.

Make sure you’re tech-ready for STEM The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) industry is booming with career opportunity – but before doing a postgraduate in tech, Gavin advises you to think about your true motivations.

“Many students go for a postgrad in tech from a business degree, due to career opportunities – but they don’t realise that these courses are techheavy, and can involve a lot of maths, stats, and programming.”

* Surveyed as part of the UL Graduate Market Survey 2017.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

The multinational tech and pharma companies are not only seeking scientists and technicians. They need Linguistics for tech transfer and globalisation.

language (this field is called ‘Computational Linguistics’).

Sometimes students are completely driven by their personal interests.

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UL’s 2016 postgraduates: which industries are they employed in?

Health Services was one of the biggest industries for UL postgraduate employment in 2017, with 46 percent of diploma postgraduates employed here.

Another lucrative sector for our UL diploma postgraduates was Second and Third Level Education (partially due to the high demand for teachers and lecturers in the UK). ‘Computing and Software Applications’ and ‘Local Authorities’ were the next big career paths for UL postgraduates.

Ready for employment Emma Pembroke, current student of MSc in Marketing, Consumption and Society, shared why her postgrad prepped her for the working world.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

“I think I’ll definitely be ready.

UL equips you with real-life examples within the classes and gets you thinking about how you’ll apply this in the working world. It’s not about fluffy theory from years ago, it’s hands-on stuff.”

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Health Services

46%

of Diploma postgraduates employed

Computing and Software Applications

27%

of Diploma postgraduates employed

Second and Third Level Education

46%

of taught Master’s postgraduates and 40% of PhD postgraduates employed

“40% of graduate recruiters* interviewed at a recent UL career fair said they were seeking postgraduate students.”

* Surveyed as part of the UL Graduate Market Survey 2017.

“Hi, I’m Steph, and my UL is that I’m really, really fast.”

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

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Fees and Funding Options for your Postgrad

Not sure how you’ll fund your fees and college life? This section includes tips on scholarships, government schemes, and real student stories.

T The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

he next big decisionmaker for those considering a postgrad is, “how can I fund this?”

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As you probably know, unlike an undergrad degree, a postgraduate course fee is not subsidised by the government.

Fees will vary and will increase depending on the course level (Postgrad Certificates, Diplomas, taught Master’s, research Master’s, and PhDs). Fees also tend to fluctuate annually due to student demand, government schemes and economy trends.

Many students fund their courses from a multitude of sources, the most popular being family donations, personal savings, student loans and student grants. But there are always new grants and schemes being introduced – including the government’s upskilling programmes, and SUSI’s postgrad grants launched in 2017.

Following is a list of current fees and resources which will give insight into cost of courses, and the range of funding options available.

Government schemes, grants, and tax relief It’s nice to get something back when you’re making a big investment – which is why it’s good to know that the Irish government offers tax back on part of your fee. The maximum amount of fees that can qualify for tax relief is €7,000, and there is no tax relief on the first €1,500 spent on a part-time course, or the first €3,000 on a full-time course.

There are government payment schemes available, depending on your circumstances. These include student grants, the ‘Back to Education Allowance’, and the ‘Student Assistance Fund’. A popular scheme launched in 2016 was the ‘Springboard Initiative’ which offers free Diplomas and Certificate programmes for IT courses , to supplement the growing demand for IT skills in Ireland.

Bursaries and scholarships Getting a scholarship isn’t as unlikely as many think (it’s surprising how many bypass this option). There are two options: internal scholarships from universities, and external

bursaries and grants offered by government bodies. UL has a range of scholarships available for Taught and Research Master’s.

These include Sports Scholarships, which are are designed to support top athletes in pursuing and excelling in their sport while also undertaking academic study.

Check the table overleaf to see scholarship options from external bodies.

Student loans Banks and Credit Unions offer student loans, with flexible payment options. Bank of Ireland is currently offering a tailored loan specifically for postgraduate students, with an option to defer the first 12 months of payment while you study. Credit Unions also have flexible and relaxed payment options, and will often work with students and their individual needs.

The bottom line? It’s best to look at all your financial options, from tax relief and government schemes, to university scholarships and bursaries from private bodies.

Emma Pembroke, MSc in Marketing, Consumption and Society

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

It’s a lot of money to invest, especially taking a year out when you could be working... it’s a huge investment but I think it’s definitely worthwhile

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The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

The postgrad grant list

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Universities Ireland

Four scholarships for Master’s and PhD students

Postgrad Solutions

15 postgrad study bursaries

Irish Research Council

Taught Master’s and PhD scholarships

Teagasc.ie

Walsh 2017 Fellowship Programme

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)

Student grant options for postgrads

Credit Union scholarships

Area-based grants – check with your local Credit Union

UL Student Stories: how did they fund it?

If you’re thinking of a postgrad, but worried about the funding, the best way to find a solution is to ask someone who’s been there and done it already.

Gavin Connell, Head of Careers at UL, has seen many students take a gap year to work abroad, and save

for their postgraduate degree.

There are also students who work full and part time in corporate positions and study at night.

We asked students currently undertaking their postgrad degrees in UL, how they got the funds to do their course. Read on for some of their insights.

Lizzie Kavanagh , MSc in Occupational Therapy

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

I wanted to do my postgrad course in UL so I applied for a loan which is â‚Ź6,000 a year. I got a guarantor from one of my family members. I was going to do it some way! I was determined.

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The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

‘‘Hi, I’m Emma and my UL is thinking outside the box.”

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I was looking at doing an MA in Dublin, and one in UL. The one in Dublin was double the price... I was lucky enough that my parents paid for UL for me, because the Master’s was something that I really wanted to do. I’m making them longterm promises that I’ll pay them back!

Emma Pembroke, MSc in Marketing, Consumption and Society

“Hi, I’m Siobhán and my UL is being an innovator.”

Siobhán Curley, MEng in Mechatronics

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

I took a year out between doing my undergrad and doing my Master’s, because a grant wasn’t available for me. I had to save up for the year beforehand to get into it.

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The Work-life Balance: Can I Work While Doing a Postgrad?

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

Can you juggle a job with postgrad studies? Learn how past UL students managed their work-life balance while studying too.

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f course, funding a postgraduate is just half the financial battle – the other half is deciding how to support yourself while studying for the year. Again, there’s no silver bullet or solution, as every course will have different lecturing hours, and assignment requirements.

The best approach is to check the amount of in-class hours per week on the courses on your shortlist.

If possible, you will also need to check the nature of the projects for submission.

The type of postgrad you choose will determine whether or not you can work part-time, and if so, what type of work you can do.

1. How many hours per week will I need for my lectures?

2. Can I complete the assignments in my own time, or are they group-work?

3. How many study hours outside lectures will give me the grade I want?

4. Will I be expected to do work experience on this course? If so, what are the hours like?

UL student stories: how did they manage?

To get the answers to these questions, it’s a good idea to ring the course coordinator, and talk to past students and lecturers on the course. To give you some general insights, we have collected quotes from UL postgraduates undertaking postgrad degrees. (Time of writing February 2018).

“I’ve found it hard to balance the work/life aspect. At the start of the semester, you feel overwhelmed, but it levels out.”

Emma Pembroke, MSc in Marketing, Consumption and Society

“I wanted something to get me a job, that would be family friendly. I’m living in Galway so I study online and attend workshops in UL, and it works really well. I didn’t want to leave Galway; my wife has a permanent job, we have two daughters and we live in a beautiful place.”

Seán Daffy, MA in Technical Communications and E-Learning

“It’s a supportive environment.

UL is fairly close-knit, so you tend to have a lot of access to whoever your relevant supervisors and lecturers are. I’ve always felt supported while I’ve been here and you wouldn’t ever feel like you were out on your own.”

Seán McKillen, PhD in History

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

“I’ve a huge passion for athletics, and I’ve represented Ireland. I like being busy, but it takes an awful lot of organisation right across the board. You just have to make it happen – it’s something I love.”

Steph Creaner, MSc in Work and Organisational Psychology

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Why UL for your Postgrad Degree?

UL is an excellent choice for your postgrad studies and will get you careerready. Our award-winning, scenic campus and low rent are also big benefits.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

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hoosing the right university for your postgraduate degree will have as much impact on your future as choosing the right course. In comparison to your undergraduate, there is usually more emphasis on choosing a college that will help you build your professional profile during your studies.

UL believes that developing career-ready skills and emphasising real-world learning is key to the postgraduate experience. The big question to ask when choosing your

postgraduate university is, “how workforce-ready will I be when I’m finished?”

This is your investment, and the best return on that investment is measured in your career progress. This mindset informs UL’s teaching methods and lecturing standard, with employability training modules and career planning offered to all postgraduate students. But there are plenty of other reasons why postgraduate students come to UL – including low rents, and our award-winning campus. Discover more about these below.

Hanagh Byrne, MSc in Law (General) LLM 2017 graduate, PriceWaterhouseCooper Trainee

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

The focus of the course enabled students to pursue their interests, while also offering extra modules on employability – which ensured that we remained focused on our future career goals.

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1. Number one for employability* UL has received outstanding recognition for postgraduate employability in Ireland and further afield.

How do we achieve this?

UL ensures students are careerready through a mixture of general employability modules, and a hands-on, industry-integrated approach to learning. A key example of UL’s approach is the ‘Mastering Your Employability’ module for postgrad students in the Business and Law schools.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

This practice-orientated module is designed alongside employers. It is delivered as a series of interactive workshops to help students identify their unique skills, and to translate these into professional strengths for employment. The module is delivered by the Careers Division and has been tailored for courses such as the MSc in Law (General) LLM – which prepares students for interviews with the biggest law firms in Ireland. UL’s awardwinning career division works with students to help them align their postgraduate degree to the type of jobs available.

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Graduate Employability*

1st 2nd

in Ireland in Europe

Career Services

1st 3rd

in Ireland in Europe

2. High lecturing standard UL is proud to have an awardwinning board of lecturers across its faculties, with a unique and engaging approach taken to teaching practice.

The emphasis on this standard can be seen in the university’s annual

I struggled in my last MA with the style of teaching and I find in UL, it’s a lot better.

The lecturers are really there to help you, if you have any questions – they’re willing to help you with absolutely anything.

Colleen Kelly , MSc in Law (General) LLM *International Student Barometer Survey

Why UL for your Postgrad?

Galway Average rent

€364

per month

UL

Dublin

Average rent

€738

per month

Limerick Average rent

€334

Cork Average rent

€401

per month

Based on costs for 1 person sharing a 3-bed house in each city. Source: www.daft.ie, February 2018.

Limerick is 9% cheaper than Galway, 20% cheaper than Cork and 100% cheaper than Dublin.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

per month

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I’ve been in UL for seven years… I love the atmosphere, everything is very good, even the design and layout of the campus, everything’s within 10 or 15 minutes’ walk. You’re never really separated from other groups.

Stephen Brady, Master of Education (Languages) ‘Excellence in Teaching Awards’, a process which examines lecturers based on testimonies from students and the range of teaching strategies.

UL lecturers are frequently nominated for external awards too – the BAFTA Special Award in 2017 went to UL lecturer, Brenda Romero, for her illustrious career in game design.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

For the student learning experience UL also ranks:

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1st in Ireland and UK for English language support.

2nd in Ireland for quality. lectures, course organisation and class size.

9th in Europe for academic English, and 10th for learning support.* Colleen Kelly, who is currently completing her MSc in Law (General) LLM, shares her admiration for her lecturers.

*International Student Barometer Survey

“I struggled in my last MA with the style of teaching, and I find in UL, it’s a lot better. The lecturers are really there to help you, if you have any questions – they’re willing to help you with absolutely anything.”

3. Lowest cost of living in Ireland Students can enjoy this world-class standard of teaching, without paying the high rent prices that other Irish cities demand of students.

4. An international reputation UL is proud of its high-profile reputation abroad, amongst students and international education bodies.

In 2015, UL was placed in the top 200 most international universities in the world in the Times Higher Education rankings. The University also ranked among the top universities globally for overall student learning experience, incomparable campus living and top-tier graduate employability.

“Hi, I’m Stephen and my UL is I speak your language.”

The University is set on a stunning riverside campus of over 133 hectares, with the River Shannon flowing through the grounds. There are

seven purpose-built student villages, a multitude of recreational and sporting facilities nearby, all just 5km from Limerick City and 20km from Shannon International Airport.

It’s not surprising our beloved campus won the RSA National Best Campus 2015-2017 and was labelled Irish National Walking and Cycling Campus in 2017.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

5. Award-winning campus Students just need to spend 15 minutes on the UL campus to see why it’s first in Ireland for campus environment and accommodation support.

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The Next Steps: How to Evaluate your Career Options

Working out whether the course you’re interested in is right for you can be tricky. Here’s how to simplify the process.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

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very prospective postgraduate will be at different stages of their decision. Some may have a good idea of the course they would like to study, and others are deciding whether a postgrad is even feasible at this stage of their lives. Gavin recommends the following five steps to take when choosing a postgraduate.

“Hi, I’m Sean and my UL is my adapative teaching philosophy.”

1. Choose four programmes Narrow down your choice to four or five programmes you’d really like to do. As mentioned above, these choices should be driven by your personal interests and skills.

3. Talk to the course directors If you’re considering many courses within a certain area (like business or science), it’s best practice to chat to the course directors, who can inform you about the different courses and

“The title of a course may not reflect what the agenda is,” Gavin warns. “Important questions to ask the course director include ‘What skillsets are each module linked to?’

And ‘What careers are available?’”

4. Review your career path every five years “With technology and scientific advances rapidly changing the world of work, it’s important to upskill, and to make sure you are equipped with new knowledge for the career you want. Even working professionals should be constantly reviewing their direction and doing new career inventory tests,” says Gavin Connell.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

2. Chat to a career expert Meet your college career guidance advisor, and tell them your reasons for considering a postgrad, or otherwise. They will help steer you in the right direction, and make sure you’re doing the course for the right reasons.

what they entail, such as hours per week, but also deeper insights, such as the potential career opportunities.

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Get in Touch to Progress Your Career Path

UL’s Postgraduate Admissions Office is here to help you with your postgrad course decision and application.

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

You can contact the Posgraduate Admissions Office by any of the means below.

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Postgraduate Admissions Office, Graduate School, Foundation Building, University of Limerick Tel: +353 61 234377 Fax: +353 61 233287 Email: graduateschool@ul.ie

The no-regrets guide to choosing the perfect postgrad

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graduateschool.ul.ie