Essential tips about applying for postgraduate degrees 

Review the entry requirements -  Every postgraduate course is different, so the most important step in applying for a course is to understand the entry requirements intimately. Some programs may have no entry requirements other than an undergraduate degree, while others will require a particular undergraduate degree, an entrance exam, work experience, a portfolio, or an even a well-thought-through thesis topic (for research degrees). 

Leverage your work experience -  Even if work experience is not a prerequisite for the program you are applying for, it is always worth mentioning in your application. Australian institutions value experience highly (sometimes more so than academic performance), since it demonstrates your commitment and indicated you will be a valuable contributor to your cohort.  

Look for pathways -  If you simply don’t meet the entry requirements for your desired program (and there’s no way to bend them), don’t give up; where there’s a will, there’s a way. You might not be eligible for direct entry into a Master’s degree, but you may be able to begin a Graduate Diploma or Certificate in a related field, and then continue into the Master’s with study credit from your first Graduate degree. 

Pick up the phone -  Even if you think you’re clearly in, it’s always worth picking up the phone and giving the faculty a call to double-check check you meet all the entrance criteria. Sometimes the selection criteria are not listed online (only the must-have prerequisites), but a call with Tom or Jane from the faculty desk might just give away exactly what the selection committee is looking for. Even if you’re not eligible, they will have the best advice on other pathways. 

Convenient Support Facilities for Check the guidelines for application -  Each university and each course is going to be different, and it’s likely that they’ll want different things from applicants. For that reason, you should read the application guidelines carefully. These will most likely be on the website for the course itself, but some universities also have application packs which you should read closely before doing your application.

Excellent Research Opportunities -  Secure funding -  If you don’t already have the money to cover your fees and living costs, then securing funding is very important. There is a range of information about where to find postgraduate funding in the UK on our website. We also have a subscription to the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding which details a large number of organizations and similar that can help you. 

Check your spelling and grammar -  There is nothing more embarrassing than sending off your application and realizing that there’s a typo in the first line. When you’ve finished your personal statement, go through it as carefully as you can to make sure that there are no mistakes or typos. Reading it out loud will also help you do this more effectively, and let you feel the rhythm of your writing to see if there is any awkward phrasing. 

State why your experience is relevant -  Unless you make the link between your previous experience and the course you’re applying for, why should the admissions team care about your application? Your undergraduate degree could have been amazing, but why does that make you a great choice to do a master’s? What modules particularly interested you or did you excel in? Why are these relevant to your chosen master’s degree?

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