A survey of 1,400 undergraduates carried out by leading postgraduate study site TARGETpostgrad has revealed a growing interest in part-time and online postgraduate degrees, especially from UK nationals, even though many are concerned that employers don’t value them as highly as full-time courses.
The survey identified that costs and lack of funding are the main barriers for undergraduates looking to continue their education at a higher level, and this has encouraged a growing number to look into ways of studying while working. The challenge for universities is to develop more flexible postgraduate programmes and to convince employers of their worth.
But despite their concerns over money, most students were convinced of the value of postgraduate study with three-quarters ‘confident’ or ‘very confident’ that it would help them secure a relevant job.
Students’ concerns over costs and funding have led UK nationals especially to also consider delayed entry, part-time work, borrowing money from family and studying abroad.
- Although most plan to go straight into PG study, a significant percentage of UK students plan to wait a few years, perhaps influenced by the need to accumulate funds first.
- The top two reasons for not enrolling on a PG course were the cost and the lack of funding available.
- 60% expected to work part-time during their course to keep their heads above water.
- Nearly half said they would borrow money from their family to finance their study.
- With cost being an issue, the interest in part-time and online courses increased again in 2015 – although many believe that employers see them as inferior to full-time courses.
- Nearly 40% said that they would consider taking a postgraduate course outside the UK with USA, Germany and Canada the top three destinations, an increase from 2014.
Time will tell how effectively the current Postgraduate Support Scheme and next year’s postgraduate study loan scheme addresses students’ concerns over finance.
In the meantime, more UK undergraduates are looking to study abroad, especially in European countries that offer postgraduate education (in English) with lower fees, and sometimes no fees. International students, too, who pay higher fees, may no longer see British universities as the place to be. If this is not addressed, the UK could lose students, courses and its hard-fought reputation for quality – and this will have negative implications for universities, the economy and the reputation of UK education.
Chris Phillips, Research Director at GTI Media, publishers of TARGETpostgrad, said: “As we move away from traditional industries to cement our place in the world as a smart, modern, high-tech creator and exporter, we will need a more educated workforce. If postgraduate education becomes less of an attractive option for our brightest undergrads, there will be consequences a few years down the line”.