Postgraduate Study: How to master a competitive CV

• Northumbria launches new postgraduate loan – available now

• Up to £10,000 to support tuition fees, living and accommodation expenses

• Postgraduate students can earn £200,000 more than those with undergraduate degrees

December saw George Osborne unveil new measures concerning postgraduate funding for 2016. However, Northumbria’s postgraduate students needn’t wait another year to access funding for their course as the University has launched its own loan schemeavailable with immediate effect. In the current economic climate, investing more money into your education can feel like a big risk. Undergraduate students have already invested time and money into their degree, so why go on to further study?

“There are countless benefits that come with taking your education to the next level”, explains Chris Crame, 26, a graduate of Northumbria’s MA in International Development. “For me, the biggest issue when I was considering further study was whether a Master’s would help me become more employable. I didn’t just want an extra qualification, I wanted a course that would set out a pathway into employment.

“Although my two degrees are in different disciplines, my Master’s helped me develop many of the elements I had studied as an undergraduate, and it made them more relevant to a specific profession. It allowed me to focus my skills development according to the graduate roles I was interested in applying for.”

Chris now works as a Student Recruitment Administrator for Northumbria, a role that involves international travel, visiting prospective students in their home countries to understand their expectations in relation to Higher Education.

During his studies, Chris found that many of his fellow students were already gaining employment experience. He continued: “A lot of people on my course were working alongside their studies – the lectures were taught in the evening to accommodate this and the lecturers were extremely supportive in scheduling around students with other commitments.

“There are many more people who would love to take up further study but who cannot afford to pay the fees. I think more funding in this area will make a huge difference in the number of people who are able to continue their studies.”

Finance remains one of the biggest concerns for students considering pursuing a postgraduate qualification. However, many studies show that a postgraduate qualification increases your earning potential, so students can expect a return on their investment. Indeed, research conducted by the Sutton Trust in 2013 found that students with a postgraduate degree could earn over £200,000 more than those with undergraduate degrees over a 40 year working life (www.suttontrust.com).

Currently, universities offer support to some individuals in the form of bursaries and scholarships, but there has been no loan scheme for postgraduate study – an issue Osborne addressed in December. Additionally, in response to students’ concerns, Northumbria has also launched a brand new scheme to provide additional support for students residing in the North East. Northumbria’s loan package will allow full-time postgraduate students to access funding of up to £10,000 to cover the cost of tuition fees, as well as supporting living and accommodation expenses (terms and conditions apply).

So, with the availability of financial support, and an increasingly attractive CV on the horizon, the next question is what to study?

“The motivations for studying at postgraduate level vary depending on the individual” says Northumbria’s Marketing Director, Adam Dunlop.

“While many students sign up to a Master’s straight after graduating from their degree, others may have already gained extensive work experience. It may be that they are looking for a career change, or simply want to study a subject they are passionate about.”

Over 100 fully-funded Master’s places

Want to further your study and worried about the added cost? Northumbria has over 100 Master’s bursaries worth over £1 million up for grabs. The new scheme is open to undergraduate students who enrol for postgraduate study in 2015/6 (subject to certain criteria). To find out if you are eligible and for further details, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/masters

Somebody who credits postgraduate study for furthering her career development is Sophie Haagensen, Northumbria MBA (Master of Business Administration) graduate, Head of Strategy and Planning for Atom Bank and former Deputy Director of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Sophie said: “After studying Biology at undergraduate level, I gained a couple of years’ management experience which prompted my decision to return to University to study a Master’s in business and a few years later I completed an MBA through distance learning. My postgraduate studies developed a range of practical and theoretical competencies which have supported me in roles spanning all areas of business, from operations through to strategy.

“When employers hire postgraduates, they are not just investing in the individual,” added Sophie, “They are investing in the breadth of knowledge and skills that this person can share with the whole organisation.”

Postgraduate courses at Northumbria are available on both a full and part time basis on campus, while some courses are offered on a distance learning basis to create flexible study options.

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To find out more go to: northumbria.ac.uk/masters

Northumbria graduate Sophie Haagensen

How to master a competitive CV for the creative industries

Roles in the creative and cultural sectors are highly sought after. So how can graduates stand out from the crowd and land their dream job? Northumbria graduate Jenny Dewar talks about how her Master’s degree gave her the extra edge to succeed.

Jenny Dewar, Company Manager, Curious Monkey

After completing a degree in Performing Arts, Jenny accepted a general admin role for a year to help pay the bills. However, she couldn’t deny her love for the arts and applied for a place on Northumbria’s MA Cultural Management course to build on her skills.

“While I was studying Performing Arts I worked with bands and promoters putting on gigs in Newcastle,” Jenny explained. “And I started to realise that I was more interested in arts management roles, than being an artist myself.” It was the strategic and organisational aspects of the course that really appealed to Jenny, along with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience managing events, running festivals, fundraising and delivering marketing activities.

The final part of the course saw her undertake a placement with a music PR company, and, soon after graduating, she landed a role with Brian Debnam, an arts consultant who works with organisations across the world. Currently, Jenny works as company manager with regional theatre organisation, Curious Monkey (founded by Amy Golding, a graduate of Northumbria’s Drama and Applied Theatre course). Jenny said: “Curious Monkey aims to bring stories to life that deserve to be told. We work with people in our local community and communities around the world to find stories that are important to them.” One of the company’s most notable productions is Mamela, produced by Jenny and directed by Amy. This award-winning play opened in South Africa and has since toured to venues across the UK.

Aside from boosting Jenny’s credentials and kick-starting an international career, studying at postgraduate level has also given her the confidence and skills to continue to develop her role. “The structure of the course, which encouraged independent study and widened my perspective of the arts as an industry, really instils in you the desire to get as much out of situations as you can. My role with Curious Monkey is evolving all the time and the skills I developed on my MA have given me the confidence to know that whatever the challenge, I can figure it out. And I love that!”

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northumbria.ac.uk/pg