Where can your academic career take you?

Your academic career does not have to stop at an undergraduate degree!

Here’s an overview of the different types of postgraduate degrees offered at UCT.

Honours degree

An honours degree is the gateway to postgraduate studies in South Africa (unless you hold a four-year bachelor’s or equivalent degree). It is usually a one-year postgraduate degree with a specialisation, preparing you for further research-based postgraduate studies. It usually involves a combination of coursework and a short research dissertation.

REQUIREMENTS: To gain entry into an honours course, you will usually need an undergraduate qualification in the same or a related discipline.

WHY DO IT? For various career paths, you will need a specific honours degree to gain entry. Especially if you are thinking of working in another country, an honours degree can only bolster your chances of getting a job.

Postgraduate diplomas

Postgraduate diplomas give you the chance for advanced reflection and development in a particular discipline or profession. They are similar to some honours and master’s programmes, but do not include dissertations or significant research projects.

REQUIREMENTS: Whilst some postgraduate diplomas require students to have an undergraduate degree from the same discipline, others are available to students with any undergraduate degree and act as conversion courses – allowing entry to vocational or professional work. For example, the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice is a pre-Masters business programme that packs a powerful punch of vital business skills for success in uncertain economic times.

WHY DO IT? A formal postgraduate qualification can set you apart in the job market, and most can be done part-time.

Master’s degrees Degree

UCT master’s programmes are, for the most part, advanced research-based degrees. They can be a research master’s by full dissertation, a research master’s by coursework and dissertation, or in some cases a professional master’s degree. In such degrees the research component may require a research paper styled submission, in addition or in place of the dissertation. It normally takes two years to complete.

REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for a master’s degree, you will need an undergraduate and/or honours degree in a relevant field. Some master’s degrees also require a few years of work experience.

WHY DO IT? The specific knowledge that you will gain with a master’s can increase your proficiency in a particular discipline, which gives you an advantage at a time when many employers are raising their educational requirements for emerging positions. If you are considering a career in academia, a master’s degree will help you develop the skills and attributes you need to pursue a doctorate.

PhD

A PhD (i.e. doctorate) is a research degree at the most advanced level, typically three or four years in length, culminating in the acceptance of a doctoral thesis. In essence the degree consists of a piece of significant (most often original) research making a substantial contribution to knowledge in that field. It is expected that such research is publishable and students are encouraged to publish during the course of their PhD. Students undertake PhD studies under the guidance of a supervisor, and more frequently a supervisor and one or more co-supervisors.

REQUIREMENTS: You can apply for PhDs advertised by departments or research institutes or apply generally to the department, where an early research proposal may be required or advised. In many cases it is best to establish contact with a particular potential academic supervisor and gain their support for your research, and gain their agreement to potentially act as a supervisor. In most cases, you will need a master’s degree in a relevant field.

WHY DO IT? Many people have research topics they would like to explore, but few have the time and resources to do so. During a PhD, you are provided with everything you need to make your research a reality. Besides the bragging rights of being a doctor, a doctorate can be a solid foundation for a career in academics. It is a prerequisite for most research positions and postdoctoral opportunities. Moreover, it provides various transferable skills that can be used in non-academic positions.

Professional qualifications

Some professions have an examination or accreditation system to verify that the practitioners reach an acceptable level of knowledge and skill. This may be at the master’s, honours or PGDip level. For example, the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a one-year qualification to train graduates who wish to become school teachers.

REQUIREMENTS: This will depend on the qualification and could be an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.

WHY DO IT? This type of qualification makes your CV more credible and boosts your career and earning potential. It could help you to decide where you may want to specialise in the future, or it might be required for a specific job.