Common myths about postgrad studies

Don’t believe everything you hear!

Postgraduate studies can seem intimidating, but these current and past students are here to help you navigate past any misconceptions standing in your way.

You only need to focus on the specialised field that you have selected.

“Even though one has registered maybe for Biochemistry, the project may lead you to learning about plant pathology, genomics and other fields. A person must start a project with an open mind and learn to work with people from other laboratories. At a postgraduate level it is not just about passing a test and moving on. It requires patience and willingness to learn from others while taking full responsibility for your own project.”

– SINDISIWE BUTHELEZI, Application Specialist at ReSyn Biosciences

A postgrad would make me overqualified for an entry-level position.

“This is not always the case, particularly if one wishes to work as a researcher, where an MSc or PhD is often required.”

– RAMONTSHENG RAPOLAKI, Researcher: Agrometeorology at the Agricultural Research Council

I am not intelligent enough.

“I actually believed that, but I came to the realisation that it is really about persistence and continuation.”

– SAMAR ELSHEIKH, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada

You have to remain in one field.

“I heard that a lot and I tried to encourage friends by giving examples of multidisciplinary fields (such as bioinformatics), and how diverse my lab was at UCT. I came from a statistics background and I would have never imagined myself registering for a PhD in the Faculty of Health Sciences.”

– SAMAR ELSHEIKH, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada

People either take forever to complete their postgrad degrees, or drop out.

“In my experience, many postgraduates complete their studies, even though some students extend their studies for several reasons.”

– RAMONTSHENG RAPOLAKI, Researcher: Agrometeorology at the Agricultural Research Council