If you're looking to enter postgraduate study without an undergraduate degree, your options will generally be limited to coursework programs. That said, you may be able to progress to a research degree down the track once you've completed a lower postgraduate qualification.
If your PG diploma is equivalent to Masters course only then you will be eligible for a PhD program. If your PG diploma is equivalent to Masters course only then you will be eligible for a PhD program. If your PG diploma is equivalent to Masters course only then you will be eligible for a PhD program.
What's the Difference? Generally speaking, certificates offer 'bite-sized' pieces of education that usually provide practical workplace skills in a short period of time. Meanwhile, college degrees provide a larger educational base and take a bit longer to complete.
Postgraduate diplomas allow a graduate student to study a more advanced programme than at the bachelor's level. A postgraduate diploma typically represents 120 credits of postgraduate courses (whereas a full master's degree is usually 180 credits).
A Higher Diploma is an academic award by a University, College, other Tertiary Institutions, or Post Secondary Institutions. The award is at the same level as an Associate Degree or Diploma/Advanced Diploma Qualifications Framework Level 4, but below the standard of a Bachelor's Degree.
A graduate certificate (GradCert, GCert, GradC) is a higher education qualification at the same level as a bachelor's degree but more limited in scope, taking less time to complete - normally between one third and two thirds of an academic year (or full-time equivalent).
After receiving your master's degree, there are still more options to study in graduate school, including an additional master's degree, doctorate programs (Ph. D., Ed. D., and others) and certificate programs to consider. These degree and certificate programs all vary in level, time to complete, and more.
Postgraduate certificate. A postgraduate certificate (abbreviated as PGCert, PgCert, PG Cert, PGC, or PgC is a postgraduate qualification at the level of a master's degree.
Transfer your knowledge to another field
If you have an undergraduate degree, you can still pursue postgraduate study in another field. For example, you can study a Master of Business Administration or a Graduate Diploma in Accounting without a relevant undergraduate business or accounting qualification.According to Peterson's, the average tuition cost for a two-year master's degree program is $60,000 to $80,000. That's not even taking into account living expenses, books and fees, which can push the cost of your degree well over $100,000.
A postgraduate is a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree level course at a college or university and is undertaking further study at a more advanced level.
The PGCE is not a postgraduate degree, it is instead an advanced but non-degree qualification (as it is directly related to a career, it is considered vocational). PGCEs that do not carry master's credits are now known as Professional Graduate Certificate in Education.
A degree can take anywhere from two to four years or longer. Certificate programs often take months instead of years, and some can even be obtained in conjunction with a degree program. Diploma programs offer a more in-depth curriculum than a certificate, but they are more like a certificate than a degree.
A postgraduate course is typically one year's duration full time or it can take two years to complete part-time. A postgraduate diploma, postgraduate degree or Master's degree offers the student an advanced level of education in their chosen area of study.
A somewhat archaic title someone holding a Masters degree is "Magister". Similar to Doctor, it comes from a Latin word for teacher. In the English speaking world, this title has essentially disappeared though, so would be met with incomprehension.
These are some of the most popular professional postgraduate qualifications:
- Legal Practice Course (LPC)
- Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Masters in Management (MiM)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
