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Tips on Applying for Postgraduate Study

Tips on Applying for Postgraduate Study. Ann Henderson Jeanette Holt Careers Advisers. To Come …… .. What to include in a CV Personal Statement (Masters) Research Proposal (PhD) Career options & destinations (PhD) Career options & destinations (Masters) Your questions answered.

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Tips on Applying for Postgraduate Study

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  1. Tips on Applying for Postgraduate Study Ann Henderson Jeanette Holt Careers Advisers

  2. To Come…….. • What to include in a CV • Personal Statement (Masters) • Research Proposal (PhD) • Career options & destinations (PhD) • Career options & destinations (Masters) • Your questions answered

  3. ANN HENDERSON CAREERS ADVISER POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHERS and POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

  4. TO RECAP….. POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT (PGT) = MASTERS POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH (PGR) = PhD (and PsychD, EngD, DBA, D Phil)

  5. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A CV

  6. WHAT DOES “CV” STAND FOR? CURRICULUM VITAE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? COURSE OF LIFE

  7. MAP YOUR LIFE • Your present studies • Key projects • Education & qualifications – academic and vocational • Work experience – relevant/other/paid/voluntary • Responsibilities • Achievements • Leisure activities

  8. Things you need To Do • Map your life • Assess your skills • Qualities already gained

  9. CURRICULUM VITAE ANN HENDERSON Gcjvjdfjdnb rfijijtirjhi ortjjbht rjogjropt Jdfjnbgvb irgjierjgjperpe rjgpeor[e Cjknvklf………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ANN HENDERSON Fhvjcvjssn dujiwjijwer ijvijijvpr Ksdjhsdivjisjvi sdjevids kvodvo Vcnsdvjsdi…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  10. PERSONAL PROFILEorCAREER OBJECTIVE • Brief - 3 or 4 lines • State your career focus • Evidence of 2 or 3 main strengths • Target to specific course & university……customise! • Sell yourself! don’t write what everyone else does

  11. EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS • List in reverse order (recent first) • Include dates, institution, town • Summarise GCSEs (do not list!) • Include relevant modules, projects & dissertations • Grades & predicted results

  12. PGR CVs • Emphasise your academic record • Details of your proposal & research interests • Make sure comprehensible to people outside your field

  13. WORK EXPERIENCE all work experience counts, paid, voluntary or shadowing • List in reverse order (recent first) • List separately relevant, subject specific & other experience • Experience gained outside the UK is just as relevant • Focus upon responsibilities & achievements • Skills used & developed

  14. ORAL & WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS…COMPETENCIES RESEARCH CRITICAL THINKING TIME MANAGEMENT I.T. LEADERSHIP DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMERCIAL AWARENESS TEAM WORK PROBLEM SOLVING

  15. GOOD ACADEMIC REFERENCES ARE ESSENTIAL

  16. 2 sides A4 Focus on information provided Easy to read Font size 11 or 12 Avoid large blocks of text Use bullet points Good quality paper Consistent style & format Check spelling and grammar! LAYOUTMAKE AN IMPACT – BE ORIGINAL

  17. ELECTRONIC CVsTIPS…… • Formatting readable in all packages? • May be scanned for key criteria • Will layout travel electronically? • Use key words and phrases • Normal typeface –tnr or arial • Do not use underlining or italics

  18. COVERING LETTER SHOULD…. • Present your motivation • Demonstrate your interests and knowledge • Highlight your unique selling points • Give extra information that does not fit into CV or application form • Explain any personal issues in your application

  19. Why do a Masters? • Where do you hope that it will lead you? Make sure you check the destinations information and know the career options, increased employability depends on the course. • Your chosen career may require it or you may need it to change to a new career area, or you may just love the subject • A Masters is an advantage for some careers. • It may help you to stand out from the crowd of undergraduates but it will be hard work and needs commitment. • The key thing is whether it is right for you as an individual. • Think carefully, it can be expensive as funding is often sporadic and competitive. A part-time Masters could be an option.

  20. How to Write a Personal Statement for a Masters Course Make sure you follow the instructions carefully as not all universities require the same information Whatever you say needs to be related to your application and should be aimed at persuading the admissions tutor to offer you a place. Be business like and structure your statement by grouping relevant information together.

  21. Personal Statement for a MastersCourse Why are you applying? • State why you are interested in this particular area of study and where you hope it will lead you in terms of your career. • What have you done to find out about this area of study or career? • What attracts you to this specific course at this university? Refer to any special features, such as specific modules or teaching styles.

  22. Personal Statement/Additional Information for a Masters Course What do you have to offer? • What knowledge and skills did you gain from your first degree? Include any relevant modules, dissertation or project, report writing, research techniques or other technical skills. • Include any skills and qualities which you have gained from any work experience, work-shadowing, voluntary and extra-curricular activities. • Why you? Finish by summarising the key skills and qualities you can bring to the course/profession. Show enthusiasm for the course.

  23. Final Tips for Masters Application • Style – Write in the active rather than passive tense • Proof read for spellings, grammar, punctuation or ask someone else to check it for you. • Research the course and provide evidence for your suitability.

  24. What do Masters Graduates do? National Destinations Survey of UK-domiciled Masters students from all UK universities: See ‘What do Masters Graduates Do? www.prospects.ac.uk 29,430 gave information to the DLHE survey in 2005 The information is broken down into different subject areas. You can find out information on destinations from specific Masters courses by e-mailing the admissions tutor or in the case of Surrey University checking the careers service web-site.

  25. Entered work in the UK Working and studying Entered training or studying in the UK Working or studying overseas Not available for work or study Unemployed Other 69.3% 9.5% 7.5% 3.0% 3.3% 4.2% 3.2% First Destinations of Masters Graduates

  26. Masters Destinations-Useful Facts • 22% entered management level jobs • 65% entered other professional level jobs • Relative to undergraduate study very few went into work that could be considered non-graduate level only 13.2%. For undergraduates nationally this is approximately 30%. • The average number of unemployed graduates from UK universities in 2008 was 8% (Surrey 2.6%) • The average number unemployed postgraduates from UK universities was 4%

  27. Finding out about specific Masters degrees • Information about Surrey graduates - • Details of destinations of Surrey graduates for the past 6 years • www.surrey.ac.uk/careers • Click on Graduates, then What do Surrey graduates do?

  28. Average unemployment figures for English Chartered Universities 1996-2008 4= Bristol 4.2% 4= Nottingham 4.2% 6 Imperial 4.8% 2 3 Hull 3.5% Cambridge 4.1% 1 Surrey 2.3% Top for Jobs Source: Based on HESA figures (Figures include Home and EU graduates but not diplomates)

  29. Finding out about specific degrees • National information – • www.prospects.ac.uk • Click on Careers advice/options with your subject • Plus a wealth of information on different career and further study options

  30. LOOKING AT DESTINATIONS OF PGRs and CAREER OPTIONS

  31. “MORE THAN 70% OF EMPLOYERS WOULD WELCOME MORE APPLICATIONS FROM DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS” “RECRUITING RESEARCHERS: SURVEY OF EMPLOYER PRACTICE 2009” VITAE 19 JAN 2010

  32. EMPLOYERS RANKED PGR COMPETENCIES HIGHEST IN: DATA ANALYSIS PROBLEM SOLVING DRIVE and MOTIVATION PROJECT MANAGEMENT INTERPERSONAL SKILLS ALSO LISTED LEADERSHIP and COMMERCIAL AWARENESS “RECRUITING RESEARCHERS: SURVEY OF EMPLOYER PRACTICE 2009” VITAE 19 JAN 2010

  33. PhD GRADUATES 2008 TOTAL PhD GRADS 14505 UK DOMICILED 7875 % UK DOMICILED 54% % OTHER EU 12% % NON EU 34% DATA SOURCE:GRADUATE PROSPECTS USING DLHE SURVEYS 2003-8

  34. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON DESTINATIONS OF PGRs GO TO: www.vitae.ac.uk • Click on Researchers • Click on Publications Search for “What Do Researchers Do? First Destinations of Doctoral Graduates by Subject”

  35. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND GOOD LUCK!

  36. Any Questions ?

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