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Considering further study?
Further study is any study after your initial degree and includes postgraduate study and shorter upskilling courses. It can provide a great opportunity to further develop your knowledge and skills within your area of interest, and many are designed to prepare you to enter the employment market. Students wishing to change their career path can also choose to study a conversion course, designed for students from different academic backgrounds. There are many options available and Trinity Careers Service is here to help you make the best decision.
Types of postgraduate courses
With a wide range of options available, you can choose between taught or research-based postgraduate study, and some programmes also offer practical placements in addition to academic experience.
Taught
Taught Masters
Taught programmes generally involve course work plus a research thesis, with an average time to complete being 1-2 years. Masters may include placement experience and can be required for certain career paths or to convert into a new career direction.
Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate diploma may help you to move into something more vocational and the subject area may be different to that studied in your first degree. Sometimes it is possible to convert into a masters on completion of the diploma through further study. A degree is typically required. Increasingly alternatives to a degree are recognised. Universities with a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy outline the access routes to their courses.
Research
Masters
This is an intensive self-directed research masters guided by a supervisor, and more independent approach towards learning compared to the taught option. It takes less time (1-2 years) and is less demanding than a PhD.
PhD
A doctoral research degree is an original contribution to knowledge and can take several years to research and write a doctoral thesis. A very good quality degree, i.e. first class or upper second class honours, is usually needed to pursue a PhD.
Careers and Employability Modules for PhD students
Did you know that Trinity Careers Service offers two accredited modules as part of the Trinity Structured PhD.
These modules support PhD students with career planning, critical reflection and career decision-making, and offer opportunities to explore and prepare for careers in academia or industry.
Deciding to pursue postgraduate study
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Whilst postgraduate study brings a lot of benefits, it is important to think about your motivation for further study, and to decide if you are prepared to commit the time and funding, before making a decision. Here are some key factors to consider:
- Some programmes may require you to undertake studies for 1 to 2 years (masters) or up to 4 years (PhD).
- When researching postgraduate programmes, think about how you feel this would benefit you e.g. what skills will you gain?
- Define what you hope to achieve as a result of doing further study, and then investigate whether the course(s) you are considering are likely to lead you there.
- Leverage LinkedIn to find people who have studied the course and look at their career paths before and after the course – did it lead them to where you want to go? What was their background before the course? Where are they working now?
- Attend an open day event and/or contact course directors or administrators with any queries.
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Download our guide to further study
Embarking on postgraduate study is a bold step toward deepening your expertise, advancing your career, or pivoting into a new field. Whether you're considering a diploma, master's, or PhD, this guide equips you with the tools and insights to make informed decisions, support your application process and thrive in your next academic chapter.
If you’re not yet sure what you would like to do in the future, it might not be the best idea to do postgraduate study simply to delay career decision-making. For support in planning your next steps, book an appointment with your Careers Consultant via MyCareer or explore our resource on decision-making below.
Lifelong learning at Trinity
Interested in lifelong learning? Trinity now delivers laser-focused courses that are tailored to meet evolving industry needs such as continuing professional development (CPD) courses, masterclasses and micro-credentials. These offerings aim to develop well-rounded, agile lifelong learners capable of adapting to an ever-changing work environment.
Trinity micro-credentials are a new and exciting academic offering from Trinity College Dublin. They are short, accredited learning experiences that facilitate flexible and innovative professional development and lifelong learning. Micro-credentials explore the evolving trends in each field, and partner with enterprise to ensure responsive skills development and ultimately deliver learning outcomes with real-world relevance.