THREE Top Tips for Postgraduate Applications (2022)
Undergraduate degrees around the country are coming to the end of the academic year, and a lot of prospective postgraduate students may be still swithering over whether to apply for a postgraduate course. As if an undergraduate degree isn’t enough..! I can’t really talk, in a month or so I will have two undergraduate degrees and a masters on the way. But still, it’s not too late to apply if you’re considering postgraduate study. Here’s three top tips for your application:
Check with your preferred university regarding method of application.
For most undergraduate courses, applications will have been processed via UCAS, but the postgraduate route can be quite different. In some cases, applications go directly to your university of choice, so make sure you know how to apply.
Write (and thoroughly proof read!) a current personal statement.
It’s important that this is current and relevant to your chosen course. You don’t want admissions staff to think your personal statement is a copy and paste job, so make sure it is relevant and tailored towards each course if you’re applying for more than one. A benefit of not applying via UCAS is that you can have multiple personal statements if you send them directly to each university. With UCAS, all universities will see the same statement. Include your academic and work experience in your statement, but also include the reasoning behind your application: perhaps it’s the appeal of an academic institution that’s encouraging you to apply, or perhaps you have a specific career application that requires completion of the course. Whatever it is, include it. The admissions panel want as much information about you as possible in order to make a fair assessment of your application.
Ask people for references as early as you can.
People are busy, and writing references is not always likely to be near the top of someone’s to-do list. Some universities will require submission of two references, so even more reason to have these to hand well in advance. Send your referee a link to the course you are applying for if they aren’t already familiar with it, so they can assess your suitability in relation to the criteria listed on the course page.
Hopefully that’s clear and concise, but it’s certainly not exhaustive. All courses will have different application processes, so make sure you’re clear on the ones you’re applying for. My experience is different from yours, and your experience will be different from the next person. The three tips I’ve included here will hopefully help you get started with your application journey: good luck!!
