Thinking of postgraduate studies? A Master’s degree is what strikes us immediately when we think of it. A postgraduate qualification can really add up to your profile. Well along with Master’s degree there are other PG qualifications as well. Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate are two of the other types.
Broadly the 2 qualifications are classified into 3 types based on the course structure. They are:
Professional Training Programmes - Some of the courses is structured in a way that will help you to get industry exposure and enhance the skills making you industry-ready. It could be longer with a few months involving projects.
Academic Programmes – Many of the PgDip and PgCert are structured so that it makes the student academically eligible for further studies for a Master’s degree like MSc, MA, Med, etc.
Vocational Training Programme – These courses are mainly for professionals as it is structured considering the professional skill and training acquisitions.
Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate Diploma is also known as PgDip. It is a vocational course which is similar to the content of a master’s degree. It also provides a wider range of specializations and takes less time to complete as compared to Master’s degree which makes it pretty affordable. A Graduate student can apply for it.
PgDip is usually a taught programme which is offered by many universities across the globe. Taught program also known as coursework programme has a fixed set of modules which is to be completed in a fixed time duration called as semester using different learning tools like seminars, lectures and other activities. It may or may not have a project or industry-based exposure included at the end of the diploma which brings the duration between 1 to 2 years, based on the structure of the course.
If I have to list the pros of PgDip, it could be listed as:
Affordable as compared to Master’s degree
Content on par with Master
Duration of the course varies from 1 to 2 years
Specific skill development for career growth
Many of the countries offer a Postgraduate Diploma. Few of them are:
Postgraduate Certificate
Postgraduate Certificate is also known as PgCert. This course is very specific to a particular skill for a professional upgrade, which makes the course 3 to 6 months (13 to 27 weeks) long. Since it is skill specific course, a student gets complete freedom to choose the specializations. The course includes professional assessment and projects along with taught modules.
Credits: Tenor
The pros of PgCert could be listed as:
Shorter time duration than PgDip
Dedicated course leads to developing a specialist role
Affordable than a Master's degree and PgDip
Allows exploring new fields of study
Many of the countries offer a Postgraduate Certificate. Few of them are:
India: https://www.academiccourses.com/Postgraduate-Certificate/India/
Australia: https://www.mastersportal.com/countries/degrees/540180491/postgraduate-certificate-in-australia.html
USA: https://www.mastersportal.com/countries/degrees/538214411/postgraduate-certificate-in-united-states.html
Canada: https://www.mastersportal.com/countries/degrees/537788427/postgraduate-certificate-in-canada.html
Conclusion
However, both the course takes comparatively less time than the traditional Master’s degree making it pretty affordable as well. PgCert & PgDip gives you the flexibility to choose the field of study and explore themselves. Whenever you are proceeding with your research for the advancement of your career, both PgDip & PgCert are really good options helping to enhance your credibility.
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