Postgraduate vs Undergraduate Degrees – What’s the Difference?

Any educational pursuits we take after high school really just serve to help us kick off our careers. However, knowing the difference between postgraduate and undergraduate degrees can really help you to plan a path for a bright future ahead of you. In this article, undergraduate degrees versus postgraduate degrees go toe to toe as we discuss their differences. From their purpose in your education and career down to the pros and cons, find out how these two shape up against each other in this detailed read.

female graduate at a library

What is Different Between Postgraduate and Undergraduate Programs?

When it comes to undergraduate degrees versus postgraduate degrees, the differences between the two programs can seem deceptively straightforward. We go through each area of their differences below to better understand their distinctions.

Purpose of Education

Between postgrad versus undergrad degrees, both technically count as forms of tertiary education. Tertiary education is defined by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) as any educational undertaking that takes place after secondary education. These educational programs are meant to prime learners with ‘complexity and specialization’ while preparing them with the skills and knowledge they need for future careers.

On one hand, undergraduate degrees are typically taken prior to landing a first job. Versus a postgraduate degree, an undergraduate degree gives you a fundamental understanding of the field you want to pursue. Your bachelor’s degree is meant to help you grasp the basic theories and skills that you need to apply for entry-level jobs that can get you started in your field.

On the other hand, pursuing postgraduate degrees like studying MBA courses in the Philippines online or offline is meant to help build on existing knowledge, skills, and experience you have gained from your first few jobs. Unlike your undergraduate degree, a postgraduate program is all about cumulative knowledge and skills as you begin to dive into your chosen specialization. Having a niche to focus on not only adds to your value as a professional, but it also gives you the skills and theories that you need at an expert level.

Job Opportunities

What is different between postgraduate and undergraduate degrees is the type of jobs that they make available to the students in question. As mentioned earlier, undergraduate degrees typically allow you into entry-level jobs for your first crack at holding a full-time position. Part of what makes undergraduate degrees so special is how they become an opportunity to discover more about yourself and what you would like to do as you go through your first few jobs.

Postgraduate degrees are meant to help you qualify for more specialized jobs in your field. These can range from mid-level to executive-level jobs that hold specialized knowledge in high regard. This also includes jobs that require postgraduate studies such as online CPD courses to further practice the profession. Open up your career to opportunities for progression into highly specialized, senior-level roles both locally and globally.

Educational Flexibility

When it comes to postgrad vs undergrad, undergraduate degrees are typically more structured and stringent in their arrangements. This is especially true if you do not opt for an online bachelor’s degree. Because most professionals are coming from a classic classroom education during high school and even university, there is some comfort to be had in the structure it offers. While some can opt to take it online, the need to do so is not nearly as urgent.

On the other hand, postgraduate degrees work amazingly well when taken as distance post-graduation courses. Most postgraduate students are often juggling their education with full-time jobs in higher, more experienced positions than when they started their careers. Because of this, both online and offline educational institutions offer varying options for taking your postgraduate studies at a part-time arrangement. This can manifest in the form of night classes, weekend classes, and even online. The flexibility of being able to study from the comfort of your home after work is a great reason why studying an online PhD is an amazing option that you ought to take by the horns.

Prerequisites for Application

One big difference between undergraduate and postgraduate degrees is what it takes to qualify for them. Undergraduate degrees often require comprehensive lists of your achievements and grades throughout your secondary education. In the Philippines, undergraduate degrees are usually preceded by relevant tracks. While the application involves endless transcripts, the undergrad has no work experience requirement unlike some post graduate programs.

Versus the undergraduate degree, the postgraduate degree requires a bachelor’s degree and full-time work experience. A range of two to five years is the typical length of work experience that a postgrad application requires. That being said, amassing the experience does work to your favor since the work required in a postgraduate degree possesses a much higher level of technical difficulty.

Which Is Better for Me?

Pace yourself and give it time. The first step towards a postgraduate degree is a bachelor’s degree. Get through that first and nab yourself a job that you love so you can build confidence and experience. When the right time comes, you can challenge yourself and take on the postgraduate degree of your choice to further your career. Whether it be a highly-lucrative MBA online course in the Philippines, or a prerequisite to continuing a job you love like an online CPD – just put one foot forward at a time and start with a bachelor’s degree to get yourself on the way to greatness!

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