Why do a Master’s? 8 key benefits of postgraduate study

Posted on: 26 February, 2025

Here are several reasons why returning to higher education can be beneficial for your career aspirations and goals.

Postgraduate study is on the rise. Just like the undergraduate route, Master’s degrees are enrolling more and more students every year, with the number of UK postgraduate students growing by 3% between 2021/22 and 2022/23 as an increasing number of graduates and professionals choose to return to studying to further their credentials.

There are a wide range of reasons why stepping back into higher education can be beneficial for professionals and graduates – no matter their background. If this is something you’re considering, here are some of the key benefits:

1. It helps you change careers

If you’re looking to transition into a new industry or wish you’d taken your previous studies in a different direction, postgraduate programmes are the ideal way to make this happen.

UCEM, for instance, offer a range of postgraduate conversion programmes – degrees that help you gain qualifications and knowledge for a career path different to your undergraduate degree. These allow students from backgrounds outside of construction and real estate to gain the professional qualifications and chartership they need to work in the built environment.

No matter what it is you’ve studied previously or where it is you’re employed, these courses can be the gateway to exciting careers in areas like building surveying, real estate and sustainability.

Learn more: Why it’s never too late for a career change: a Q&A with UCEM Programme Leaders Jon Hubert and Nicola Allen

2. You can boost your career prospects and earning potential

Continuing your education isn’t just a chance to learn more – it can also help you progress in your career and move into more senior roles.

According to research by GOV.UK in 2023, postgraduates have a higher median salary £3-5k higher than graduates, while other findings put this at over £6k.

What’s more, postgraduates have the highest employment rate among working-age professionals, with 78% in professional employment compared to 66% of first-degree graduates.

3. You can specialise in a specific field

While many Master’s degrees act as conversion courses, they’re also an opportunity for students to broaden their skillsets, develop knowledge in a new area and, eventually, specialise in a particular field.

Courses like the MSc Innovation in Sustainable Built Environments, for example, can build on your existing knowledge of the built environment and give you a comprehensive understanding of sustainability that you can take into your role.

Similarly, students with a background in subjects like engineering or architecture could specialise in urban planning by pursuing a Master’s.

Learn more: What skills does an Urban Planner need?

4. You can build on your existing knowledge

Master’s degrees are generally more challenging than their undergraduate equivalent – while they’re often shorter, they require more independent study and place higher expectations on students.

For complex, competitive and detail-heavy professions like quantity surveying, a Master’s degree is an effective way to solidify your knowledge and understanding, and prove your capabilities in your chosen field.

Learn more: Careers in the Built Environment – University College of Estate Management

5. You’ll attain valuable, accredited qualifications

To many built environment employers, professional memberships and recognition from bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) are essential to practice in the industry, making them a must for anyone with ambitions of progressing in their career.

In other cases, up to date qualifications in line with legislation like the Building Safety Act are mandatory for employees to practice in areas like building control.

A Master’s degree can help you keep up to date and attain these vital, recognised qualifications and reinforce your professional, academic and employment credentials.

6. You can move closer to a PhD

Entering full employment may not be the next step for graduates of a Master’s degree – they may well wish to take their studies even further.

Attaining a Master’s degree isn’t always mandatory for those who wish to pursue a PhD, but it is required among the majority of institutions. A Master’s can provide a crucial foundation, particularly in areas like research, that will reinforce your suitability for the demands of a doctorate.

7. It’s a popular pathway for international students

Part of the reason why postgraduate study is on the rise is its appeal to international students, for whom it offers a significant boost in employability.

Completing a degree as an international student at a recognised university can aid your job prospects in different regions, and provide you with valuable networking opportunities that could lead to employment once you graduate.

Master’s degrees are also well-recognised in other countries outside of the UK, meaning they can improve your job prospects across the world and support career progression.

8. You’ll have opportunities to network

A big draw of higher education is the setting it provides for students to form relationships and network, and despite being an online institution, UCEM is no exception.

UCEM’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is host to an active community of forums, where students are encouraged to engage with their course mates.

There’s also the group-focused nature of courses like UCEM’s MSc in Urban Planning, not to mention Student Representative, Officer, Ambassador and Trustee roles and initiatives like Climate and Social Action Activities that allow you to engage with the student community.

Learn more: Debunking 8 of the biggest online learning myths

If you’d like to undertake postgraduate study in the built environment, UCEM’s wide range of postgraduate programmes are available to view here.

If you’re interested in a postgraduate degree, it’s worth talking to your employer about whether they can fund you on an apprenticeship. We also offer Level 6 and Level 7 apprenticeship pathways as an alternative to traditional study.