What are conversion courses (and how can they help you change career)?
Posted on: 10 March, 2025
Conversion courses are an excellent way to shift career paths, develop your skills and obtain industry-recognised qualifications. Here’s why.
Very few people are fortunate enough to know what they want from their career from a young age. When university comes around, many students settle on a subject, but later find themselves drawn to other professions once they enter the working world.
This dilemma isn’t uncommon, and it’s one reason why conversion courses are a popular option. But what exactly are they, and how do they work?
What is a conversion course?
Conversion courses are postgraduate degrees designed for undergraduates from different subject areas. These programmes are ideal for students looking to change career paths, providing the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need to enter a new job market.
Why take a conversion course?
There are a wide range of reasons to study a conversion course at university:
You want to change career paths
The most common reason students study on a postgraduate conversion programme is to transition into a different career. There could be a variety of reasons for this; graduates may have found that working in their chosen subject wasn’t what they’d expected, or have discovered a new sector or industry they hadn’t previously been aware of.
Esha Bhasin is a prime example of this. An alumni and former apprentice at UCEM, she previously completed a BSc in Economics and Geography and launched a career in IT consulting, only to find it wasn’t what she’d hoped for.
“To be honest, I wasn’t enjoying my career in IT,” she said. “In consulting, you’ve got to really sell what you’re talking about. If you’re not interested in it, you’re not going to be able to do that very well.”
She joined JLL as an apprentice, studying an MSc in Real Estate with UCEM as a conversion programme, and has since found great success in the built environment.
“I found myself constantly drawn to elements of real estate. I found myself reading about it, talking about it… to actually find something you’re that interested in is quite rare. The fact I was enjoying it so much made it a no brainer for me when it was time to make a decision.”
You want better career prospects
Many students complete their undergraduate studies only to find further barriers to employment. Industries like financial services, healthcare and technology are among the most competitive in the world, and a degree alone isn’t necessarily enough to guarantee employment.
A conversion programme can open up employment in new areas. Industries like construction and architecture, for instance, are suffering from various skills shortages, making them an ideal option for someone looking to pivot into a future career with better employment opportunities.
They’re also an excellent way to utilise existing skills and interests, with elements of technology, leadership, project management and economics all having relevance to professions and roles in the built environment.
Learn more: 8 exciting career paths in the built environment
You need industry-recognised qualifications
You don’t need a postgraduate programme under your belt to launch a career in a new field, but for sectors like the built environment, a degree recognised by the likes of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is essential if you want to make progress.
A postgraduate course can help you achieve this. It will solidify, formalise and develop your existing skillset, whilst providing you with the vital accreditation needed to further your career.
You want to study a vocational subject
It’s not uncommon for people to be undecided on what career they want to pursue – particularly at the age of 17 or 18. As a result, they may just pick a subject they enjoy, but one that isn’t especially vocational and with few career opportunities. Many of these subjects end up with far more graduates than there are jobs.
Many undergraduates realise at this point that they need a far more vocational qualification to launch a career, and this is where a conversion course can be beneficial.
It’s a faster route to a new career
A conversion course is a faster option for students than completing another Bachelor’s Degree. Master’s degrees usually run for a shorter period and are more focused, with UCEM’s offerings being no exception.
What do you need to study a conversion course?
At UCEM, we ask for students to have an existing undergraduate degree in any discipline. For students who don’t meet these criteria, there are alternative entry requirements.
We assess each application on a case-by-case basis, determining what relevant experience or education you may have for the programme in question.
For more information, get in touch with our friendly Admissions Team.
Ready to get started?
UCEM’s core purpose is to become the centre of excellent for the built environment. We offer a range of postgraduate conversion programmes spanning various areas of construction, real estate, and the wider sector.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can view our selection of postgraduate programmes here.
If you’re interested in postgraduate study, 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.
