Smart moves: Postgraduates - Ask the important questions

STAYING ON at university for a higher degree is a substantial commitment of time, and especially money. With a one year Master's degree costing around pounds 8,000 including fees and living expenses, students need to know they are taking the right course, at the right university.

That choice is more vital at doctoral level, as a research degree takes at least three years. Just under half of postgraduate students fund their own doctorates; the numbers paying their own way through Master's programmes is higher still.

The expansion in postgraduate programmes over the last decade is generally seen as beneficial, both to students and to universities. However, wider choice has not been met with better guidance on how to choose a higher degree, or how to ensure that the university is able to deliver the quality of teaching, or the vibrant research environment, that prospectuses often promise.

In response, the National Postgraduate Committee (NPC) is developing a set of questions it thinks prospective students should consider before they commit themselves, and their cash, to a particular university or course.

"Taking on a postgraduate degree, whether research or a taught course, is a large commitment, and often a financial commitment which takes many years to repay," explains Ewan Gillon, a former general secretary of the NPC who is working on the checklist. "It needs to be thought about carefully."

The NPC is an independent organisation, representing postgraduate students across UK universities. In recent years it has developed sets of guidelines on key areas of postgraduate study, such as supervision or facilities. The questions draw on this work, and the experiences of current and recent postgraduates.

As the NPC's document says: "students can drift into a second degree without thinking clearly why they want to do it or what they hope to get out of it. There are many pitfalls in such an approach: it is vital that you know what you are letting yourself in for when you consider embarking on a higher degree."

The questionnaire includes sections on academic issues, such as appeals, research ratings and staff interests; facilities, including libraries, laboratories and computing, and welfare and accommodation.

The general questions are supplemented by specific points for taught and doctoral candidates. Taught students, for example, should check the proportion of undergraduate modules on a Master's programme, assessment, and staffing.

For PhD students, key questions include the experience and research interests of the prospective supervisor, the size of the department and research team, and the extent of supporting services.

Where possible, the NPC recommends that students should visit the university, meet the staff and other students.

As NPC officers point out, an excellent reputation for undergraduate teaching does not always translate into a good experience for postgraduates.

The NPC's 'Questions for those intending to take a higher degree' will be published shortly, initially on the Internet. The NPC's Web address is: http://www.npc.org.uk