6 Top reasons to study a postgraduate degree
Studying a postgraduate degree is a big commitment that can take your life and career to the next level.
Whether you’re a current undergraduate student, recently graduated or haven’t studied in a while, the decision to enrol into postgraduate studies can benefit you – no matter your circumstances and aspirations.
1. Increase your earning potential
If you’re looking to increase your income, then postgraduate studies can be a great move. A recent survey has found that median salaries for recently graduate of postgraduate coursework students was A$96,600 in 2023 – that’s an increase of A$25,600 compared to undergraduates1.
When it comes to impressing employers, La Trobe graduates are taking the lead. According to an Australia-wide survey, La Trobe was rated first in Victoria for overall employer satisfaction2and equal first in Victoria for the median salary paid to postgraduate coursework graduates3.
2. Develop your skills
While an undergraduate degree provides a great foundation to launch your career, a postgraduate degree will allow you to dive deeper in your area of interest or develop new skills in a complementary area.
Whether you choose to specialise or diversify, studying a postgraduate degree can set you apart through the additional skills, deeper knowledge and industry opportunities you gain through postgraduate studies. This can make a significant difference when you are starting your career.
Need an extra incentive? If you’ve studied with us before, you could be eligible for Alumni Advantage, a 10% fee reduction when you enrol into a postgraduate degree at La Trobe.
3. Expand your career opportunities
By expanding your skillset with a specialisation or gaining skills in a new area, a postgraduate degree can unlock additional career opportunities and make you a stronger applicant to prospective employers.
According to the latest Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching results, 86.1% of our postgraduates found employment within four months of graduation4, while 94.1% were in full-time work three years after graduation.5
When you commit to a postgraduate degree, you can develop new skills to take your career to the next level through promotions or by side-stepping into a new profession. Either way, it will expand your career potential outwards or upwards.
4. Stay industry relevant
With the workforce needs and demands constantly changing, a postgraduate degree can help get you the career you want while setting yourself up to meet industry demands. This is particularly relevant if you’re hoping to gain practical and first-hand job experience in industry you are studying in to become more attractive to employers.
If you have been out of the industry for a while or are returning to study after a longer break, then this could also be your way of refreshing yourself with the latest skills, trends, tools and knowledge. Not only will you stay up to date with trends, but you might be able to spot them too.
Whether you’re looking to upskill, reskill or gain new skills, studying a postgraduate degree will enable you to gain new career opportunities and expand your professional network.
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5. Flexible study options
When you study a postgraduate degree at La Trobe, you’re signing up for more than just an education – we put the student experience at the heart of what do. That’s why many of our courses allow you to study full time or part time, with evening classes or intensive ‘block learning’ available in many courses.
We also offer flexible options. Through our StudyFlex program, you can study online or on campus at one of our many metro and regional campuses. So if you have a busy career or you’re juggling family commitments, a flexible postgraduate course can be your win-win solution to gaining a qualification that works around your life.
If your personal circumstances change, you may be able to exit early. Most of our Master's degree programs let you graduate with a graduate certificate or diploma if you've completed the minimum requirements.
You’ll also gain more opportunities and connections, so you can spend more time growing your skills, knowledge and networks before you start your career.
6. Incentives and assistance
Whether you are looking for extra help with entering an industry or are looking to change into an in-demand or secure career, there’s a lot of additional support available for postgraduate students.
Many La Trobe postgraduate courses offer government subsidised places, called Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). Securing a CSP will save you a significant amount on course fees. To find out if you’re eligible, take a look at Commonwealth Supported Places.
You can also take advantage of many of our student services. From dedicated career services to childcare, we provide a range of support services to help you thrive. If you’re facing personal challenges while studying, our professionally trained counsellors can help you in person or online.
Ready to take your next step?
Upskill or expand your career with a La Trobe postgraduate degree. Explore our range of postgraduate coursework degrees to get ahead of the competition.
1 Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2024, 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey.
2 Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2024, 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey [PDF, 4.7MB]
3Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2024, 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal
4Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2024, 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal
5Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2024, 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey - Longitudinal