Milkround News, 18 February 2009
Postgraduate degrees are in demand as job hunters seek to boost their job prospects.

The Guardian reports universities are seeing a rise in the popularity of their postgraduate courses as people look to increase their qualifications to improve their employability in an increasingly competitive jobs market.

Manchester University has seen applications rise 14 percent from home and EU students, and 34 percent from international students – rising to 9,500 applications for 2009 compared to 7,000 last year.

Postgraduate taught courses, one-year masters in particular, are behind the increase.

The Guardian also reports Birmingham University has seen similar increases with home and EU applications up eight percent, overseas up 18 to 20 percent. The director of admissions at the university claims the UK is an attractive option for overseas students because of the weak pound while undergraduates are putting off finding a job during the recession by opting for further study.

Elsewhere, Glasgow University has seen a 46 percent rise in postgraduate applications overall and Sheffield Hallam University has seen a 51 percent increase in demand for taught courses.

Jacqui Ashmore, SHU's head of admissions, told the Guardian: "We don't have firm evidence to suggest the increase is due to the downturn but it could well be the case and certainly reflects the pattern in previous recessions. It's a good time for universities.

"Postgraduate students tend to apply later in the year, because undergraduates need to find out their qualifications before they can progress. High numbers already in February would suggest people are applying who already have their degrees or have come from the job market."

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