Pathways beyond graduation: exploring the characteristics of those who progress to postgraduate study, and the barriers perceived by those who don’t

TY - GEN

T1 - Pathways beyond graduation

T2 - Society for Research into Higher Education Annual Conference

AU - Hancock, Sally

AU - Wakeling, Paul

AU - Hampden-Thompson, Gillian

PY - 2014/12/12

Y1 - 2014/12/12

N2 - Recent research notes that most postgraduate students do not enrol immediately following their undergraduate degree. However, we know relatively little about graduates’ activities in the years between undergraduate and postgraduate study; and less still about those graduates who do not return to postgraduate study. This paper will share findings from two surveys undertaken by the six Russell Group universities in order to gain new insights into those aspects of entering postgraduate study which are presently not well understood. The first survey, intended for 2009 and 2012 undergraduate alumni, captured individuals’ activities since graduating, including employment and participation in further study. Of particular value, this survey explored graduates’ perceptions of barriers to postgraduate study. The second survey, of current taught postgraduate students, reveals the motivations and aspirations of currentpostgraduates, as well as the factors perceived to have enabled their transition to higher study.

AB - Recent research notes that most postgraduate students do not enrol immediately following their undergraduate degree. However, we know relatively little about graduates’ activities in the years between undergraduate and postgraduate study; and less still about those graduates who do not return to postgraduate study. This paper will share findings from two surveys undertaken by the six Russell Group universities in order to gain new insights into those aspects of entering postgraduate study which are presently not well understood. The first survey, intended for 2009 and 2012 undergraduate alumni, captured individuals’ activities since graduating, including employment and participation in further study. Of particular value, this survey explored graduates’ perceptions of barriers to postgraduate study. The second survey, of current taught postgraduate students, reveals the motivations and aspirations of currentpostgraduates, as well as the factors perceived to have enabled their transition to higher study.

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - SRHE Annual Research Conference 2014

Y2 - 10 December 2014 through 12 December 2014

ER -