

At the start of your career, almost anything seems possible. You face the road ahead expectantly, hoping it will be full of exciting twists and turns, promotions and opportunities for growth and satisfaction. And yet, a few years or – gulp – decades in, reality may have well and truly taken over.
To put it simply, you can feel stuck. You may have lost your motivation, your sense of direction or purpose. Maybe you feel stuck on a certain pay level, or worry that your skills have hit a ceiling.
If you relate to this, then we’re going to let you in on a really interesting fact.
Did you know that having a postgraduate qualification can increase your annual salary by an average of almost $20,000? Research in the recent 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey National Report shows that the median salary for postgraduates in 2018 was $83,300, compared to $61,000 for Bachelor degree graduates.
As the fast pace of technology changes the job market, having an “edge” has become more important than ever. According to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs 2018 report, some jobs are seeing a decline in demand, like lawyers, financial analysts and payroll clerks, while others are blossoming with new roles in areas like training and development, data analysis, digital marketing and information technology services.
So it’s never been a better time to consider what postgraduate study can do to give you that “edge”, and see how it can fit easily into your life, whenever or wherever you feel like studying.
We spoke to Sydney-based psychologist and career expert Suzie Plush to find out more about what impact postgraduate qualifications have on career advancement, and the different ways you can make them work for you with flexible options available through Open Universities Australia .

Suzie Plush. Image: Supplied.
What is postgraduate study, and who is eligible to do it?
Postgraduate study refers to a higher level of education, compared to undergraduate study. It’s generally about advancing your knowledge and developing specialist skills in your chosen area.
To do postgraduate study you don’t necessarily need a bachelors degree – depending on the industry you work in, your work experience or other related study may be recognised as prior learning.
How is postgraduate study structured?
It depends on where you study, but there are normally three types of postgraduate degrees: graduate certificates, which can usually be done in six months, graduate diplomas, which can be done in 12 months, and Masters, which can be done in 12 months to two years.