What is the Post Graduate Programs

The time after completing one’s undergraduate studies is one of both excitement and nervousness. Excitement for what lies ahead and nervousness for what lies ahead. The wide horizons of potential for the future are proper reasons for excitement. However, the wide array of options might be confusing for one and that could result in nervousness. Any graduate has two options in front of them: 

1. Finding a job based on their domain and building experience, or 
2. Pursuing further studies to enhance their profile. 

Such programs pursued after one’s undergraduate degree are called post graduate programs. 

Why opt for Post Graduate Programs

For decades and centuries that have passed us by, Indian graduates have chosen to pursue programs after their graduations. These courses often work in tandem with the students’ studies: they complement their knowledge base and enhance their skill set. They add to a student’s employability and the sustainability of that employment. A post graduate program is a stamp of expertise and excellence in a subject. It indicates to prospective employers that the candidate holds sufficient understanding of a domain and may be expected to fulfill their roles to a level of perfection. 

There are various types of post graduate programs in India, which can be differentiated by various parameters: 

1. Time: A post graduate program is usually of 2 years. However, there are short-term and executive programs that take only a year to complete. 
2. Focus: Some post graduate programs are tilted towards theory, i.e., class learning, while others consist of a practical focus and industry-oriented leaning. 
3. Domain: The subject covered is one of the main distinguishing factors. Students may choose a post graduate program depending on their interest. 
4. On-Campus or Off-Campus: Some post graduate programs conduct their classes in an offline manner, requiring students to be present on the campus. On the other hand, some courses hold their classes online. 
5. Admission Process: Some programs require entrance exam scores to gain admission while others depend on interviews. Others yet might require submission of essays or group discussions for their admission process. 

Post Graduate Programs in India 

India offers a plethora of post graduate programs to its graduates, depending on their preference: 

1. M.Tech or M.Sc: For science graduates, this is often a top course. It enables them to go further into scientific research and build their academic credentials. Specializations are contingent on one’s domain of interest, from technology to chemistry. 
2. M.Com: For commerce students who want to pursue a career in academia, this is the choice! This will help them build their knowledge-base and get started on their teaching journey. Although, students interested in this would have to clear exams like NET and pursue their PhD.  
3. MA: Another option for people interested in academia, this course’s specializations include subjects as varied as history, literature, philosophy, economics, language, and sociology. Other career options after MA also include research, PR, content creation, consultancy, etc. 
4. CA: One of the most popular choices for commerce stream graduates, a Chartered Accountancy course enables a student to work in fields as varied as taxation, reporting, consultancy, and auditing. CA is an extremely prestigious course and is chosen by students with professional and entrepreneurial aspirations alike. 
5. MBA: A common choice irrespective of streams and backgrounds, an MBA is a post graduate program that trains one in the management of a business firm and its various layers, domains and verticals. MBA graduates are amongst the most well-paid and sought-after candidates in the hiring market. 
6. Risk Management: A relatively new field, risk management is surely rising in its significance. With the world expanding, business firms are subject to newer types and a higher quantity of risks to their productivity, profitability, and reputation. In lieu of this, graduates with a risk management specialization would be preferred hires in the market. In India, Global Risk Management Institute, or GRMI, provides a post graduate program in Risk Management. Its 1-year PG in Risk Management is a job-oriented program that covers all verticals of the domain and efficiently trains its students to be risk-ready professionals. With a mandatory 2-month internship period and a 97% placement track record, this is a post graduate program worth exploring.  

Conclusion 

Graduates in India are spoilt for choice when it comes to post graduate programs, an indication of the rising level of education in the country. Recent years have seen an increased number of graduates opt for post graduation studies in a myriad of subjects. This bodes well as it promises a future generation of well-educated and specialized workers, leading to a total increase in productivity levels and growth. Students may go through the options listed and choose the course of their choice based on their subjects, future goals and time preferences.