MA or PgDip? - HR Qualifications and studying - Careers Clinic

3 MA or PgDip?

12 May, 2017 20:33

Hi all, A bit of background before my question. I completed my undergraduate degree in BSc Management almost 3 years ago, for which I specialised in HR in my final year. Since graduating I have worked as a HR Assistant for 9 months and have been on a HR graduate scheme for almost 2 years which has involved a variety of placements. I am moving away from the generalist side of HR and will shortly be starting a new role as a Reward Advisor. I am coming up to the half way point of a part-time Master's in HRM however I am considering changing to the Postgraduate Diploma. This is mainly due to financial reasons as unfortunately my new employer will not be contributing towards the course cost. But I am in two minds as to whether to change to the PgDip. As I am going down the Reward route, I am not sure whether it truly matters which qualification I have, and although I had my heart set on the Master's I am just not convinced it will be worth the extra cost. I have a long list of pros and cons for each route, but what are your opinions on the Master's vs the PgDip?

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Beenu | 0 Posts

15 May, 2017 16:19

I was making the same decision as you are about a year ago and a HR professional told me that: If you aim to be a HR Director at some point in your life then go for the masters as it will help if you are charted CIPD, if you aim to go no further than HR manager then go for PG dip. I had the same issue as you, I went for pg dip in the end. It also depends on what grade you received for your undergrad if you got a 1st or 2:1 then the masters would be better for you and thing less you should go for pg dip, I got a 2:2
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Keith | 0 Posts

15 May, 2017 17:41

Unfortunately for many HR positions these days people appear to have masters and CIPD. Its not necessary but you will come up against people with both (and before someone says it of course there will be exceptions with neither) . If you are half way through a Masters course and can find a way to finish it I would.

A PgDip just doesn't cut it in the same ay with recruiters.

(personally I don't see the link to what ever under grad degree you got)
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David | 0 Posts

16 May, 2017 09:26

In reply to Keith:
Sadly, don't think any at all of these 'qualifications' have anything other than indirect and tenuous links to actual / genuine / real professional competence, but it's human nature to judge books by their covers and the whole of the HR Profession is no exception to this truism. There's little doubt I think too that a Masters Degree on the cover will make the book far more marketable, so personally I'd definitely go for it, if at all feasible - even if it involves some level of personal financial sacrifice.
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