4 universities to advance your postgraduate experience

You had dreams of leaving home and exploring a new country as you earned a bachelor’s degree. Sometimes, dreams don’t come true, or plans don’t work out — immediately, that is. When the pandemic struck and closed airports, study abroad and exchange programmes were suspended. Countries like the US saw a 15% drop in international students, despite a steady rise in numbers for years.

But it’s safe to say, the period of strict lockdowns and empty streets has passed.

It’s time to make those dreams happen once more — this time, as a master’s student. The world needs more talent to drive industries forward and create a more sustainable future. For many sectors like engineering, the more you aim to advance in a work position, the more likely the company is going to require some form of a postgraduate pursuit.

So to help you, we’ve listed four schools with leading postgraduate programmes across the globe.

Rhodes University was founded in 1904, and now has over 8,200 students. Source: Rhodes University

Rhodes University

Rhodes University is all about making a difference in South African education and its local communities. Even after 120 years of research, they’re always growing. They may be a smaller university, perfect for networking and receiving specialised attention — but it also means opportunities come in heaps. It’s the perk of being part of a close-knit university environment, which includes working closely with local communities on real-world problems empowering students to reach their full potential and make a meaningful difference in society.

At Rhodes, you have the guidance of award-winning researchers in areas like medicinal chemistry, water research, nanotechnology, and more. They’ve got a high research output in comparison to their population — out of their 8,400 students, 28% of those are postgraduates, and they want to increase that percentage through their Institutional Development Plan. The exclusive postgraduate library facilities run 24/7, and anyone in need of more support can turn to the Centre of Postgraduate Studies which offers writing retreats and training to further support your research journey. The university is committed to allocate funds to improve its research capacity too, which includes providing scholarships to postgraduates. Students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees will have the opportunity to conduct original research and develop specialised expertise. Additionally, postgraduate students have the opportunity to present their research at the annual Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) conference.

But life at Rhodes University isn’t all about academia.

The Makhanda campus is home to a significant international student body, with 54 nations represented — you’ll get a peek into cultures all across the globe despite the school’s intimate space. One of the best parts about the university is that the Global Engagement Division provides up-to-date advice and support to students on South Africa visa or immigration issues. It’s their priority to make sure you’re entering the country as safely and smoothly as possible.

And there is lots to see and do within the campus itself, with a world-class library, state-of-the-art laboratories, and housing within walking distance offered to postgraduates, so expect to be actively engaged here. It’s a great setting for anyone seeking to do more, for which there are plenty of community engagement, service-learning and social justice programmes for you to choose from. A diverse range of sports and societies, with access to facilities like the swimming pool, tennis, and squash courts, lets you relax and recharge as you need. This environment is designed to support your academic and personal growth while also enhancing your career development.

Learn more about Rhodes University’s postgraduate programmes today.

The University of Sydney is Australia’s first university, founded in 1850. Source: University of Sydney / Facebook

The University of Sydney

It’s no secret that postgraduate degrees elevate careers. In most cases, it increases your qualifications, putting you in a better position for job opportunities. This is true for graduates of  lots of universities, but especially those of The University of Sydney. It’s the second best school in Australia, and first in terms of social impact as a school that strives to forge a healthy, positive space. They have master’s degrees or PhD programmes in architecture, business, music, and the sciences — and it certainly isn’t limited to that.

Research knows no bounds at USYD.

Whether it’s Aboriginal education and Indigenous studies to enrich representation. Shifting health policy and outcomes of marginalised communities in public health. Creating medicine that treats depression, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric illnesses. They’ve got renowned lecturers and researchers, and over 500 industry partners across the globe. Pair that with a global USYD alumni network of about 445,000 people, and a partnership with the Australian Postgraduate Research Intern programme — and that’s an opportunity knocking on your doorstep, so long as you try. 

USYD is a place to try new things, and meet new people. They have a student body of more than 32 cultural groups, 140 nationalities, and over 240 clubs and societies to fit a whole ton of interests. It’ll feel as if the world is in your campus. Globally, USYD has 250 partner universities worldwide, so if you’d like to go jet-setting around the world as part of your degree, you can.

Learn more about the University of Sydney’s postgraduate programmes here.

In 2024, University College London was named the “University of the Year” by The Times and Sunday Times. Source: UCL / Facebook

University College London

When employers are looking for fresh blood, they often look for cultural literacy.

That’s understanding the facets of the world, and how people live — just the specialty of University College London. A name universally known as one of the best universities in the world; or at least, it’s ranked ninth in the world by QS World University Rankings 2024. UCL’s postgraduate programmes, spanning taught degrees, research degrees, and teacher training, host over 20,000 students from over 150 countries. The students are immediately enrolled into the Postgraduate Students’ Association, a place to share their views, and have access to social facilities, the Bloomsbury Fitness Centre, and so forth.

And then, there’s UCL Impact — where the programmes integrate global partners.

UCL has partners in education, business, healthcare, development, philanthropy, and government, plus networks and resources to conduct innovative research. There are around 6,000 research staff across 11 faculties — they collaborate a lot, especially across disciplines. 

As a student here, you’ll get exposure to these leading researchers — plus access to facilities such as the UCL Library, with subscriptions to over 12,000 journals to aid your research, and a host of museums to delve into historic objects and artworks. The college has numerous support systems, like career consultants and mental health advisors — including those trained to support international students. 

Check out UCL’s postgraduate programmes.

There are over 12,000 students total at the University of Rochester, but 30,000 staff members to ensure you’re getting the support you need. Source: University of Rochester / Facebook

University of Rochester

The University of Rochester’s a tier-1 research school, and their research takes you through deep corners of the world. The school is one of the top 60 leading research institutions in the US, and they have hundreds of certificate, master’s, and PhD programmes across their schools to show for it. Although there are more than 4,200 international students on campus, a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures you’ll never be just a number. You’ll truly get to learn and connect with people from various backgrounds, industry professionals, and the faculty.

At UR, it’s about finding your identity as a scholar through independent research and collaboration.

You’ll get to work with industry partners, both local and global. If we’re talking examples, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences has done research as far as India and the high Arctic, which are often funded by agencies like the National Science Foundation. A PhD in Developmental Psychology will take you to affiliate groups like Mt. Hope Family Center, and the Children’s Institute to conduct research. Many programmes are multidisciplinary, with developmental psychology students often coupling up with an Advanced Quantitative Methods Certificate to build analytical skills, to name just one example.

Another plus: the school’s located in the lively city of Rochester in New York State, a high-tech powerhouse with loads of museums and historical landmarks, sculptures dotted across the parks, and beautiful natural landscapes at the Genesee River for an escape.

Learn more about the University of Rochester and its graduate programmes here.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International