Continuing your education: The top courses for international BSc graduates

There are several best courses after BSc — short for a Bachelor of Science — for international students.

After graduating, you’re probably considering whether to work or to continue with a master’s degree or a postgraduate diploma.

It all depends on what you want or need. Ignore what the aunties, uncles and friends are pressuring you to do.

What matters are your opinions on the following:

• What you want to work as. Certain jobs require master’s degrees, like law in the US and medicine. Others don’t — if your bachelor’s degree sets you up for this, then you can start work if you want to.
• Whether there are jobs available. Industries change all the time. Right now, tech companies and the Big 4 accounting firms are conducting mass layoffs, but engineering is still hiring.
• Whether you can afford to not work. Unless you have a scholarship, you’ll have to pay for the tuition of a master’s degree and not get a work salary for at least one year. If you can afford this, then you can stay in uni — if not, it’s time to go to work.
• Whether you want to teach. If you love learning and teaching, you may want to become a lecturer or professor. This will require deep academic knowledge about a subject compared to hands-on work (for example, theories about building a bridge vs actually building a bridge) typically in the form of a PhD.

The best courses after BSc will depend on how you strike a balance between all these factors with your goals and circumstances.

 

Six best courses after BSc for international students: 

The following are the best courses after BSc for international students. Each has its own pros and cons.

It’s wise to weigh each deeply — and even better if you can consult with professionals in your field to make an informed decision.

1. Master of Science

A Master of Science is one of the most popular pathways many BSc graduates choose to take for higher studies. 

Choosing this route leads to many opportunities as it allows you to expand your knowledge and skills in a more specialised field.

An MSc degree includes specialisation in various fields related to science and maths subjects. For example, you can choose to focus on:

• Physics 
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Biotechnology
• Microbiology
• Environmental Sciences
• Food Sciences
• Life Sciences
• Forensic Sciences
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry

This programme usually takes between one to two years to be completed if done full-time and can go up to six years for those that complete it part-time. 

With an MSc at your disposal, you can enter the public and private sectors for jobs such as research scientist, biochemist, chemical analyst, lab technician or even join the government or healthcare sectors. 

2. Master of Computer Application

As the IT sector continues to boom, the number of career opportunities for graduates in the industry has increased. 

This makes this master’s degree one of the best courses after BSc if your goal is solely to land some of the highest-paid jobs in the world today.

An MCA programme covers software applications, hardware, programming language, computer science and many more. 

Students can specialise in fields such as systems management, systems development, systems engineering, management information systems, networking, application software development and hardware technology.

The duration of an MCA is longer than many other full-time postgraduate courses. It takes three years to complete the whole programme.

Those looking for a career in the IT industry will benefit from this programme as it increases the chance of securing a job in a prestigious IT company or government organisation as a:

• Software developer
• Software engineer
• Software consultant 
• Computer system analyst 
• Web designer 
• Project manager

3. Master of Business Administration

An MBA is one of the best courses after BSc as it gives you the skills, theories and networking to enter a field apart from research and teaching.

Don’t think that a BSc limits you to just the roles of scientists and professors.

An MBA can give you the know-how in accounting, marketing, finance, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, business strategy, managerial economics, operations management, entrepreneurship and many more. 

An MBA in Europe takes one year to complete, while one from a US uni takes two years.

4. Master in Data Science

Today, data science is the most in-demand career option for many graduates and it is slowly increasing. 

Choosing to pursue a master’s in data science after completing a BSc course can lead to one of the highest-paying jobs out there. 

This two-year course will teach you to analyse large amounts of data and prepare you for this competitive, high-paced job. 

University of Michigan, Harvard University and Imperial College London are among the top institutions in the world offering a master’s in data science programme. 

5. Postgraduate Diploma in Machine Learning 

A subset of data science is machine learning which is slowly climbing its way to one of the most popular fields in the market. 

But what is machine learning? To put it in simple terms, it involves teaching machines to make inferences by analysing patterns in data. 

This field is becoming popular as it paves the way for artificial intelligence, which is on the rise today. 

For these reasons, many BSc graduates are choosing to gain qualifications in this field as it will lead to a successful high-paying career. 

Completing a postgraduate diploma in machine learning will equip you with skills in programming, mathematics, data mining, visualisation and algorithms. 

The University of London and the University of Adelaide offer excellent postgraduate diplomas in machine learning and artificial intelligence for international students. 

6. Bachelor of Education

Though not a postgraduate programme, a Bachelor of Education is a common next step that BSc graduates take. 

This is a great career option for students that wish to become teachers or professors in the future. 

The course trains students by equipping them with various pedagogical strategies to prepare them for a teaching career.

It focuses on the skills and knowledge needed for a successful teaching career.

A job as a teacher leads to employment security, job satisfaction, a high salary and a flexible schedule. So it is no surprise that this is one of the most sought-after career options for BSc graduates. 

If you are considering pursuing a bachelor of education University College London, Harvard University and the University of Toronto are among the top choices worldwide. 

What if you don’t want to study anymore, even if it’s one of the best courses after BSc?

If furthering your education is not the path for you, not to worry. You can always jump straight into your career and get a headstart. 

While a master’s degree can advance your career and increase your employability , it does not mean if you do not choose to earn more qualifications, you won’t have a successful career. 

After completing your BSc course, you will still have many job opportunities to choose from across many fields. 

This includes jobs in research, laboratory technician, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food science and many more. 

And if going down the science field isn’t for you, with a BSc qualification in hand, you can also pursue a career in computer technology, animation, journalism, management, hospitality, law and social work. 

It’s harder but not entirely impossible.

Frequently asked questions about the best course after BSC:

1. What can I do with a BSc?

Completing a BSc opens the doors to many opportunities. Once you graduate, you can jump straight into your career.

There are many career job options available for those that have completed a BSc, including ones in the field of healthcare, engineering, aviation and many more. 

However, many students usually choose to further their education by enrolling in a post-graduate course, or some even choose a bachelor of education and turn to teaching. 

2. Which BSc pays the highest salary?

The best part about completing a BSc course is that your chances of securing a high-paying job increase. 

That being said, petroleum engineering is arguably one of the highest-paying bachelor’s degrees. This results from many corporations worldwide continuously making money off oil reserves.

A petroleum engineering course will teach you to develop efficient equipment and methods for extracting oil and gas from reserves below the Earth’s surface. 

3. What is the difference between BSc Honours and BSc?

A BSc is a regular degree, while a BSc Honours is an honours degree. What this means is that a BSc Honours is a more academically and professionally focused degree as compared to a BSc.

However, choosing a BSc course can also lead to a successful career. Some employers don’t distinguish between the two, unless it is for a very competitive role.

4. Which BSc is easiest?

While the difficulty of a course depends on your interests, a BSc in Business Management is among the easiest.

This degree is popular among students as it is easy to get into, known to be easier to pass, and there are many opportunities in various fields available post-graduation. 

5. Is it possible to get an MBA after a bachelor’s degree?

Yes, it is possible to get an MBA after completing a bachelor’s degree.

All graduates can apply for an MBA programme as long as they have earned a qualification in a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.