The global knowledge economy

18 Oct 2016

Humans have always been co-operative creatures. No other animal on the planet has the capability to co-operate like we do. We work for companies that employ millions of people, hundreds of thousands of whom we’ve never met and therefore know nothing about. And thanks to the rise of technology and the internet, we now live in an interconnected, globalised world. We can video chat with a friend in China and collaborate on a project with a colleague in India. The possibilities are literally endless.

Technology can take us anywhere. Thanks to social network sites like Facebook, we can see parts of the world we haven’t physically seen for ourselves. Our friend in China can show us around their part of the world by video call. This kind of technology is amazing, and sometimes we take it for granted.

The same is true for education. Everyone knows we go to university to learn the skills we need to excel within our chosen fields. But we also go to university for the ‘uni experience’ – meeting new people, perhaps living alone for the first time, maybe to add another level to our specialized education, to learn where it is we want to go with our lives or to take our careers in a new and exciting direction via a world-class postgraduate degree.

Image courtesy of King’s College London

But the uni experience goes beyond sitting in a lecture hall; it helps us shape ourselves into better people who are capable of making a real impact on the world through whichever, discipline, degree-level or career we’ve chosen.

And by the time we graduate, many of us will discover a hunger to go and see the world with our own eyes instead of through a smartphone camera. We’ll want to continue our education and foster our own personal growth in addition to enhancing our CVs. Video chatting or liking someone’s study abroad photos on Facebook won’t be enough for us.

But where do we go? The US is probably an obvious answer, but it may surprise you that the UK is actually the second most popular destination in the world for study abroad students – and for a country so small in comparison, that’s actually a pretty great feat. But in terms of international postgraduate programmes to expand on our knowledge and broaden our horizons, the UK actually beats the U.S. as the most popular study abroad destination.

Aside from being a world leader in technology, business, and medicine, the UK also boasts some of the top universities in the world. With a postgraduate degree from the UK, you’ll have a 75% chance of finding a career in your field within 6 months after graduation – a 15% increase compared to those with an undergrad-level degree! Of course, as an international student, your chances of finding a full-time job are even higher. Companies are always looking to build a more diverse team, and the unique skills you’ll bring to the table as an international student will undoubtedly appeal to prospective employers.

Image courtesy of the University of Surrey

Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at some of the top universities in the UK renowned for their international postgraduate study programmes:

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

The University of Surrey – which has been awarded the title of University of the Year for 2016 by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide – is a world class university in almost all aspects. International postgraduate study is certainly no exception!

The careers and employability services at Surrey are available to all students, including international postgraduate students. This service can also offer advice on postgraduate courses if you’re undecided. This support doesn’t stop when you complete your degree, as a Surrey Alumnus you’ll always be able to use Surrey’s careers service. The best part? The University of Surrey can help in your search for jobs across the world too! Want to find out more? Visit the website or send an email to careers@surrey.ac.uk.

The University of Surrey is also renowned for their research efforts, with innovation at the core of this work for the past 50 years. Some of their recent projects include enhancing healthcare for dementia patients, monitoring global disasters from space, and creating low-energy methods of producing clean water. These projects are making a real difference in real time, and you can be a part of it!

If that’s not enough, check out the campus too:

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST

Queen’s University in beautiful Belfast is a world leader in international postgraduate education and research. Today, at 25,000, the student population at Queen’s has nearly quintupled since its inception.

With two Nobel Prize winners on its list of alumni, Queen’s has earned its reputation as one of the Russell Group’s top 24 leading universities in the UK. As an international postgraduate student at Queen’s, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct meaningful postgraduate research in areas that will have a direct impact on global wellbeing.

Not only will you get the chance to contribute to research efforts in health, food, technology, and global peace, but that contribution will make you feel good, too. At Queen’s, the gratification and acknowledgement of personal growth will manifest in ways you never thought possible.

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

The University of Exeter promises that ‘studying for a Master’s degree…is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make’, and if their world-class rankings have anything to do with that promise, it’s easy to see why they’re so confident! The University of Exeter is ranked in the top 1% of universities across the world by Times Higher Education and in the top 10 of the Times Good University Guide.

Image courtesy of the University of Exeter

While they recognise that postgraduate study is challenging, the University of Exeter offers many of the same sports, clubs, and activities to their postgraduate students as their undergraduate students. Knowing how to communicate both inside and outside the classroom will enhance your skill set and instill in you the confidence you’ll need to succeed in your professional life after uni.

KING’S COLLEGE LONDON

King’s College London is another world leader in postgraduate education. If you’re still worried about employability, you can put your fears to rest at King’s, the 43rd school in the world in graduate employability. King’s will do everything they can to link you up with businesses in the area that are known worldwide, including Procter & Gamble, Ford Motor Company, AstraZeneca, Unilever, and more! Visit this page for a full list of their London connections to see where you could end up!

After you receive your Master’s, you’ll automatically become a member of the King’s alumni network. This network – boasting over 170,000 members from all around the world – can help you succeed through career mentoring, advice on changing careers, and simply linking up with old friends.

Education is more than just learning about your chosen field. Education is about growth in all areas of life. Through postgraduate study in the UK, you’ll learn more about yourself and how you can impact the world through your own skills and career choices. Outstanding personal growth through postgraduate international study is not only an option, it’s a guarantee. And when you look back on your uni years from wherever you end up in the world, we’re certain that you’ll agree.

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