Get Request To Add A Graduate Certificate Form - The University Of Toledo - Utoledo

A graduate certificate is often the first step into postgraduate study. It's a perfect way to get started in further study, add to your resume to gain the competitive edge in your workplace, or enjoy stretching your brain into something new.

More advanced than an undergraduate degree, postgraduate diplomas and certificates are taught postgraduate qualifications at the same level as Masters degrees, but they take less time to complete.

With a graduate certificate completed, you may elect to expand on it into a full master's program, where completing your degree will require less time and money. A professional certification typically will not get you closer to a graduate degree if one is in your eventual plan or required by employers.

A graduate certificate is not considered a graduate degree, like a master's or doctoral degree. However, it can provide a strong foundation for future study that results in a graduate degree. The credits earned in a graduate certificate program may satisfy requirements for entry into certain graduate programs.

A graduate certificate can boost your stats and demonstrate that you have unlocked a new set of skills. Benefits of earning a graduate certificate include broadening your professional opportunities, increasing your salary and qualifying for new jobs.

Although both postgraduate qualifications will provide foundational knowledge in a specific subject area, the PGDip is a more comprehensive and in-depth study. Meanwhile, the PGCert will require the student to complete less modules or credits, compared to a PGDip.

However, a graduate certificate is unlike a postgraduate degree which can be used to progress to a master's degree. Students who complete the course will instead be awarded a certificate to signify that they have completed the mandatory course and have the skills and knowledge necessary to enter a specific industry.

How is a graduate certificate different from an undergraduate program? The curriculum in a graduate certificate program is usually more intense and more rigorous than what you would get in an undergraduate certificate or bachelor's degree program. It takes much less time to complete than a bachelor's degree.