Graduate Diploma vs Postgraduate Diploma
The terms graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma are very confusing for students who have completed their graduate studies and wish to add qualifications against their name instead of going in for regular master’s level degree courses. There are enough similarities in between graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma which makes it hard for students to differentiate between them. Let us take a closer look.
A diploma in general refers to certifications issued by colleges, institutions and universities to testify that a student has successfully completed the course. A diploma is of a shorter duration than a degree course and carries less weight and significance in the minds of the employers as well. In general it is taken as an opportunity to add a feather in one’s cap to be ahead of those who have only completed their undergraduate courses. There are careers like nursing, pharmacy, and beautician etc in which diplomas carry significant value and help in a student getting preference in employment opportunities.
A graduate diploma is a certification that one can obtain only after completing his undergraduate level degree course. This is an opportunity for a student to get additional qualification that also allows him to enter into a master’s program with the credits earned through diploma. Diploma courses are not only of shorter duration than a full time degree course, they also cost much less than a degree course. One is able to add a specialization against his name that is helpful in furthering one’s career when he completes a graduate diploma. There are cases when the company in which a person is working to pay for the cost of his master’s level degree course which has the benefit of getting a sponsor for higher studies and also saving time in the process.
PG diploma or postgraduate diploma is a qualification that is awarded in some countries such as England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, and many other. This is a qualification that is awarded after bachelor’s degree course. In Australia and New Zealand, PG Dip refers to master’s level qualification. For example, students in their first year of study in courses such as MS and MBA are called as postgraduate diploma students. It is when they complete the full duration of the course that they can qualify to be labeled as MS or MBA.