Postgraduate conversion courses for a career change

Postgraduate career change – why now and how do I get started?

The pandemic changed the world of work – and perhaps your priorities. Maybe you've expanded your digital skills, or discovered new interests?

Whatever the reason for wanting to change career, you may benefit from a period of re-training.

The first thing to do is to research the career you're interested in: you'll need to know if any formal qualifications are required and from there you can start looking at courses that deliver them.

Perhaps consider how you might transition from one career to another? Could you begin a career conversion course that's part-time, or runs alongside your current role?

Next step: come to a postgraduate open evening or get in touch with our enquiries team who will be happy to help with any questions you might have.

What is a conversion course?

A conversion course is a university qualification which gives you knowledge and skills specific for employment in a field you’re not yet qualified for. These conversion courses include postgraduate certificates or diplomas, masters-level degrees and they can include professional qualifications you might need to change career.

Types of conversion course include:

• Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert and PGCE)
• Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
• Masters degree (MA and MSc)
• Specific courses such as Law LLM

Postgraduate conversion courses 2025

Business, management and marketing

• Finance MSc courses
• Management MSc courses
• Marketing MSc courses
• Supply Chain Management MSc

Computing

• Computer Science MSc
• Data Analytics MSc

Construction and building

• Construction Project Management MSc

Health professions

• Diagnostic Radiography (pre-registration) MSc
• Health Promotion MSc
• Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) MSc
• Physiotherapy (pre-registration) MSc
• Podiatry (pre-registration) MSc

Journalism

• Journalism MA
• Sports Journalism MA

Law

• Law Conversion LLM

Social work

• Social Work MSc

Teaching

• Further Education and Skills PGCE
• Primary 3–7 years PGCE
• Primary 5–11 years PGCE
• Secondary Art and Design PGCE
• Secondary Biology PGCE
• Secondary Chemistry PGCE
• Secondary English PGCE
• Secondary Geography PGCE
• Secondary History PGCE
• Secondary Mathematics PGCE
• Secondary Physics PGCE
• Secondary Physics with Mathematics PGCE
• Secondary Physical Education PGCE

Are conversion courses worth it?

University conversion courses are designed specifically to help you transition to a new career. How you value this change is subjective.

As a university graduate looking to change profession, their value may be more personal than financial, so ultimately this depends on what you want to achieve.

Take a look at this video where Dr Ioannis Pantelidis from the Doctoral College explains the six benefits to postgraduate study and provides help and advice about what you might experience when converting your degree.

Why study your masters at Brighton?