Postgraduate diploma
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2009) |
A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma. Countries that award postgraduate diplomas include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Africa, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Poland and Singapore.
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Australia and New Zealand [edit]
Australian and New Zealand universities offer postgraduate diplomas (PostGradDip). A postgraduate diploma indicates master's-level studies. A bachelor's degree is required, although in some rare cases an advanced diploma is sufficient.
Canada [edit]
In Canada, a postgraduate certificate program consists of two to three semesters, which can be completed in less than one year in some instances. A bachelor's degree or a diploma is required to be accepted in this type of program. It offers the advantage of not requiring to write a thesis and to focus on a concise subject. It is recommended for students wishing to enhance their professional skills as it concentrates on a more practical application in order to enter the labor market. Depending on the province, the title can vary: Post-Graduate Diploma, Post-Graduate Certification, Post-Baccalaureate or D.E.S.S. (in the Province of Quebec). See links to the Canadian education system, as the various regions can be quite different.
England, Wales and Scotland [edit]
There are a vast number of postgraduate diplomas available in England and Wales. This could be a vocational course studied after an academic degree, such as the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Vocational Course; the resulting diplomas allow the student to enter legal training, relevant to either the solicitor or barrister professions, respectively. Alternatively, postgraduate diplomas allow a graduate student to study a new academic subject at degree level, but in a short space of time. For example, the Graduate Diploma in Law also known as the Common Professional Exam, allows a postgraduate student to study the seven foundation subjects of a three year undergraduate law degree, in a period of nine months.
Postgraduate diplomas that last a year or longer are often considered equivalent to a master's degree. They are typically classified into Distinction, Merit, and Pass, similar to most master's courses. Many schools of architecture commonly operate a 2-year postgraduate diploma course providing RIBA part 2 education in this fashion.
The Graduateship (GCGI) Diploma is awarded by the City and Guilds of London Institute.
A postgraduate diploma is commonly awarded to students who have completed most or all of the courses of a master's programme, but did not do the master's dissertation.
A postgraduate diploma typically represents 120 credits of postgraduate courses (whereas a full master's degree is usually 180 credits) postgraduate diplomas are usually abbreviated as PGDip, PG Dip, PgD, PgDip, and like a PgCert diploma holders are permitted to use 'PgDip' as a post-nominal.
Ireland [edit]
The postgraduate diploma (Dioplóma Iarchéime in Irish) has been awarded by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council since June 2005 in institutions associated with the council. This is purely a professional type course compared to the graduate diploma it replaced, and is offered in arts, business, engineering, and science initially.
Singapore [edit]
The postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate academic qualification taken after a bachelor's degree. It is usually awarded by a University or a graduate school. It usually takes 2 or more study terms to complete, a wide variety of courses are offered. It is also possible for graduate diploma holders to progress to a master's degree. Only postgraduate diplomas that are registered with the Ministry of Education (Singapore) are recognised by the industry.
Sri Lanka [edit]
In Sri Lanka, a postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate academic qualification taken after a bachelor's degree. Most often it is awarded after the completion of the first year of study in a masters program.
Spain [edit]
The postgraduate diploma is awarded by a variety of Spain universities and follows the ECTS grading system. For example, Pablo de Olavide University offers a PgDip in the Integral Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Social Activists in cooperation with Protection International.
