4 January 2004 Postgraduate study at Lincoln offers competitive edge

Postgraduate qualifications at Lincoln are available in all of the University's undergraduate degree areas and also in many other related fields through postgraduate certificate, graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma programmes.

Currently around 18 percent of the University's students are studying for postgraduate qualifications and in total there over 65 different postgraduate specialisations available.

For many the pathway to postgraduate study is through scholarships and there are many excellent awards for which students may compete. Among the most sought after are the Government's Bright Future Scholarships administered by the Foundation for Research Science and Technology. Lincoln students have won 16 Bright Future awards since the scheme started in 1999.

Postgraduate study at Lincoln is organised under the University's Postgraduate and Research School, headed by nutritional molecular biologist Professor Roy Bickerstaffe. The school specialises in top quality, relevant, applied research in integrated natural resources science and management and in the delivery of postgraduate education.

"Lincoln University's postgrads are very fortunate in being able to carry out their research in a very 'applied environment' with direct links and ties to the world of business and production," says Professor Bickerstaffe.

"They are fortunate too in having access to a whole range of 'value added' features which have helped make Lincoln a popular choice for postgraduate study."

Features include –

Research Placements: The opportunity to work in an off-campus research environment where skills such as team work, responding to clients’ needs and new techniques can be acquired.

Transferable Skills Modules: Designed to enhance communication abilities. Such modules include "Presentation skills – speaking and writing".

Supervision Workshops: Attended by staff and postgraduates and aimed at matching the expectations of student and supervisors, thereby improving communications and, ultimately, student success.

Postgraduate Supervision/Mutual Expectations Sessions: Special guidance sessions at which everyone's expectations are discussed at the start of a course of study in order to establish a reference point to refer back to during the study.

Team Supervision: The opportunity to have team supervision of projects often with co-supervisors in industry, Crown Research Institutes or other government or non-government organisations.

Industry Partners: The opportunity, where possible and appropriate, to be engaged in research projects with industry partners, thus giving the work immediate "real world" relevance and enhancing possible future employment prospects for the researcher.

Centres of Excellence: The opportunity to carry out research through Lincoln's "Centres of Excellence", at the interface of the University and external research clients.

All the above – variably available according to whether the postgraduate student is doing a degree, diploma or certificate – give Lincoln postgraduates a real edge both during the period of their study and when they are out competing for positions in the job market.