What’s the Difference Between a Postgraduate Certificate and a Master’s Degree?

A postgraduate (PG) certificate is a credential you earn after completing a programme that’s designed to teach you about a subject or skill. It usually costs less than a master’s degree and takes less time to complete.

Typically offered by colleges and universities, postgraduate certificates can be useful when you have your bachelor’s degree and feel like additional knowledge or training would benefit your career—or when you’re interested in changing careers. 

Learn what a postgraduate certificate is, how it compares to a master’s degree, and how to decide which qualification is best for your goals.

What is a postgraduate certificate?

A postgraduate certificate is a credential you earn after gaining specialised knowledge in a short, intensive programme offered by a university. You can earn a postgraduate certificate in various subjects from leading institutions, ranging from broad categories to specific subject areas. 

Postgraduate certificate subject examples:

• Food and nutrition

• First aid

• Energy technology and management

• Environmental studies

• Fashion design

• Foreign language

• Home health assistance

• Newborn & infant nursing

• NGO management

• International relations

• Health and society

• Residential property management 

• Journalism 

• Cybersecurity

• Data analytics

• Corporate finance 

• Environment 

• Web design

• Mobile app development

• Sports analytics

• Management

Postgraduate certificate vs. master’s degree 

While postgraduate certificate courses are offered at the master’s level, they do not amount to a graduate degree. However, you may be able to apply the credits you earn towards a master’s if you choose to pursue an advanced degree. 

The main differences between PG certificates and master’s degrees involve their duration, cost, format, depth of study, and application process.

Programme length

Postgraduate certificates typically take around one year (though some may be shorter or longer), but you may have longer to complete your requirements. Master’s degrees usually take two years. 

Programme cost

The cost of a certificate programme depends on which university you plan on attending. Programmes range in cost widely. Lower-cost programs like early childhood courses might range from INR 10,000–50,000 [1], while other programmes can range from INR 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 plus the goods and services tax (GST) [2]. You may have payment plan options, so looking into available fee structures is important when deciding the right programme. Similarly, master’s degrees range in cost, often with tuition between ₹1,33,000 and ₹3,98,000 annually [3].

Format 

Depending on the school you’re interested in attending, you may have the option of learning entirely online or taking a mix of online and in-person courses for both PG certificates and master’s degrees. However, master’s degrees are often full-time, and require students to attend classes regularly, work with faculty, and complete projects.

Many students enrolled in postgraduate certificate programmes work full-time, so many PG certificate programmes have blended learning or self-paced learning options. This allows you to study independently outside of other professional and personal obligations. 

Depth of study

Master’s degrees typically have a much deeper subject scope, meaning you aim to gain comprehensive knowledge in a subject area, including both practical and theoretical components. Graduates from this degree may have many career options, including research and continued academic study.

PG courses tend to focus more on a specific topic, such as patient practices or cyber law. A current professional might earn a postgraduate certificate to show expertise in a particular area directly related to a career goal or boost their skill set.

Application process

Applying to a postgraduate certificate programme is much less involved. Each programme will outline its specific prerequisites, but you may be expected to have completed a certain level of background education and/or work experience. Some programmes allow graduates from any discipline, while others may require stricter subject knowledge.

Applying to a master’s degree programme often requires completing a relevant undergraduate degree with a certain level of marks and taking an entrance exam relevant to your subject field. For example, you might need to take the Common Admission Test (CAT) for management institutes, while technical programmes may require the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).

5 reasons for getting a postgraduate certificate

People earn postgraduate certificates for various reasons, from building their skill set to preparing for a career change. Some choose this type of education to advance their careers, while others do so for personal development.

1. Develop career skills.

A postgraduate certificate can be an excellent way to gain specific skills needed to advance in your current career or industry. Employers may look for specific skills, and demonstrating expertise in these areas can position you as a strong candidate for job roles. Because postgraduate certificate programmes concentrate on specific subjects and skills development, they can be very specific to your needs.

2. Change your career.

Postgraduate certificates are also helpful in changing careers. Rather than going back to school to earn a second bachelor’s degree or enrolling in a lengthy master’s programme, you can earn a postgraduate certificate faster to make your career transition. It can also be easier to keep working full-time while working through a graduate certificate programme since there isn’t as much coursework to complete.

3. Study something that interests you.

Sometimes, learning something new can be a worthwhile personal endeavour. It can help you gain valuable insight about yourself, strengthen existing skills, develop new ones, or learn about a subject that has long interested you.

4. Build your network.

Your postgraduate certificate programme can be an opportunity to learn from experts in a subject or field—and even gain a mentor. You may also get to meet new peers and expand your network. 

5. Meet changing industry needs.

As your organisation and field continue to evolve and develop, you can upskill alongside the changing market needs. This can open career opportunities and position you to advance further in your industry.

How to choose the best postgraduate certificate for you 

Deciding what and how you want to learn is essential to begin your learning journey. When determining which postgraduate certificate you’d like to pursue, you can use the following steps to help you set yourself up for success.

1. Research relevant subjects.

What do you want to study? Find out which schools offer the type of programme you’re interested in. Postgraduate certificates are usually specialised because they focus on a niche approach to a subject. To get a sense of what’s available, search for “graduate certificate” and then the subject or skill you hope to study, such as “business writing” or “artificial intelligence.”

2. Decide how you like to learn.

Decide whether you want to study online or in person. while not every programme will give you a choice, so you may want to pick the programme that meets your learning needs. If you prefer more structure, then you might benefit from in-person classes. However, if you prefer greater flexibility, you might enjoy online classes.

3. Understand what you can afford.

Price is an important factor. As you review different programmes, take note of the cost so you can determine whether each programme falls within your budget. Considering the cost, you should review each programme's required and elective coursework to ensure it aligns with your educational goals.

Continue your postgraduate learning journey on Coursera.

Both master’s degrees and postgraduate certificates offer a chance to build your skill set in a new or more advanced area than your undergraduate degree. To decide which is right for you, consider the cost, program duration, scope of study, and career benefits.

To earn a postgraduate certificate, browse many options from leading universities on Coursera. If you have an interest in building technical skills, the Graduate Certificate in Computer Science is a great way to make your computer science foundation at your own pace, or you can opt for a Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics–which provides a Certificate in Basic Statistics after your first semester.