Postgraduate diploma

A postgraduate diploma is a qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. Countries which award postgraduate diplomas include Australia, Canada, Chile, England and Wales, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

Australia and New Zealand

Some Australian and New Zealand universities offer a postgraduate diploma (PostGradDip). Graduate diplomas are then used for additional studies at an undergraduate level or studies in a new field while the postgraduate diploma indicates graduate-level studies or advanced studies in an already familiar field. A bachelor's degree is typically required, although in some cases an advanced diploma is sufficient. People with extensive experience but without formal qualifications may be admitted, although usually the completion of a graduate certificate is required first.

Canada

In Canada, a postgraduate certificate program consists of two to three semesters, which can be completed in less than one year. A Bachelor 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 labour market. Depending on the province, the title can vary: Advanced Diploma, Post-Graduate Diploma, Post-Graduate Certification, Post-Baccalaureate or D.E.S.S. (in the Province of Quebec).

England and Wales

There are a 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; the resulting diploma allows the student to enter legal vocational training, relevant to either the barrister or solicitor profession. 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 law conversion course allows a postgraduate student to squeeze the important components of a three year undergraduate law degree, into only 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.

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 finish 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 PGDip, PG Dip, PgDip, or PGD.

Compare with: PGCert.

Republic of Ireland

The postgraduate diploma (PGradDip) offered by University of Dublin, Trinity College is of a similar standing to the graduate diploma or higher diploma available in the Republic of Ireland in other colleges and universities. The award is the main postgraduate non-degree award of the college and is offered in a wide variety of disciplines across all faculties.

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.