Considering postgraduate study? Returning to university can give you specialised knowledge and a clearer focus on where your career is headed. For BCU alumnus Konstantinos Militsis, it helped lead him to a career in the USA as a senior digital marketing strategist. He tells us of the right and wrong reasons to undertake a Master’s degree, the benefits of a break in between, and the differences between postgraduate and undergraduate study.
The importance of finding your true direction
I graduated from BCU for the first time in 2013 with a degree in International Business. At the time, it had given me what I needed at that stage of life – namely, a broad understanding of that particular discipline and the confidence to enter the working world.
After finishing my studies, I returned to my home country of Greece to complete my mandatory military service, offering me a much different experience to university that provided me time to reflect on my next chapter.
I had conversations with friends who were working in digital marketing and I became increasingly interested in how businesses were using websites, search and emerging digital channels to engage customers. I felt I’d discovered an area I wanted to learn more about.
That desire to develop a more specialised understanding of marketing, and explore whether it could become the basis of my career, was the catalyst for me returning to BCU to study my postgraduate degree.
The University and Birmingham itself both felt familiar to me, but that wasn’t the only reason I returned. I had a very positive experience during my undergraduate degree, and felt that BCU had given me a solid foundation the first time around. Returning for a Master’s felt like a natural continuation rather than starting again somewhere new.
The do’s and don’ts behind pursuing a postgraduate degree
There are a number of benefits to studying for a Master’s degree. 79% of postgraduates work in highly-skilled roles, earning an average premium of around £6,000 more per year compared to undergraduate degree holders.
Do not assume you have to transition straight from your undergraduate degree into a Master’s. Sometimes, gaining real-world experience can make a postgraduate degree more valuable, as you have better knowledge of what you want to gain from it.
By doing this, you’ll appreciate it all the more – I certainly did, as I had a much clearer understanding of why I was there.
As an undergraduate, you are learning across a broad range of subjects and it can sometimes be difficult to see how they’ll translate into your future career.
By the time I returned for my Master’s, I had identified areas I wanted to pursue and was therefore more curious and engaged. I wasn’t studying simply because it was the next step in education – I was actively trying to build knowledge that I could use professionally. According to HESA, 85% of graduates reported that their postgraduate activity felt “meaningful”, and I can certainly attest to that.
I would also encourage people to have a clear reason for going back. Don’t do it because you’re unsure of what else to do. For me, I chose to study Management and Marketing as it allowed me to gain a deeper knowledge of marketing, consumer behaviour and strategy. It’s a statement that’s echoed by many graduates, with 76% of them feeling that their degree directly aligned with their future plans.
The benefits of taking time out between degrees
If you’re considering returning to study after a break, don’t let that gap put you off. Your experience outside university is also part of your education, and you may return with more confidence, maturity and perspective than you had the first time around.
When I returned to BCU, I naturally wondered whether I’d have the same academic rhythm and if I’d be able to keep up with everything. What helped me was remembering I’d already completed a degree, so I wasn’t starting from scratch. I also had more real-world experience by that point, so I could relate what I was learning to actual business situations rather than viewing everything purely academically.
What are the differences between undergraduate and postgraduate study?
My Master’s degree was much more focused and required me to think more critically, form my own opinions and engage with subjects in greater depth. I also found that my professional and personal experiences influenced how I approached the work, making the learning feel more relevant.
The most unexpected benefit was probably how much clearer my career direction became. By combining my existing business knowledge with a deeper focus on marketing, I could see a much clearer path into my desired career.
I’ve spent the last four years working in the US for New York Life, the largest mutual life insurance company in the country. I focus on web optimisation, digital acquisition and customer experience. I’m also currently exploring how emerging AI and search technologies will shape the future of digital experiences and customer acquisition.
BCU gave me the business and marketing foundations that have allowed me to adapt, grow and move across industries, roles and countries.
Looking back, my undergraduate degree gave me the breadth while the Master’s gave me the depth.
Interested in returning to BCU to study a postgraduate degree? We have a range of courses starting in January 2027, with alumni receiving a 20% discount on their fees.
