Post Grad Diploma's

[Penfold]

I maybe should have posted this as a reply in the other Postgrad thread? but didnt want it to get buried as I would like some input.
Postgraduate Diploma's, are they any good, or would potential employers look upon such a qualification in a negative way? Perhaps some may feel they show lack of commitment, or worse, an inability to handle a Masters dissertation? As I have previously mentioned I would really like to go down the GIS route but fear of more debt is making me very twitchy. Though the tuition fees for a PG Dip are the same as for the full Masters, supporting myself for six months rather than for the full year would obviously make a huge difference financially, but is this a false economy, what do you guys think, anyone out there have such qualifications? Would be grateful for fresh viewpoints on this as quite frankly it's driving me nuts.
Penfold

[Penfold]

Mmmmmmmmmm Looks like the lack of response means no one has bothered to go down this route? Better have a rethink

[Oxbeast]

Maybe a more cut price way is just to do GIS and CAD courses at evening class, read the books and get really **** hot at them. Its easier than it looks to teach yourself how to use the programmes. If a beast like me with barely opposable thumbs can manage it, so can anyone. For onwards employment, I have the feeling that real computery skills might be more useful than a PGDip.

[mercenary]

I'm not sure of the benefits of Diplomas vs Masters, but I'm starting to question the value of post grad qualifications in general.

My girlfriend has recently been offered a position on an MA course that she realizes is a waste of time. She has already achieved everything that said MA could allow her to do, but has reached a dead end in her specialism(Heritage Management). There is no way that she's willing to fund her way through it just for the letters after her name. Do employers recognize those more than the actual skills gained from doing the job, which she has in spades? I certainly hope not.

I do wonder if this is linked with the abundance of MA's and Ph.D's that I'm increasingly working with as excavators. They certainly outnumber the single degree folk like myself. It's definitely put me off any further study. I'm all for getting the skills, but the academic route doesn't seem to be the best way. I think Oxbeast is right, go cut price.

[Penfold]

Thanks guys I welcome your input. The evening class route sounds great I know I could do a CAD course locally as they seem to run one twice a year, but as for GIS, not a chance! I will however be moving down to the Bristol / Bath area in August so I will do a web search and see what pops up. As for "teaching myself" not only am I truly ill disciplined, not to say distracted at the drop of some change on the bar, but access to the software would be a problem there.
Again thanks for your thoughts and you have given me another avenue of approach.
Penfold

[BAJR Host]

Web search.... when you are at the home site of THERA!!

every arch based course in the UK... try typing in CAD or GIS into the search page..