If you thought making your application for University, and then achieving your degree, were difficult, then you might be under the impression that applying for a Masters is going to be about the same. However, you need to look at it from a different perspective.

Unlike when you made your application for University, you [might] have matured and now know your way around the application process like you do the value baked beans aisle in the local supermarket and the quickest route from your student flat to the lecture theatre when you’ve woken up late!

The fact of the matter is that there isn’t a right or wrong way to make an application for your Masters course. The only thing you need to bear in mind is that you obviously did something right to get onto your University course, so take that confidence boost into this application and you’ll be fine! Well, that and these hints and tips that will help you get onto your course whether you’re applying for an MBA in Israel [http://portal.idc.ac.il/en/schools/rris/acad_prog/grad_prog/Pages/graduate.aspx] or Ipswich!

Obviously money is going to be a big part of your application, and throughout the Masters course itself. Unlike your undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses require you to fund your course yourself. The Masters itself might not be the most expensive part of the course, but you should consider whether or not you can afford to pay your living costs – something we all take for granted while studying – and this includes your accommodation, bills, food and transport remember, with prices varying according to where you study with some areas more expensive on average than others.

Obviously you’re somewhat restricted as to where you can study, as only certain Universities will offer certain courses. It’s not as simple as the transition from high school to sixth form where you just move to a different part of the campus, you may have to move away from where you spent your postgraduate degree and move to a different University, or country altogether!

You then need to establish which facility is going to offer you the best education. One might offer the course at a cheaper price, which will appeal to some, but getting the best education and results is the main thing so this will need to be considered in great detail. Don’t rush this decision, take your time to go to an Open Day and have a look around, maybe meet some of the tutors and speak to people taking the same course to get an honest view of the University and the course to help you make an informed decision.

Possibly the most important factor in your decision should be the course itself. There is no point choosing something based purely on the title. Get every detail available at the Masters degree itself and find out exactly how you can use it in the future. After all, if it turns out that potential employers aren’t interested in a potential employee with a Masters in that course, you could be wasting your time. Find out the best course to suit your career ambitions.

Each course will, like your undergraduate course, have individual modules that make up the degree. By finding out just how relevant to you these modules are, you can specialize in a few or rule the whole course out of the equation if you feel it’s not right.

So now you’ve worked out that you can afford to apply, you know where you’re going and what you want to study… what next? Well, get cracking! The earlier you start your application, the more time you have to either amend it or apply elsewhere should you be unsuccessful initially. You also get more time to put the research time in so that you can get every part of your application right, nailing it first time. If you can stay organised throughout the application you’re also much more likely to make an impression on the person reading it. Keeping each part of the process in the right place will help, and finding the right referees and ensuring they have the time to help with your application are also key.