Postgraduate study in the retail sector

Retail is not a traditional area of study, but it’s one that academia is beginning to take seriously. Universities now provide an increasing range of undergraduate and postgraduate retail courses designed to give you sector-specific skills and knowledge.

Will further study improve my career prospects?

Some areas of work in the retail sector require specialist knowledge that you may not have acquired at undergraduate level, so a relevant conversion course could be a route into a specific area of work, such as logistics, retail property management or fashion design. In very competitive areas of work, such as marketing, a masters could help give you that competitive edge.

Having a relevant postgraduate qualification would certainly not be detrimental to your application, but will not give you an automatic advantage over recent graduates. However, if you are genuinely interested in the retail sector, a masters in retail management will give you a great insight into the subject, help clarify your career goals and demonstrate your commitment.

What’s on offer?

The number of courses in retail management, purchasing and logistics has grown in recent years and it’s also possible to gain specialist knowledge in areas from fashion marketing to merchandising. Alternatively, there are more traditional qualifications in management, marketing and HR, which will give you valuable transferable skills.

A postgraduate retail management degree will introduce you to a range of management skills such as communication, teamwork and analytical skills. It will also provide an overview of current issues in the industry and an insight into the different functions that make up a retail organisation.

Entry requirements vary: some courses are aimed at people with little or no prior knowledge of retail or business, while other courses require a basic understanding of business practices. Some postgraduate degrees, such as MBAs, are tailored for those who are already in employment, so it is an option to delay postgraduate study until you have gained some industry experience – you may even be sponsored by your employer. Parttime, day-release and flexible study are offered for many courses, which is useful if you can’t afford to study full time or would prefer to get your foot on the career ladder first.

Study for the right reasons

It’s important to think carefully about your reasons for undertaking postgraduate study: if you simply see it as a way of delaying job-hunting for a year, the costs in money and time are unlikely to be justified. If you do choose to do a postgraduate degree, it is vital that you can explain clearly why you chose to continue studying, how you have benefited from it and what you can offer.

Thanks to Cathy Hart, senior lecturer in retailing and operations management at Loughborough University, for her help with this article.

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