Postgraduate student perceptions of the transition into postgraduate study

Abstract

West (2012) found many researchers to hold the view that not much adjustment is required when going into postgraduate study, however recent literature has suggested that this is not the case (West, 2012). The article presented here confirms the latter, with evidence taken from focus group discussions with postgraduate students.  The findings indicate that students experience difficulties with the transition into postgraduate study.  These difficulties relate to their external commitments and with the university course itself. The findings revealed that there is much that can be done within the university to aid students in their postgraduate transition. Furthermore there is much that can be learned from conducting focus groups on student perceptions.  It is hoped the findings presented in this article can contribute to further discussions into the difficulties experienced in postgraduate transition.