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Deanship Of Graduate Studies: How is Graduate Education Different from Undergraduate Education?

How is Graduate Education Different from Undergraduate Education?

The expectations in graduate programs are different from undergraduate programs. Here are 4 important differences:

1. Graduate Coursework and Teaching Methods are Less Structured

Graduate courses tend to have less structure and more independence. Less guidance means that it is important for graduate students to assess their circumstances and assess when they need help. Graduate students will need to seek help on their own from their professors, advisors, and the Deanship of Graduate Studies. They will also need to figure out how to access Graduate Student Handbook on the Intranet, as well as other resources.

The type of course work is also quite different, and graduate students will develop different and more rigorous competencies compared to undergraduate coursework, such as more reading, more writing, more research, more critical thinking, more problem solving, etc.

2. Less Emphasis on Grades

Grades matter less in graduate school. Integrity and the quality of students’ work will determine graduate students’ success. Many graduate students used to have high GPAs in their undergraduate programs and were high performers. That is one of the main reasons they were admitted to a graduate program. The grading system is different as almost all students earn As and Bs, making the CGPA less important. Graduate education is about intellectual engagement, and the value is placed on the learning outcomes.

3. Learning New Skills

Time management and communication skills are essential for graduate students. They will need to manage their time and identify their priorities in terms of how much to study while balancing work and family life. To create a support system, they must learn how to effectively engage and work with their classmates, professors, and/or research advisor.

4. Professional Development

Graduate education is about professional development. Graduate students will understand the importance of on-going professional development from the beginning of their graduate program. Students do not just grow through classes but grow by conducting research and presenting at conferences. If they write a paper for a class, they don’t just stop there. Students tend to work with their professors so they can submit it to a conference or maybe submit it for publication.

Overall, students enroll in graduate programs because they want to learn, develop new skills, discover new ideas, and create new knowledge that will have an impact in their workplace or in their own personal life. This passion for learning leads to a new level of intellectual engagement so graduate students can develop innovative ideas and apply them to their professional field.

Zayed University’s Graduate Programs

Complementing Zayed University’s undergraduate programs are graduate programs that are armed with nearly two decades of unrivalled education excellence to develop exceptional leaders and highly effective managers.

Admission to the Master in Diplomacy and International Affairs, Master of Arts in Communication, Master of Legal and Judicial Studies, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Information Systems Management and Master of Science in Information Technology (Cyber Security) programs is now open and scholarships are available for males and females of all nationalities.

To inquire or apply for graduate program admission in Fall 2022, contact the Deanship Graduate Studies before the application deadline of 26 June 2022 at +971-2-599-3605 or e-mail or visit the website

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