5 Trending Professional Courses after Graduation

Looking for the best courses after graduation?

India boasts over 700 universities and over 35,000 affiliated colleges, collectively enrolling more than 20 million students annually. However, as each new batch of graduates emerges with impressive academic records, they often face challenges securing suitable employment opportunities.

The educational landscape has evolved significantly, and a graduate degree is no longer as distinctive as it once was. To distinguish themselves from their peers and secure their dream job opportunities, many students pursue post-graduate programs, M.Phil, or Ph.D. qualifications. Short-term diploma courses and online certification programs have also become popular for skill enhancement and career advancement.

The best courses available after completing your undergraduate degree offer a chance to redirect your academic path if you initially chose your Bachelor’s degree course due to peer burden or a lack of clarity about your interests. They allow you to start anew or delve deeper into your chosen field of study. These courses also enhance your attractiveness to recruiters, opening doors to better career prospects and higher salaries.

Professional courses bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry skills. They typically include a variety of industry-related assignments that expose students to real-world scenarios, teaching them how to navigate these situations using professional techniques.

Professional courses and certifications blend skills, technical knowledge, and industry expertise perfectly. After completing their undergraduate studies, they equip students with the tools they need to pursue a fulfilling career in their chosen field.

Best Courses After Graduation

1. PMP Certification

PMP, which stands for Project Management Professional, is one of the most famed certifications for project management experts worldwide. While it’s important to note that PMP certification isn’t the sole indicator of a project manager’s experience or capabilities, it does signify competence and in-depth knowledge in the field. This certification program provides students a comprehensive understanding of contrasting project management tools and techniques and hands-on project training. Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to effectively manage project timelines, optimize resource utilization, and deliver projects within budget constraints.

A PMP certification can significantly enhance your prospects of securing well-paying job roles in various industries such as manufacturing, finance, information technology, healthcare, and any field requiring skilled project management professionals.

For individuals seeking to acquire a professional master’s degree in a limited timeframe after graduation, this program is an ideal choice. It offers an intensive curriculum with a primary focus on management studies and is particularly beneficial for working professionals looking to deepen their knowledge in this expansive field. The program emphasizes interactive learning and incorporates a variety of workshops to provide students with specialized knowledge in Business and management.

Some of the reputable institutions offering this course in India include:

• Project Management Institute (PMI)

• ISEL Global (Institute for Skill Enhancement & Learning)

• L&T Institute of Project Management (L&T IPM)

• S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)

Course Duration:

The duration of most courses varies based on your pace of learning since many are offered through distance or online modes. However, some institutes provide structured courses with hourly modules, and their durations are as follows:

• Product Management Certification Program (GreyaAcademy) – 160+ hours of learning and practice.

• Project Management Professional Training Course (ExcelR) – 35 duration of practice.

Eligibility Criteria:

Typically, most PMP courses require candidates to hold a Bachelor’s degree and have a few years of prior experience in project management.

Fees:

The cost of your PMP course may vary depending on the institution you choose, ranging from approximately Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000.

Job Opportunities:

Acquiring a PMP certification enhances your professional credibility, expanding your opportunities for senior-level roles in project management. With this certification, you can pursue promising job positions such as Product Designers, Product Analysts, Product Managers, Associate Program Managers, Product Owners, and Heads.

2. PGDM or M.Sc. in Business Analytics

Business Analytics, at its core, is a process that combines data analytics and business intelligence to analyze extensive sets of data, extract insights, and apply them to formulate future business strategies and plans.

This field falls under the domain of management and science, utilizing data exploration to analyze current data and glean insights for the development and execution of future business objectives and strategies. Business Analytics primarily focuses on optimizing processes, increasing revenue by reducing operational costs, enhancing customer relations, and predicting future trends, all of which contribute to creating precise strategic business plans.

Pursuing a Master’s in Business Analytics provides the necessary training and knowledge to cultivate the skills required for devising future business plans and strategies based on accurate data analysis. This program imparts knowledge in management and business concepts, equipping individuals to explore job opportunities at senior management levels. Furthermore, it offers opportunities for rapid career advancement into executive or managerial roles.

Some well-known Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programs available after graduation include:

• PGDM in Finance

• PGDM in International Business

• PGDM in Operations Management

• PGDM in Business Analytics

• PGDM in Marketing

• PGDM in Retail Management

Several reputable institutions in India offer these courses, such as IIM Calcutta, ISI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur, Praxis Business School, Manipal ProLearn, and INSOFE.

Course Duration: 1-3 months

Eligibility Criteria:

A background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) is preferred, and a graduate degree is typically required if pursuing the program from a university.

Fees:

The total fees vary depending on your chosen college, ranging from approximately INR 1,20,000 to INR 8,00,000 per course.

Job Opportunities:

Business analysts are crucial in bridging the IT and organizational management gap using analytical tools. Given that organizations today possess vast amounts of data, a career in Business Analytics is increasingly lucrative. Many firms and consultancies hire freshers for roles like assistant business analysts, offering an excellent starting point for a career in analytics.

3. Master’s in Data Science

A Master’s in Data Science is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after courses after graduation. Data science has earned its reputation as the “sexiest job of the 21st century” for good reason. In a world where a staggering 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are generated daily, professionals who can harness and analyze this data to provide valuable business insights have become essential heroes.

A McKinsey Global Institute study substantiates this demand for data scientists, which predicts a shortage of around 190,000 professionals with deep analytical skills by 2018. With the continuous surge of Big Data, global companies are in a race to hire Data Scientists who can harness and make sense of their invaluable data.

The field of Data Science is currently one of the trendiest and most lucrative in the job market. The data-driven era, where data surpasses oil as the most valuable resource, drives businesses to understand and cater to human preferences through data analysis. As a result, professionals who complete post-graduation courses, such as a Master’s in Data Science or Machine Learning, can explore various high-level executive roles.

Many professionals and students gravitate toward this field due to its vast career prospects and the global demand for expert data scientists. Upon completing a relevant course, individuals can pursue careers as Data Analysts, Data Scientists, Database Architects, Data Engineers, and more.

Through these courses, students can develop design capabilities and abstract thinking, enabling them to comprehend data science theories and practices based on fundamental principles of statistics, mathematics, computer science, and related domains. Completing a relevant one-year course after graduation equips students with the skills to use various programming tools for problem-solving and derive solutions in line with global trends and needs. They can employ research-centric knowledge to analyze and understand data, design experiments, and synthesize information to provide actionable conclusions.

Some of the top institutions in India that offer this course include:

• IIM Calcutta + ISI Kolkata + IIT Kharagpur: Offering a 2-year full-time course with 18 months of industry training and six months of internship.

• Praxis: Located in Gurgaon, Praxis offers a 1-year full-time course with nine months of training and a 3-month internship.

• IIM Bangalore: A 6-month part-time course held at the Bangalore campus, intended for individuals with 4+ years of experience.

Eligibility Criteria:

Given that it’s a Master’s course, the primary requirement is a Bachelor’s degree.

Fees:

Course fees vary widely depending on the institute, curriculum comprehensiveness, and training method (LMS or classroom). Costs typically range from ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 6,00,000.

Job Opportunities:

As of May 2019, the median income for a Data Scientist role in India is Rs. 622,162, according to Payscale.com. There are job positions in analytics and data science available at 97,000. Graduates can secure roles as data scientists, architects, administrators, analysts, or Business Intelligence Managers in any organization dealing with substantial volumes of data.

4. Machine Learning 

Machine learning is a transformative method of data analysis that automatizes the construction of analytical models. It’s a subset of artificial intelligence that focuses on enabling systems to learn from data, identify patterns, and make resolutions with minimal human intervention. Although the term “machine learning” has gained significant attention in recent years, the concept has been around for a long time, with early examples like Alan Turing’s Enigma machine during World War II.

Today, machine learning has permeated many aspects of our lives, from everyday activities to complex tasks involving Big Data. For example, Google’s self-driving car and personalized recommendations on platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify are all outcomes of machine learning.

One prominent option for those interested in pursuing a career in machine learning is a 12-month diploma course. This comprehensive program covers fundamental data science and machine learning topics, spanning eight modules, including the Data Science Tool Kit, Statistics & Exploratory Data Analytics, Machine Learning I & II, Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, and Deployment and Capstone Projects.

The course allows learners to complete case studies, work on live projects, and tackle various data science assignments using Python, Keras, TensorFlow, Scikit-Learn, MySQL, NLTK, and AWS tools. Moreover, it promises comprehensive career support, including dedicated mentorship from industry experts, peer-to-peer networking, and hackathons.

Candidates pursuing a one-year course after graduation or a related program in machine learning can expect to gain skills in:

• Comparing various machine learning algorithms by developing recommender systems in Python.

• Creating a final project using machine learning methods and assessing peers’ projects.

• Predicting course ratings by constructing regression and classification models and training a neural network.

• Designing recommendation systems by implementing knowledge of PCA, KNN, and non-negative matrix collaborative filtering.

Background intelligence in linear algebra, statistics, and Python programming is profitable for pursuing professional courses in machine learning. These programs often provide a solid theoretical foundation alongside practical exposure through demonstrations and labs, making complex topics more accessible.

The Advanced Certificate Programme in Machine Learning from IIT Delhi is a notable option for those seeking a reputable institution to explore machine learning. The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, is India’s most prestigious institution, known for its high-caliber faculty and expertise in the subject matter. This program is an excellent choice for those seeking in-depth knowledge and a strong academic foundation in machine learning.

5. Chartered Financial Analyst

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) program is a highly credible course for students inclined toward finance rather than STEM. While Chartered Accounting used to be the preferred course for commerce students, the CFA has gained prominence due to its global and comprehensive curriculum. It opens the door to various lucrative job chance in investment banking, research analysis, portfolio management, and financial strategy.

The CFA program delves deeply into portfolio management, financial modeling, and other investment-related subjects. The program is divided into three levels:

• Level I: This level introduces topics like equity, fixed income, alternatives, detailed learning of tools, financial reporting and analysis, economics, quants, etc.

• Level II: Level II delves deeper into asset valuation, covering topics such as equity, fixed income, derivatives, and financial statement analysis.

• Level III: At Level III, the focus shifts to perspectives on portfolio management of assets and wealth planning.

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation represents one of the most challenging exams globally. It is a recognized credential with high demand in the finance and investment sectors. In addition to understanding relevant CFA courses after graduation, it’s essential to be familiar with the qualifying exams and job opportunities.

This globally recognized certification enables students to practice financial services and management on an international scale. It opens up career opportunities in roles such as Investment Manager, Chartered Financial Analyst, and Portfolio Manager. The demand for CFA professionals is rising, driven by factors like stock market growth, increased financial literacy, and a growing number of investors.

Typically, CFA courses are ideal for investors, entrepreneurs, financial managers, and financial consultants. Candidates interested in the investment sector and financial services can pursue a one-year course after graduation or other suitable CFA programs. There’s no fixed timeline for undertaking this course; candidates can choose from suitable degree courses or one-year diploma courses after graduation.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the CFA program, candidates must meet certain criteria, which include:

• Holding a bachelor’s degree.

• Being in the final year of a bachelor’s degree program in any field.

• Having four years of qualified, professional work experience.

• Having a combination of work and college experience that totals at least four years.

Passing three levels of the CFA exam is the primary need for obtaining the CFA charter.

Fees:

For the Level I exam, candidates must pay a one-time program recruitment fee of USD 450 and the registration fees. The registration fees remain consistent across all levels.

Job Opportunities:

As a CFA, you can land advantageous jobs in investment companies nationally and globally.

6. Certification in Digital Marketing

With the transition to the digital age, traditional marketing tools like billboards and flyers are no longer sufficient for businesses to maintain and increase brand awareness. Companies are also turning to digital mediums to promote their products and services. The Digital Marketing Industry has made significant contributions to the employment sector, with substantial growth in job opportunities. In 2017 there were over 1.5 lakh digital marketing jobs, which increased to more than 2.8 lakhs in 2018. It is anticipated that by 2021, most brands will have a strong online presence or seek to establish one, underscoring the thriving nature of the digital marketing field.

A digital marketing course, whether a short-term certification program or a full-time degree, provides comprehensive training in various aspects of digital marketing, including:

• Search Engine Optimization

• Search Engine Marketing

• Social Media Marketing

• Email Marketing

• Inbound Marketing

• Content Marketing

• Mobile Marketing

• Affiliate Marketing, and more.

Obtaining a digital marketing certification is a recognition of an individual’s completion of the requirements of an online digital marketing course. Many people choose to pursue a one-year digital marketing course after graduation. This certification proves their skills and education in digital marketing strategies and techniques.

Certified digital marketers can use their certification to distinguish themselves from other digital marketers, increasing their employability in the job market. It’s important to note that a digital marketing certificate differs from a digital marketing degree, and individuals can pursue a Master’s in digital marketing through a regular university program.

Here is a list of some of the top digital marketing certifications in 2022:

• Google Digital Marketing Certification

• Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy Program

• Reliable soft Digital Marketing Certification

• DMI Digital Marketing Pro Certificate

• Duke Digital Media and Marketing Certificate

• Coursera Digital Marketing Specialization

• Simplilearn Digital Marketing Specialist Certificate

• LinkedIn Digital Marketing Certificate

• OMCP Digital Marketing Certification

• Facebook Blueprint Certifications

• PCM Digital Marketing Certification

• YouTube Certification

• Google Ads Marketing Certification

• Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce Certificate

• Google Analytics Certification

Here are some great courses and organization offers:

• Certified Digital Marketing Master (CDMM) of Digital Vaidya: This is a 6-month course priced at INR 49,900 + 18% GST and offers extensive study material and resources.

• Administrative Program in Digital and Social Media Marketing of IIM Calcutta: This 6-month part-time course is conducted by IIM Calcutta, and if you’ve completed your Bachelor’s degree, you’re eligible to apply.

• Executive Development Program in Digital Marketing of XLRI Jamshedpur: This 4-month online program by XLRI Jamshedpur is structured to benefit anyone interested in learning the nuances of digital marketing, whether you’re an executive, a mid-level employee, or an entrepreneur.

• Master’s in Digital Marketing from Delhi School of Internet Marketing: This 2-year classroom course covers all aspects of digital marketing and is suitable for professionals and students.

Course Duration:

The course duration depends on the type of program you choose. You can opt for a 4-month certification course or a 2-year completely developed degree in digital marketing.

Eligibility Criteria:

Most certification courses do not have strict eligibility criteria, but some may require you to have a Bachelor’s degree.

Job Opportunities:

Digital Marketing has earned immense popularity in the last decade and shows no signals of decrease. According to Payscale, the starting income of a Digital Marketing Manager is ₹ 5 LPA and more, depending on the skillset. Certification in Digital Marketing opens up opportunities for job profiles such as market researcher, content marketer, digital marketing expert, SEO Manager, PPC Search Manager, email marketer, etc.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we’ve provided information about the top five trending professional courses you can pursue after graduation. With many choices available, it’s crucial to identify your interests, passions, and strengths before selecting the next step in your educational journey. Once you clearly understand your preferences, the decision-making process will become much simpler.

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