Recruiting postgraduates

Postgraduate talent offers Northern Ireland businesses a powerful way to drive innovation, improve productivity, and access specialist skills. Master’s and PhD graduates combine advanced academic knowledge with practical research experience, helping organisations solve real business challenges and support growth.

Advantages of recruiting postgraduates

Taking on postgraduates can bring several benefits to a business, including:

Specialist expertise

Postgraduates bring in-depth knowledge in areas like business analytics, HR, marketing, and digital supply chains, giving businesses access to high-level skills.

Practical problem-solving

Postgraduate research-led study means they can apply evidence-based solutions to real business issues and projects.

Highly motivated talent

Many postgraduates actively seek roles in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering flexibility, faster progression, and hands-on contribution.

Access to global markets

International postgraduate students can provide valuable insights into overseas markets, supporting export and growth strategies.

Strong fit for SMEs

Postgraduates are well-suited to SMEs, particularly where a business needs specialist skills for a specific project or a time-limited piece of work.

Staff development

Supporting existing employees through postgraduate study can enhance skills, boost retention, and strengthen workforce capability.

How to recruit postgraduate students

Internships and placements

Short, project-based placements or internships allow businesses to address specific challenges while assessing talent.

See apprenticeships, internships and education.

Graduate visa route

International graduates can stay and work in the UK for up to two years (longer for PhD graduates), making it easier to recruit global talent.

See graduate visa.

Partner with universities

Universities can support businesses through tailored continuing professional development, upskilling opportunities, recruitment, access to postgraduate talent networks, and collaborative research projects. These partnerships can help address organisational challenges while strengthening links between employers and academic institutions.

Engage directly with postgraduate students

Employer-led events, workshops, and roundtables can be more effective than traditional careers fairs for attracting postgraduate talent.

Practical steps for hiring a postgraduate student

• Define the role clearly – postgraduates are often best matched to a specific project, skill gap, or time-limited business need.
• Use objective selection criteria – base shortlisting on job-related skills, qualifications, and experience to avoid unnecessary barriers.
• Offer a structured onboarding plan – set clear expectations, success measures, and an early check-in schedule so the postgraduate can contribute quickly.
• Give them a defined outcome – a focused brief works well because postgraduate placements are often shorter and more project-led than undergraduate roles.
• Consider flexible recruitment routes – internships, placements, direct engagement with students, and university partnerships can all be effective.
• Support international graduates properly – the Graduate route can make hiring easier, but employers should still check the right to work and plan for longer-term sponsorship if needed.
• Make the offer attractive – postgraduates often value development, meaningful work, and progression, not just salary.
• Retention plan – if the role works well, there may be scope to keep the person on, grow their responsibility, or support them into a longer-term role.

Funding for postgraduate students

You can make postgraduate students who you want to hire aware of the funding available to them. This includes:

Funding of Postgraduate Taught Study

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland may apply for a Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan regardless of where in the UK they study. This includes eligible institutions in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and relevant providers in the Republic of Ireland.

For further details, see funding for postgraduate students.

Funding of Postgraduate Research Study (PhD)

PhDs are not eligible for the Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan; however, the Department for the Economy (DfE) sponsors postgraduate research studentships at Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University via the Postgraduate Research scheme.

For further details, see the DfE Postgraduate Researcher scheme.

Recruiting postgraduates helps Northern Ireland employers stay competitive, innovate faster, and build a skilled, future-ready workforce. By working closely with universities and accessing postgraduate talent, businesses can turn academic insight into measurable results.