6 Trending Professional Courses after Graduation – Job Oriented

Which job is best after graduation?

India hosts over 700 universities and more than 35,000 affiliated colleges enrolling more than 20 million students every year. And as each new batch passes the higher secondary exam with stellar results, they struggle with finding the right jobs.

Times have changed drastically – this is no longer the era where a graduate degree is considered special. To rise above your peers and crack the opportunity of their dreams, most students opt for various post-graduation courses, or M.Phil, or Ph.D. Many even go for short-term diploma or online certifications courses.

Learners receive an average Salary hike of 58% with the highest being up to 400%.

Online certifications and short-term diploma courses have completely revolutionized the field of learning. These after graduation courses offer flexibility by allowing people to develop new skills or improve existing ones without disrupting their work or personal lives. This accessible and convenient approach has made education available to more people. Recent statistics back the growing popularity of professional certifications projecting the number of individuals pursuing these to grow to 9.8 million users by 2027.

Choosing to pursue further education or specialized certifications has become a smart move. It helps individuals navigate today’s tough job market by not just adding qualifications but by gaining deep knowledge, refining skills, and showing a commitment to ongoing learning and career advancement.

These best courses after graduation allow you to pivot your degree if you took up an under-graduate course out of peer pressure, or lack of clarity. They allow a chance to start over, or to deep-dive further into your preferred field. It also helps gain preference with recruiters and gives you access to better opportunities and salaries.

Most professional courses also incorporate a host of industry-related assignments and introduce students to real-world scenarios, they teach how to handle such situations using professional tactics.

A professional course or certification provides opportunities to dive deeper into a field of interest. Such courses perfectly blend skills, technical knowledge, and industry expertise. Therefore, they prepare students for pursuing a preferred career after graduation course.

Now that you are aware of the benefits of professional courses let’s take a look at (arguably) some of the most trending professional courses after graduation!

Best Professional Courses After Graduation:

• PMP Certification
• PGDM or M.Sc. in Business Analytics
• Master’s in Data Science
• Machine Learning
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Certification in Digital Marketing
   

1. PMP Certification

PMP stands for Project Management Professional and PMP certification is one of the most distinguished professional certificates across the world for Project Management. While PMP certification is not the sole determinant of experience or capabilities for Project Management professionals, it certainly denotes a mark of competence and knowledge of the field. The certification course introduces students with various project management tools and techniques while also offering hands-on project training. During the course, you not only learn how to manage project timelines, how to best use the project resources, and how to deliver projects within a set budget.

Having a PMP certification could help you land well-paying job roles in Manufacturing, Finance, IT, Healthcare, and any other industry requiring project management roles.

This after graduation course is perfect for those candidates willing to obtain a professional master’s degree in a limited duration. It features a rigorous curriculum and chiefly focuses on Management Studies. It assists working professionals in diving deeper into this enormous area of study. Its curriculum involves interactive learning and an array of workshops. It imparts you with specialized knowledge about business and management.

Average Project Management Professional Salary

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Average Project Management Professional Salary based on Location:

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Some of the best institutions offering this course in India:

• Project Management Institute (PMI)

PMI is a globally recognized organization offering various certifications related to project management courses after graduation. The most well-known certification is the PMP certification, which is highly esteemed in project management. PMP certification demonstrates a professional’s knowledge, experience, and competence in managing projects. 

• ISEL Global (Institute for Skill Enhancement &Learning)

ISEL Global focuses on providing professional certification programs in areas like project management, supply chain management, digital marketing, and more. They offer after-graduation courses like Agile & Scrum Master, Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), and other specialized certifications designed to enhance specific skills in various industries.

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

L&T IPM is known for its programs in project management. They offer courses aimed at developing skills required for effective project planning, execution, and management. L&T IPM provides a comprehensive curriculum covering various aspects of project management methodologies, tools, and techniques. It’s affiliated with Larsen & Toubro Limited, a leading engineering and construction conglomerate.

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

SPJIMR is a renowned business school offering various management programs. While it offers a range of management courses, it also provides executive education programs in project management, leadership, and strategic management. These job-oriented courses after graduation are designed for working professionals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge in specific domains.

Course Duration:

Most of the courses are distance/online, so the duration is up to you. However, there are some institutes that offer structured, hourly-moduled courses:

• Product Management Certification Program (UpGrad) – 160+ hours of learning and training.
• Project Management Professional Training Course (ExcelR) – 35 hours of training.

Eligibility Criteria:

Usually, most of the PMP courses require a Bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience in project management.

Fees:

Depending on the institution you choose, your PMP course fee will range anywhere between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000.

Job Opportunities:

A PMP certification adds further credibility to your experience and knowledge, thereby making you fit for senior level roles in Project Management. You can bag promising job roles like Product Designers, Product Analyst, Product Manager, Associate Program Manager, and Product Owners and Heads.

2. PGDM or M.Sc. in Business Analytics

Business Analytics, in essence, is a process that combines data analytics and business intelligence on a large set of data, to gather insights that aid in making future business strategies and plans.

This is a branch of management and science that uses exploration as a tool to analyse present data and gather insights for planning and execution of future business goals and strategies. Business Analytics is aimed at optimizing processes, increasing revenue by saving on operational costs, improving customer relations, and predicting future trends – thereby enabling accurate strategic business plans.

Masters in Business Analytics offers training and knowledge to develop skills for making business plans and strategies of the future based on accurate analysis of the available data.

It imparts knowledge of management and business concepts. It trains individuals to explore job prospects at the senior levels of Management. Moreover, it provides swift career advancement opportunities for executive or managerial roles. Some of the well-known PGDM after graduation courses are listed below:

• PGDM in Finance
• PGDM in International Business
• PGDM in Operations Management
• PGDM in Business Analytics
• PGDM in Marketing  
• PGDM in Retail Management

Average Business Analytics Salary

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Average Business Analytics Salary based on Locations:

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Some of the best institutions offering this course in India:

• IIM Calcutta, ISI Kolkata, and IIT Kharagpur

These famous institutions offer some of the best after degree courses like PGDBA (Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics). The courses teach how to use data to make smart business decisions. Students study various ways, like using statistics and computer techniques to analyze data for business purposes. IIM Calcutta, ISI Kolkata, and IIT Kharagpur focus on a joint program, PGDBA, offering a holistic view of business analytics.

• Praxis Business School

Praxis Business School specializes in data science coaching after graduation. Their Post Graduate Program in Data Science (PGPDS) is designed to cover a wide spectrum of topics within data analytics, machine learning, and big data technologies. The curriculum aims to impart both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for data-driven decision-making in the business world.

• Manipal ProLearn

Manipal ProLearn collaborates with industry experts to offer a variety of certifications and professional courses after graduation in India. These programs encompass diverse fields such as business analytics, data science, digital marketing, and more. The focus is on delivering practical knowledge and hands-on experience in specific domains, aligning closely with industry requirements.

• INSOFE

INSOFE is globally recognized for its applied engineering education and research. They offer the best courses after graduation, primarily revolving around big data analytics, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI). The courses are structured to provide students with the specialized skills and expertise necessary to excel in analytics and related fields, catering to the demands of the industry.

Course Duration: 1-3 months

Eligibility Criteria: STEM background is preferred, and if pursuing from University, a graduate degree is required.

Fees:

Depending on the college you opt for, the total fees can range somewhere between 1,20,000, to 8,00,000 per course.

Job Opportunities:

A business analyst’s primary role is to mend the gap between IT and management of any organization, by using analytics tools. The fact that organizations today have heaps of data with them makes Business Analytics an increasingly lucrative career path. There are many firms and consultancies that hire freshers for profiles like assistant business analysts, etc., that can give the right push to your career in analytics!

3. Master’s in Data Science

Masters in Data Science is one of the best courses after graduation. Data science has deservedly earned its nickname as the sexiest job of the 21st century because, in a world where 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are produced every day, a professional who can organize this data to provide business solutions is indeed the hero!

A McKinsey Global Institute study agrees. It states that by 2018, the world will face a shortage of about 190,000 professionals with deep analytical skills. With the Big Data wave showing no signs of slowing down, there’s a rush among global companies to hire Data Scientists to tame their business-critical Big Data.

Data Science is one of the trendiest fields in the present job market because data eclipsing oil has turned out to be the most valuable resource in the world. This career field helps you to understand human preferences through data. Consequently, it leads to the development of enhanced user-based technologies. Completing one of the after graduation courses, for example, a master’s in Data Science or Machine Learning, can help you to explore various roles in senior executive positions.

Many professionals and students are inclining toward this field because of the massive career scope and the great demand for expert and professional data scientists globally. You can become a Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Database Architect, Data Engineer, etc. after completing a relevant course.

Students can develop design ability and abstract thinking. These skills help them to recognize and understand the concepts of data science theories and practice through fundamental principles of statistics, mathematics, computer science, and other related domains.

Completing a relevant 1 year course after graduation helps the students to use various programming tools for problem-solving and derive solutions for the same depending on global needs and trends. They can use research-centric knowledge to analyse and understand data, design experiments, and blend the information to offer feasible conclusions.

Average Data Scientist Salary

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Average Data Scientist Salary based on Locations:

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Some of the best institutions offering this course in India:

• IIM Calcutta + ISI Kolkata + IIT Kharagpur: They offer a 2-years full-time course with 18 months of industry training and 6 months internship.Often deemed the best course after graduation, this program is designed to provide a deep understanding of analytics and practical experience through extended industry exposure. It’s structured to equip students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills for analyzing data effectively and deriving meaningful insights for decision-making.
• Praxis: Praxis, Gurgaon, offers a 1-year full-time course with 9-months training and 3-months internship.This is one of the best 1 year courses after graduation that focuses on equipping students with data analysis and machine learning skills for real-world applications. This course prepares students to analyze data effectively, develop predictive models, and extract valuable insights that can be directly applied to solve real-world problems across diverse industries.
• IIM Bangalore: This is a 6 months course after graduation held at the Bangalore campus. It is a course meant for people with 4+ years of experience. Regarded as one of the best courses after graduation for high salary jobs, it caters to experienced professionals seeking to sharpen their skills in data science and machine learning. This course offers a focused and advanced curriculum to equip participants with the specialized knowledge required to tackle complex data-related challenges in their respective domains.

Eligibility Criteria: Since it’s a Master’s course, the necessary requirement is to have a Bachelor’s degree.

Fees:

Depending on the institute and comprehensive of the curriculum, as well as the training method (LMS or classroom), the course can cost anywhere from INR 50,000 to INR 600,000.

Job Opportunities:

As of May 2019,  the median salary for a Data Scientist role is Rs. 622,162 according to Payscale.com. According to a report, the total number of analytics and data science job positions available are 97,000. Graduates can find roles as data scientists, architects, administrators, analysts or even Business Intelligence Managers in any organization that deals with large volumes of data.

4. Machine Learning 

Machine learning is a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building. It is a branch of artificial intelligence based on the idea that systems can learn from data, identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention.

Even though the term machine learning has been under the spotlight only recently, the concept of machine learning has existed since a long time, the earliest example of it being Alan Turing’s Enigma machine that he developed during World War II. Today, machine learning is almost everywhere around us, right from the ordinary things in our lives to the more complicated calculations involving Big Data. For instance, Google’s self-driving car and the personalized recommendations on sites such as Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify, are all outcomes of Machine Learning.

This 12-month diploma course covers fundamental Data Science and ML topics into eight modules, including Data Science Tool Kit, Statistics and Exploratory Data Analytics, Machine Learning – I, Machine Learning – II, Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, and Deployment & Capstone Projects.

Also, learners get to complete case studies, live projects, and various Data Science assignments using tools like Python, Keras, TensorFlow, Scikit-Learn, MySQL, NLTK, and AWS. The course promises 360-degree career support by offering dedicated mentorship from industry experts, peer-to-peer networking, hackathons, etc.

You can pursue a 1 year course after graduation or any other suitable course in the Machine learning domain. Most of these courses train candidates in the following key aspects:

• Compare various machine learning algorithms by developing recommender systems in Python. 
• Create a final project through machine learning methods and assess your peers’ projects.  
• Forecast course ratings by building regression and classification models and training a neural network.
• Design recommendation systems by implementing your knowledge of PCA, KNN, and non-negative matrix collaborative filtering. 

The background knowledge in linear algebra, statistics, and Python programming is beneficial for pursuing a professional course in machine learning. These courses are extremely suitable for those individuals who are interested in leveraging data and possess computer skills. Many professional courses on machine learning offer a powerful theoretical background and practical exposure (through demos and labs). So, the candidates can easily understand complex topics.

A suitable 1 year diploma courses after graduation can provide foundational knowledge on various machine learning algorithms and methods like classification, regression, supervised, unsupervised learning, NLP, etc. The professionals can build mathematical models based on the patterns to implement the predictive Machine Learning applications, after completing one of these courses.

Average Machine Learning Engineer Salary

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Average Machine Learning Engineer Salary based on Locations:

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You can also check out Advanced Certificate Programme in Machine Learning from IIT Delhi. IIT Delhi is one of the most prestigious institutions in India. With more the 500+ In-house faculty members which are the best in the subject matters.

5. Chartered Financial Analyst

For those students who lean towards finance over STEM, Chartered Financial Analyst is a very credible course to pursue. While Chartered Accounting was the course of choice for commerce students earlier, CFA has arisen to become a top choice because of its global and comprehensive curriculum and opens up a variety of very lucrative job opportunities in investment banking, research analysis, portfolio management, or financial strategy.

The program focuses in-depth on portfolio management, financial modeling, and other investment-related areas.

This program is split into 3 levels:

Level I –

This level focuses on the introduction to equity, fixed income, alternatives, etc. Other than that, it also gives you an insight into detailed learning of tools like Financial reporting and analysis, Economics, Quants, etc.

It covers a broad spectrum of topics, including equity, fixed-income securities, alternative investments, and more. Students gain insights into the basics of these investment instruments.

Level II –

This level dives higher into the valuation of assets like equity, fixed income, derivatives, and financial statement analysis.

This level emphasizes the application of analytical techniques to value these assets accurately. Students learn more sophisticated methods of evaluating investments and understand how to interpret financial statements in greater detail compared to Level I.

Level III –

Level III of CFA focuses on perspective changes into Portfolio Management of the assets and Wealth Planning.

It provides a broader perspective on managing different types of assets within a portfolio, considering risk management, asset allocation strategies, and wealth planning for individual and institutional clients. It emphasizes the practical implementation of investment strategies and decision-making in real-world scenarios.

CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is one of the toughest exams in the world. It is a globally recognized credential and is one of the highly demanding professions among finance and investment graduates. In addition to knowing the relevant CFA after degree courses, you must also be familiar with various qualifying exams and job opportunities.

Being a global certification, this course helps students to practice financial services and management globally. It can help you embark on job roles like Investment Manager, Chartered Financial Analyst, Portfolio Manager, etc. The demand for CFA professionals is rising considering the aspects like stock market growth, financial literacy, and booming investors.

Generally, CFA courses are ideal for investors, entrepreneurs, financial managers, financial consultants, etc.  Candidates fascinated by the investment sector and financial services can consider pursuing one of the 1 year courses after graduation or other suitable CFA courses. There is no fixed time to pursue this course. Candidates have the flexibility and can take up one of the suitable degree courses or 1 year diploma courses after graduation.

Eligibility Criteria:

The candidate must hold an international passport, and one of the following:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree,
• Be in the final year of your bachelor’s degree program ( any degree program),
• Have four years of qualified, professional work experience,
• Have a combination of work and college experience that totals at least four years

Clearing all the three levels of the exam is the main requirement for earning the CFA® charter.

Fees:

For the Level I exam, the candidate will have to pay one-time program enrollment fees of USD 450 apart from the Registration fees. The Registration fees for all the levels are as follows:

Job Opportunities:

As a CFA, you can land high-paying jobs in investment firms both nationally and globally. The CFA charter’s industry recognition signifies expertise in investment management, opening doors to roles in portfolio management, investment analysis, risk management, and financial advising. CFAs are sought after by various financial institutions, granting access to potentially high-paying positions due to their specialized skills in handling investments.

Additionally, the global recognition of the CFA designation allows professionals to explore job markets worldwide, potentially securing lucrative compensation packages and opportunities for career advancement within the finance industry.

Average Chartered Financial Analyst Salary:

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Also Read: Short Term Job Oriented Courses

6. Certification in Digital Marketing

With everything moving online, the days of using only billboards and flyers as marketing tools are long gone. Businesses are now looking to increase and maintain brand awareness using digital mediums. According to surveys, the Digital Marketing Industry contributes a lot to the employment sector. The year 2017 saw more than 1.5 lakh Digital Marketing related jobs, and the figure escalated to more than 2.8 lakhs in 2018. It is also expected that by 2021, most of the brands will have (or look to build) a solid online presence, thereby strengthening the claim that Digital Market is indeed a booming field.

A course Digital Marketing, whether a short-term certification program or a full-time degree, will acquaint you with everything essential around driving various channels 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.

A digital marketing certification is presented to individuals after completing the stated requisites of an online digital marketing course. You can pursue one of the reliable 1 year courses after graduation in digital marketing. It helps you to verify our skills and education in the context of digital marketing strategies and techniques.

Certified digital marketers can use the obtained certification to differentiate themselves from other digital marketers. So, it boosts their chances of getting recruited.

Remember that a digital marketing certificate is different from a digital marketing degree. You can pursue one of the after degree courses like a Master’s in digital marketing by attending a regular university program.

Topmost Digital Marketing Certifications in 2022:

Here is the list of the best digital marketing certificates to become certified in digital marketing.

• Google Digital Marketing Certification –Offered by Google, this certification is regarded as one of the top IT courses after graduation. It covers various aspects of digital marketing, including search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), social media, mobile marketing, analytics, and more. It consists of multiple modules with assessments for each.
• Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy Program –Provided by Harvard, this post graduation course offers an in-depth understanding of digital marketing strategies, consumer behavior, analytics, and emerging trends. It’s designed to equip participants with strategic thinking and planning skills.
• Reliablesoft Digital Marketing Certification –Reliablesoft’s certification program is one of the best certification courses. It covers a wide range of digital marketing topics, including SEO, content marketing, social media, PPC advertising, and email marketing. It’s a comprehensive course suitable for beginners and intermediate marketers.
• DMI Digital Marketing Pro Certificate –Offered by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), this post graduation course covers various areas of digital marketing, focusing on strategy, planning, execution, and optimization across different digital channels.
• Duke Digital Media and Marketing Certificate –Duke University’s program provides insights into digital marketing strategies, social media marketing, content marketing, and analytics. It’s designed for professionals seeking to enhance their marketing skills.
• Coursera Digital Marketing Specialization –Coursera offers a specialization covering various digital marketing topics. It includes courses on SEO, social media marketing, branding, marketing analytics, and more, offered by multiple universities and institutions.
• Simplilearn Digital Marketing Specialist Certificate –Simplilearn’s certification program provides a comprehensive understanding of digital marketing techniques, including SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, content marketing, and analytics.
• LinkedIn Digital Marketing Certificate –LinkedIn offers courses covering different areas of digital marketing, providing insights into social media marketing, advertising, content strategy, and data analytics.
• OMCP Digital Marketing Certification –The Online Marketing Certified Professional (OMCP) certification validates expertise in online marketing concepts, including SEO, content marketing, social media, and more.
• Facebook Blueprint Certifications –Facebook Blueprint offers various IT courses after graduation. They focus on advertising, including Facebook and Instagram advertising, targeting, and analytics.
• PCM Digital Marketing Certification –PCM’s digital marketing certification covers essential digital marketing concepts, including SEO, social media marketing, PPC advertising, and analytics.
• YouTube Certification –YouTube offers certifications focusing on content creation, channel growth strategies, audience development, and monetization on the YouTube platform.
• Google Ads Marketing Certification –This certification by Google can help you gain a detailed understanding of Google Ads, including search, display, video, shopping ads, and measurement.
• Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce Certificate –If you are looking for reliable courses after graduation that cover various aspects of digital marketing and e-commerce, then Google’s certificate program is the best choice. It can help provide insights into strategies for online business growth.
• Google Analytics Certification –Offered by Google, this certification is regarded as one of the top after-graduation courses to choose from. It aims to enable students to gain proficiency in using Google Analytics to analyze website traffic, track user behavior, and make data-driven decisions.

Notable courses, and the institutes offering them:

• Certified Digital Marketing Master (CDMM) by Digital Vaidya: This is a 6-months long course which comes at a price of INR 49,900 + 18% GST and offers plenty of study material and resources.
• Executive Program in Digital and Social Media Marketing by IIM Calcutta: This is a 6-months part-time course conducted by IIM Calcutta. If you’ve completed your Bachelor’s, you’re eligible to apply for the program.
• Executive Development Program in Digital Marketing by XLRI Jamshedpur: This program is 4-months long and is conducted online by XLRI Jamshedpur. The structure of this course is such that anybody who’s interested in learning the nuances of Digital Marketing can benefit from it – whether an executive, or a mid-level employee, or even an entrepreneur.
• Master’s in Digital Marketing by Delhi School of Internet Marketing: This institute is hailed as one of the leading Internet Marketing training providers for both professionals and students. This is a 2-year long classroom course that covers all nuts and bolts of digital marketing.

Course duration:

As mentioned earlier, the course duration depends on the type of program you opt for. With Digital Marketing, you have the flexibility to opt for either a 4-months long certification course or a 2-years long full-fledged degree.

Eligibility Criteria:

Most of the certification courses don’t have strict eligibility criteria, but some might require you to have a Bachelor’s degree.

Job Opportunity:

Digital Marketing is surely one such field that has gained immense popularity in the last decade or so and isn’t looking to stop anytime soon. According to Payscale, the starting salary of a Digital Marketing Manager is Rs. 5 LPA and above, depending on the skillset. Other than that, a certification in Digital Marketing opens avenues to job profiles like:

• Market research analyst,
• Content marketer/manager,
• Digital marketing consultant,
• SEO Manager,
• PPC Search Manager,
• Email marketer, and more.

Average Digital Marketing Manager Salary

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Average Digital Marketing Manager Salary based on Locations:

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Conclusion

So, there – we have informed you about the top six trending professional courses that you can take up after your graduation. While choices are many, it is essential to first have a clear understanding of your innate interests, passion, and strengths before choosing the next step after graduation. Once you figure this out, everything else will become way easier.

Explore diverse professional courses after graduation in arts and commerce, enhancing your career prospects and specialized skills. Unlock opportunities in fields like management, finance, and creative industries with targeted advanced studies.

Selecting the right professional after degree course is crucial for shaping your career path. Before deciding, it’s crucial to know your interests, passions, and strengths. This self-awareness guides you toward courses aligned with what you love and excel in. Knowing yourself helps you choose wisely, ensuring your course matches your aspirations, leading to greater satisfaction and success.