The Annual NUI Galway Graduate Studies Fair takes place from 1.30-5pm on Monday, 4 February, 2008 at Áras na Mac Léinn. The event will showcase 429 full-time and part-time postgraduate programmes at NUI Galway, including taught and research masters, and doctoral research options. Almost 3,500 postgraduate students currently attend NUI Galway.

At the Graduate Studies Fair, 70 stands will provide information about opportunities at NUI Galway, with academic staff and current students on hand to answer questions about specific courses. A free seminar at 2.15pm will address 'Research & Funding Opportunities' while a presentation at 3.15pm will cover 'Careers and Making a Postgraduate Application'. Supported by Bank of Ireland, the Fair will also feature stands from other institutions across the country.

According to John Hannon, Head of NUI Galway's Career Development Centre, "A postgraduate qualification can provide a real career boost. Whether you are a recent graduate or whether you secured your primary degree some years ago, there is a growing demand for people with postgraduate or 'fourth' level qualifications. More and more students now go straight onto postgraduate study in order to maximize their career prospects and earnings".

Working with the 'fourth-level' theme, NUI Galway's graduate education opportunities are now under the banner go4th™. The University offers world-class fourth level education, developing programmes based on its traditional academic strengths of Arts, Social Sciences, Celtic Studies; Commerce, Medicine, Nursing, Health Science, Law, Engineering, Informatics and Science. These areas have been augmented with innovative Research Centres in areas as diverse as Biomedical Engineering, International Human Rights, Digital Media & Film Studies, and Regenerative Medicine.

An online prospectus of all that is on offer at NUI Galway is available at www.go4th.ie. The postgraduate application process is also online, through PAC (Postgraduate Applications Centre www.pac.ie). "Most of our postgraduate applications for both taught and research programmes are now made online," says Valerie Leahy, Postgraduate Admissions Officer at NUI Galway, "the system is very easy to use and allows for quick turnaround and decision times".

For further information on the Graduate Studies Fair visit www.go4th.ie/gsf

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