Postgraduate diploma

[1] Countries that award postgraduate diplomas include but are not limited to Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Spain, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, India, Israel, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Republic of Panama the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe.

[4] In Bangladesh, both public and private sector institutions offer Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes across various fields.

It is recommended for students wishing to enhance their professional skills as it concentrates on a more practical application in order to enter the labor market.

These programs are mainly targeted to offer professional education and training to the candidates for the better employment opportunity and industry readiness.

Commonly referred to as PgD, the postgraduate diploma (Gaeilge: Dioplóma Iarchéime) has been awarded by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (also known as QQI, Quality Qualifications Ireland, Gaeilge: Dearbhú Cáilíochta agus Cáilíochtaí Éireann),[12] since June 2005 in institutions associated with and accredited by the council.

[14] Most institutions operate under the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) scheme meaning applicants who do not meet the normal academic requirements may be considered based on publications, relevant work or research experience, which will usually involve an assessment centre or interview process.

The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) offers an English-language PgDip in International Election Observation and Electoral Assistance, run in cooperation with many organisations in the field of election monitoring, such as The Carter Center, Electoral Reform International Services (ERIS), International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), National Democratic Institute (NDI), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

It is contrasted with a graduate diploma, where a student studies a new academic subject at degree level, but in a short space of time, such as the Graduate Diploma in Law (also known as the Common Professional Exam), which allows a postgraduate student to study the seven foundation subjects of a three-year undergraduate law degree, in a period of nine months.

Many schools of architecture commonly operate a 1 or 2-year postgraduate diploma course providing ARB part 3 education in this fashion.

A postgraduate diploma is commonly awarded to students who have completed the master's programme and continuing a one-year advanced course similar to the first year of a PhD program.

In Nigeria PGD is used as a required supplement for students seeking to apply for another postgraduate program (e.g. PhD, master's degree etc.)