There is considered the issue of succession of educational programmes of master’s and postgraduate study. There are analyzed the results of the ascertaining stage of the experiment that reflects the notions of postgraduate students and teachers about the succession of educational programmes of master’s and postgraduate study, as well as the peculiarities of the resources of the scientific and educational environment in development of postgraduate students’ research competence.

There is given the interpretation of professional work of a higher school teacher; described the peculiarities of his professional work from the positions of the developed professional competence; determined the group of tasks of professional work in accordance with understanding of professional competence; substantiated the programmes of further training of teaching staff on the basis of the competence approach.