Unveiling the Master's Degree: A Comprehensive Guide to Postgraduate Qualification

A master’s degree is an academic qualification granted at the postgraduate level to individuals who have successfully undergone study demonstrating a high level of expertise in a specific field of study or area of professional practice. A master’s degree can be a viable option for those who want to further their knowledge of a particular subject, explore other areas of interest after having completed an undergraduate degree, or improve their career prospects. But, what is a master’s degree, and is it the right choice for you? This article delves into the intricacies of master's degrees, exploring their nature, types, benefits, and considerations for prospective students.

Defining a Master's Degree

A master's degree[note 1] (from Latin magister) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.[1] A master's is focused on advancing your knowledge and skills in a subject area. A master's degree is a postgraduate academic degree that builds on what you learned during your bachelor’s program. It focuses on a specific subject or career field and helps you gain deeper expertise, advanced skills, and a stronger professional edge. A master’s is a postgraduate degree that shows a student completed advanced coursework and material based on the student’s chosen area of study. Some students pursue a master’s degree after their bachelor’s to increase their knowledge, gain necessary career skills, and improve their salary. You may also need to earn one if you’re going for a doctorate. These programs vary widely-some emphasize research and theory, while others focus on hands-on learning for careers like teaching, business, or public health.

A master's degree normally requires previous study at the bachelor's level, either as a separate degree or as part of an integrated course. Typically, graduates need to complete a thesis at the end of the program to earn their master’s degree.

Historical Context

The master's degree dates back to the origin of European universities, with a Papal bull of 1233 decreeing that anyone admitted to the mastership in the University of Toulouse should be allowed to teach freely in any other university. The original meaning of the master's degree was thus that someone who had been admitted to the rank (degree) of master (i.e. teacher) in one university should be admitted to the same rank in other universities. This gradually became formalised as the licentia docendī (licence to teach). From the late Middle Ages until the 19th century, the pattern of degrees was therefore to have a bachelor's and master's degree in the lower faculties and to have bachelor's and doctorates in the higher faculties.

Evolution of the Master's Degree

The 19th century saw a great expansion in the variety of master's degrees offered. At the start of the century, the only master's degree was the MA, and this was normally awarded without any further study or examination. The 19th century saw a great expansion in the variety of master's degrees offered. At the start of the century, the only master's degree was the MA, and this was normally awarded without any further study or examination. In Scotland, Edinburgh maintained separate BA and MA degrees until the mid-19th century,[11] although there were major doubts as to the quality of the Scottish degrees of this period. In 1832 Lord Brougham, the Lord Chancellor and an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh, told the House of Lords that "In England the Universities conferred degrees after a considerable period of residence, after much labour performed, and if they were not in all respects so rigorous as the statutes of the Universities required, nevertheless it could not be said, that Masters of Arts were created at Oxford and Cambridge as they were in Scotland, without any residence, or without some kind of examination.

Probably the most important master's degree introduced in the 19th century was the Master of Science (MS in the US, MSc in the UK). At the University of Michigan this was introduced in two forms in 1858: "in course", first awarded in 1859, and "on examination", first awarded in 1862. The "in course" MS was last awarded in 1876.[19] In Britain, however, the degree took a while longer to arrive. When London introduced its Faculty of Sciences in 1858, the university was granted a new charter giving it the power "to confer the several Degrees of Bachelor, Master, and Doctor, in Arts, Laws, Science, Medicine, Music",[20] but the degrees it awarded in science were the Bachelor of Science and the Doctor of Science.[21] The same two degrees, again omitting the master's, were awarded at Edinburgh, despite the MA being the standard undergraduate degree for Arts in Scotland.[22] In 1862, a royal commission suggested that Durham should award master's degrees in theology and science (with the suggested abbreviations MT and MS, contrary to later British practice of using MTh or MTheol and MSc for these degrees),[23] but its recommendations were not enacted. At the start of the 20th century, there were four different sorts of master's degree in the UK: the Scottish MA, granted as a first degree; the Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin), granted to all BA graduates a certain period after their first degree without further study; master's degrees that could be gained either by further study or by gaining an honours degree (which, at the time in the UK involved further study beyond the ordinary degree, as it still does in Scotland and some Commonwealth countries); and master's degrees that could only be obtained by further study (including all London master's degrees). In 1903, the London Daily News criticised the practice of Oxford and Cambridge, calling their MAs "the most stupendous of academic frauds" and "bogus degrees".[30] Ensuing correspondence pointed out that "A Scotch M.A., at the most, is only the equivalent of an English B.A." and called for common standards for degrees, while defenders of the ancient universities said that "the Cambridge M.A.

In 1900, Dartmouth College introduced the Master of Commercial Science (MCS), first awarded in 1902. This was the first master's degree in business, the forerunner of the modern MBA.[33] The idea quickly crossed the Atlantic, with Manchester establishing a Faculty of Commerce, awarding Bachelor and Master of Commerce degrees, in 1903.[34] Over the first half of the century the automatic master's degrees for honours graduates vanished as honours degrees became the standard undergraduate qualification in the UK. In the 1960s, new Scottish universities (except for Dundee, which inherited the undergraduate MA from St Andrews) reintroduced the BA as their undergraduate degree in arts, restoring the MA to its position as a postgraduate qualification. Oxford and Cambridge retained their MAs, but renamed many of their postgraduate bachelor's degrees in the higher faculties as master's degrees, e.g.

In 1983, the Engineering Council issued a "'Statement on enhanced and extended undergraduate engineering degree courses", proposing the establishment of a four-year first degree (Master of Engineering).[37][38] These were up and running by the mid-1980s and were followed in the early 1990s by the MPhys for physicists and since then integrated master's degrees in other sciences such as MChem, MMath, and MGeol, and in some institutions general or specific MSci (Master in Science) and MArts (Master in Arts) degrees. The QAA released the first "framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland" in January 2001. This specified learning outcomes for M-level (master's) degrees and advised that the title "Master" should only be used for qualifications that met those learning outcomes in full. It addressed many of the Dearing Report's concerns, specifying that shorter courses at H-level (honours), e.g. conversion courses, should be styled Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate rather than as master's degrees, but confirmed that the extended undergraduate degrees were master's degrees, saying that "Some Masters degrees in science and engineering are awarded after extended undergraduate programmes that last, typically, a year longer than Honours degree programmes". It also addressed the Oxbridge MA issue, noting that "the MAs granted by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge are not academic qualifications".[43] The first "framework for qualifications of Higher Education Institutes in Scotland", also published in January 2001, used the same qualifications descriptors, adding in credit values that specified that a stand-alone master should be 180 credits and a "Masters (following an integrated programme from undergraduate to Masters level study)" should be 600 credits with a minimum of 120 at M-level. It was specified that the title "Master" should only be used for qualifications that met the learning outcomes and credit definitions, although it was noted that "A small number of universities in Scotland have a long tradition of labelling certain first degrees as 'MA'. The Bologna declaration in 1999 started the Bologna Process, leading to the creation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This established a three-cycle bachelor's-master's-doctorate classification of degrees, leading to the adoption of master's degrees across the continent, often replacing older long-cycle qualifications such as the Magister (arts), Diplom (sciences) and state registration (professional) awards in Germany.[45] As the process continued, descriptors were introduced for all three levels in 2004, and ECTS credit guidelines were developed.

Types of Master's Degrees

Master's degrees typically take one to three years to complete, through either part-time or full-time study. The specific duration varies depending on the subject, the country in which you study and the type of master’s degree you choose. Broadly speaking, there are two main types of master’s degrees: taught master’s degrees and research master’s degrees. There are also master’s programs aimed at working professionals (sometimes called executive master’s degrees), and master’s programs that follow directly on from an undergraduate degree (integrated master’s programs).

Taught Master's Degrees

Taught master’s degrees (also called course-based master’s degrees) are much more structured, with students following a program of lectures, seminars and supervisions, as well as choosing their own research project to explore.

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Research Master's Degrees

Research master's degrees are primarily research based, although may contain taught elements, particularly on research methods. Examples are the MLitt (usually, but not always a research degree), the Master's by Research, and the MPhil.

Specialized or Advanced Study Master's Degrees

Specialised or advanced study master's degrees are primarily taught degrees, although commonly at least a third of the course is devoted to a research project assessed by dissertation.

Professional or Practice Master's Degrees

Professional or practice master's degrees (see also professional degree) are designed to prepare students for a particular professional career and are primarily taught, although they may include work placements and independent study projects. Some may require professional experience for entry. Examples include MBA, MDiv, LLM and MSW as well as some integrated master's degrees.

Other Classifications

The United States Department of Education classifies master's degrees as research or professional. Research master's degrees in the US (e.g., MA/AM or MS) require the completion of taught courses and examinations in a major and one or more minor subjects, as well as (normally) a research thesis.

The Australian Qualifications Framework classifies master's degrees as research, coursework or extended. Research master's degrees typically take one to two years, and at least two-thirds of their content consists of research, research training and independent study.[61] Coursework master's degrees typically also last one to two years, and consist mainly of structured learning with some independent research and project work or practice-related learning.

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In Ireland, master's degrees may be either Taught or Research. There is a range of pathways to the degree with entry based on evidence of a capacity to undertake higher level studies in a proposed field. A dissertation may or may not be required depending on the program.

Specific Degree Titles

Master's degrees are commonly titled using the form 'Master of …', where either a faculty (typically Arts or Science) or a field (Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Business Administration, etc.) is specified. The title of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) indicates (in the same manner as Doctor of Philosophy) an extended degree with a large research component.[49] Other generically named master's programs include the Master of Studies (MSt)/Master of Advanced Study (MASt)/Master of Advanced Studies (M.A.S.), and Professional Master's (MProf).

The form "Master in …" is also sometimes used, particularly where a faculty title is used for an integrated master's degree in addition to its use in a traditional postgraduate master's degree, e.g. Master in Science (MSci) and Master in Arts (MArts). This form is also sometimes used with other integrated master's degrees[50] and occasionally for postgraduate master's degrees (e.g. Master's in Accounting).[51] Some universities use Latin degree names; because of the flexibility of syntax in Latin, the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees may be known in these institutions as Magister artium and Magister scientiæ or reversed from the English order to Artium magister and Scientiæ magister. Examples of the reversed usage include Harvard University and the University of Chicago, leading to the abbreviations AM and SM for these degrees.

Common Master's Degrees

Master of Science (MSc): MSc’s are for STEM topics, such as Computer Science, Data Science, Biology, Engineering, Economics, and Mathematics.
Master of Arts (MA/AM):
Master of Business Administration (MBA): These degrees prepare students for a career in business.
Master of Education (MEd): Some states require instructors to hold an MEd in order to teach.

Duration and Structure of Master's Programs

Most master’s programs take about 1 to 2 years if you’re studying full-time. Online and accelerated programs can be faster. Master's programs in the US and Canada are normally two years (full-time) in length. In the UK, postgraduate master's degrees typically take one to two years full-time or two to four years part-time.[65]

To earn your master’s, you’ll need to complete a set number of credits (often around 30-60), pass required courses, and sometimes write a thesis or complete a capstone project.

Master's degrees may be classified as either "research" or "taught", with taught degrees (those where research makes up less than half of the volume of work) being further subdivided into "specialist or advanced study" or "professional or practice". Taught degrees (of both forms) typically take a full calendar year (180 UK credits, compared to 120 for an academic year), while research degrees are not typically credit rated but may take up to two years to complete. An MPhil normally takes two calendar years (360 credits).

In Australia, master's degrees vary from one year for a "research" or "coursework" master's following on from an Australian honours degree in a related field, with an extra six months if following on straight from an ordinary bachelor's degree and another extra six months if following on from a degree in a different field, to four years for an "extended" master's degree.

In the Overarching Framework of Qualifications for the European Higher Education Area defined as part of the Bologna process, a "second cycle" (i.e. master's degree) programme is typically 90-120 ECTS credits, with a minimum requirement of at least 60 ECTS credits at second-cycle level.[68] The definition of ECTS credits is that "60 ECTS credits are allocated to the learning outcomes and associated workload of a full-time academic year or its equivalent",[69] thus European master's degrees should last for between one calendar year and two academic years, with at least one academic year of study at master's level. Irish master's degrees are one to two years (60-120 ECTS credits) for taught degrees and two years (not credit rated) for taught and research degrees.

Admission Requirements

To apply for a master’s program, you’ll first need to have a bachelor’s degree, usually with an undergraduate major related to the master’s program you’re applying to. However, the subject requirement depends on the focus and school. As with undergraduate schools, graduate programs are looking for standout students - and each program has different requirements. Generally, the better your application, the better your acceptance chances.

Admission to a master's degree normally requires successful completion of study at bachelor's degree level either (for postgraduate degrees) as a stand-alone degree or (for integrated degrees) as part of an integrated scheme of study. In the UK, students will normally need to have a 2:1. Under the Bologna Process, countries in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) are moving to a three-cycle (bachelor's - master's - doctorate) system…

Reasons to Pursue a Master's Degree

Asking yourself this question can help you to formulate your personal statement, a common requirement for most master’s degree applications. A master’s degree can indeed increase your knowledge, personal and professional skills and perhaps even boost your confidence, and consequently your employability.

Subject interest: You gained a passionate interest in your chosen field of study during your bachelor’s degree (or during independent study outside of formal education) and want to further your knowledge in the subject, and/or specialize in a particular area. You may want to pursue in-depth research about the subject, become an academic of the subject or teach it to others.
Career development: You need a master’s degree in order to acquire further knowledge, qualifications or skills in order to pursue a particular career, advance in your present career or even change careers altogether. Make sure to check with professional bodies or employers to ensure your chosen course is properly recognized or accredited before applying.
Employability: You believe an extra qualification can help you stand out from first-degree graduates and impress employers.
Love of academia: You wish to stay in university as long as possible, either because you love university life or are unable to make a decision about your future and want to explore more about your chosen subject before entering the working world. You may stay in academia professionally if you wish, by contributing to research in a university department.
Change of direction:
Professional specialization/networking: You wish to gain a clearer insight into your own industry, or into an industry you wish to enter, and to create invaluable contacts within the industry.
Academic challenge: You have the necessary motivation, determination and tenacity to take on the challenge of intense, continued study concerning a higher level of knowledge. Indeed, there is a steep learning curve between a first-degree (such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree) and a master’s degree. A master’s degree involves an increased workload, a considerably more complex and sophisticated level of work, broader and more independently sourced research, a closer relationship with your course tutor and high professionalism, and excellent time management.
Flexibility of study mode:
Industry requirement: Your chosen professional field puts immense value on master’s degrees. The value of a master’s degree varies by field.
You gain specialized knowledge.
You have higher earning potential.
It’s easier to move to senior positions.
It’s required for some careers.
You have a wider professional network.
You can pursue your PhD.

Cost and Financial Aid

On average, a master’s degree costs $62,820. The total cost depends on the student’s major, school, location, and program length. For example, private graduate schools usually have higher sticker prices than public institutions, but private schools tend to have more financial aid. Graduates should apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Tuition for master’s programs can range from a few thousand dollars to $50,000+ per year, depending on the school, program, and location.

Alternatives to a Master's Degree

Master’s degrees are not the only options for continuing your studies. A postgraduate certificate (PGCert) or a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) both have the same taught module requirements as an equivalent master’s qualification, but omit the research project or require students to take fewer modules.

If, having graduated from a master’s degree, you decide to continue your studies even further, there are several choices. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil) is traditionally the highest student qualification. However, the specific academic level achieved by a PhD student can vary according to the country, institution and even time period. A Professional Doctorate is considered equivalent to a PhD but geared less towards training in academic research and more towards allowing experienced professionals to carry out research relating to their current professional field. The Professional Doctorate often contains a larger taught element. While postgraduate courses such as the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) are only offered full-time and are aimed at recent graduates, most Professional Doctorates are studied part-time. For both PhDs and Professional Doctorates, research is presented as a thesis and examined by an expert in the chosen field. The taught element in Professional Doctorates is also formally assessed.

Master's Degree vs. Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor’s degree programs typically cover foundational classes and general education courses related to a specific field. Master’s degree programs dive deeper into a selected discipline, building upon the knowledge gained during a bachelor’s program.

Master's Degree vs. PhD

A master’s is focused on advancing your knowledge and skills in a subject area. PhDs take longer (often 4-7 years), involve writing a dissertation, and may require teaching.

Is a Master's Degree Right for You?

Whether a master’s degree is right for you depends on your education and career goals. For some career paths, earning a graduate degree is a no-brainer - it’s required or can lead to a much higher salary. A master’s degree can open doors, but it’s not just about the diploma. It depends. If the degree helps you qualify for a higher-paying job or pivot into a new career, it could be a solid investment. Before you commit, do your research. Look at job listings in your field. Talk to people working in roles you want. That said, not everyone needs a master’s. Some fields value hands-on experience more than extra letters after your name.

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