Should I study a masters degree?
Discover what makes a postgraduate qualification worth doing — whether you are looking for promotion, to change career or want to pursue your passion.
Is a masters degree worth doing?
There are many reasons for doing a masters or other postgraduate degree — to give your career a boost, to change job roles, to pursue a passion, or to prepare you for your PhD or doctoral research. Whatever your reason, it helps to understand what’s involved.
Postgraduate courses differ from undergraduate degrees — you’ll work more independently, and explore your subject in greater depth. Most courses will last at least a year full-time, and include teaching alongside self-directed study.
There are several types of postgraduate qualifications, including:
- a masters degree
- postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)
- graduate diploma in law (GDL)
For some professions, such as teaching or law, you might need a particular postgraduate qualification to get a job. In other sectors, a masters degree can improve your career prospects and enhance your professional skills.
You may also need a specific masters or equivalent qualification to do a PhD or other Research degree.
Loans are available for postgraduate study, as are some university and professional scholarships. If you want to do a postgraduate qualification, we’ve got helpful advice on how to fund your studies.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE COURSES AND RESEARCH DEGREES?
Postgraduate taught courses will normally involve attending classes and completing modules, similar to undergraduate degrees. They are assessed through a combination of coursework, exams and in some cases a written dissertation. Your award will be a masters degree, postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate.
A research degree is different. You’ll need to do an original piece of academic research and will normally have to produce a written thesis, detailing your work. It’s likely to take several years and involve much more independent work. It will normally lead to a masters by research, MPhil or PhD. If you get your PhD, you can call yourself a doctor, so research degrees are sometimes called doctoral degrees.
