Study a Master's Degree: A Guide to Master's Degrees

What is a Master’s degree?

A Master’s degree is study program after your Bachelor's.

Master's programs usually take 1-2 years to complete.

There are lots of different types of Master degrees: MSc (Master of Science), MA (Master of Arts), MPhil (Master of Philosophy), MEd (Master of Education), LLM (Master of Law), etc.

• The most common titles are MSc and MA. 
• Which type you'll get depends on each school, and how they decide to categorize the degree.

What kind of Master's program should I apply for?

That depends! What are your goals?

• Are you hoping to get a job that requires a specific qualification?
• Are you looking to expand your knowledge in your field?
• Do you want to stay in your study destination after your graduation, or do you want to go back to your home country?

A career in some fields, such as psychology or economics, could benefit from either an MA or an MSc. Other fields, such as engineering, are more specific in what kind of Master's program is more relevant. 

Also think about the kind of classroom instruction you're looking for:

📜 If you prefer a more liberal approach, an MA might be right for you.

🔬 If you would rather have more emphasis on research and theory, an MSc will fit your learning goals!

What is a MSc (Master of Science) degree?

Programs which award the MSc title, also known as a Master of Science, often focus on numbers, calculations and scientific methodologies.

• You'll be engaged in scientific research, but that's not limited to STEM!
• The actual topic of study can vary greatly between programs, ranging from an MSc in Biotechnology and Engineering to International Education and Sustainable Development.

Whichever field you choose, scientific research should be at the top of your list of priorities when choosing to study a Master of Science.

You'll also be well prepped to pursue future PhD studies, as an MSc project can also be seen as one step on the path towards a doctoral program.

What is a MA (Master of Arts) degree?

MA programs, as the name suggests, are more focused on the arts, humanities, and social sciences, as well as philosophy and theology. 

• Generally speaking, a Master of Arts will deepen your knowledge in a field, and is often more focused on a specific subfield than a Master of Science.
• An MA can also be attained in non-arts fields such as Business, Marketing, and Economics.

It's also important to know that an MA is a terminal degree, meaning that it is the highest degree you can be awarded in that specific field of research.

However, you can still choose to continue to a PhD after completing an MA program.

How long does it take to get a Master’s?

Generally, Master’s studies last 1 to 2 years, by the end of which you’ll have earned 60 to 120 ECTS credits, or 30 to 60 US college credits.

The exact number of months and credits for a Master's varies between countries, universities and degrees. 

Country differences

• In the EU/EEA, they tend to be two years, while in non-EU European countries 1 year is more common.
• In the UK, two-year Master’s degrees are typical. 
• In the US, one-year degrees are more common due to the four-year Bachelor’s programs.

Pace of study

• Full-time programs are more demanding in workload, but they’re shorter in length.
• Part-time studies provide more flexibility at the cost of the program taking longer to complete.
• Accelerated Master’s degree programs allow you to take courses whose credits count towards both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

What are the requirements to study a Master's?

In most cases, you’re expected to have a Bachelor’s degree and proof of meeting language requirements in order to apply for Master’s degree programs. 

The exact Master’s entry requirements vary a lot, so it’s very important to check the program’s application requirements on the university website.  

However, there are a few common requirements across many programs:

Grades

Grades, or the average of all your grades, can be very important for some Master's degree programs, such as Engineering or other STEM fields.

Highly-ranked universities may even have a GPA cut-off due to the competitiveness of their programs.

Personal/motivation letter

A personal letter or SOP (statement of purpose) is another important element to your admission success.

Some countries, like Sweden, put a lot of emphasis on personal letters - they're sometimes the only requirement for selection (aside from a Bachelor's degree and the language requirement). 

To write a successful motivation letter:

✅ Do your research on the institution you're interested in and the professors you'll be studying under.

✅ Come across as authentic and enthusiastic. Remember, professors and recruiters have probably read through many cliché letters and templates you can find online.

✅ Explain why you chose that program and/or university. Also highlight why you're the right candidate for them.

✅ Tell your story, but keep it concise and on-topic.

👉 You can read more detailed guidelines on how to write a good motivation letter for your studies abroad and a cover letter for a scholarship.

Work/research experience

Some Master’s degree programs require you to have prior experience in the field, be it industry or research experience. This is especially common for Master's programs in Business Administration (MBAs).

Depending on the program you’re looking to apply for, this requirement may offset grades or other criteria - for example, when applying for a Master’s in education or machine learning. In other cases, work experience can help you stand out from the crowd.  

Specific Bachelor’s program requirements

Some Master's degree programs require you to have:

• A Bachelor's in the same or a similar field
• A certain number of credits in specific subjects/fields

For example, a data analytics Master's might require you to have passed some mathematics courses during your Bachelor's.

This is often the case for fields like:

• Nursing
• Fine arts
• Economics
• Data science
• Chemistry

On the other hand, there are Master's degrees you can apply for with any Bachelor's degree. Such programs are usually in the fields of Business, Management, and Communication.

Language requirements

Proof of language proficiency is almost always needed for international students, unless you’re a native speaker.

Here are some commonly accepted language certificates for different languages:

Other requirements

If you're applying for a Master's in the US (or universities following their higher-education model), there may be more requirements you need to meet, such as:

• Passing the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)
• Submitting at least 2 letters of recommendation
• Uploading a CV/Resume

Programs in visual design, illustration, web design, UX, and similar fields may require you to submit a personal portfolio as part of your application.

What can I do with a Master’s?

Master’s degrees are useful for many things. They show a deep understanding of your field or specialization, and a dedication to the subject or topic of research. 

Pursue a career in academia

For those who wish to continue pursuing research and enroll in a PhD program, a Master’s is a must. Not only is it a requirement for most doctoral programs, it’s also a good introduction to the world of graduate studies - journal publishing, networking, cooperation on research projects and more.

Furthermore, a terminal degree like MA may allow you to work as a professor at a university without having to complete a PhD.

Use your degree to get a higher salary

Master’s also helps with your career outside of academia. Having a Master’s degree doesn’t just look good on your resume, it also allows you to earn a higher salary.

For example, a research done by National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) showed that graduates with a Master’s in biology earned up to 86.5% more than their Bachelor’s counterparts.

Although some Master’s create potential for a bigger salary difference than others, it’s still worth looking into depending on the field you’re interested in.

What can I get from a Master’s?

As a Master’s student, you’ll most likely find yourself doing more independent research than during your Bachelor’s. You’ll get to experience the world of academic research, networking, paper publishing, attending scientific conferences, and much more. 

All of these practical skills, on top of the in-depth knowledge Master’s studies provide, are highly in demand in today's specialized world.

Companies are constantly looking for experts to solve specific problems they're facing or to work on projects as consultants.

A Master's degree allows you to:

✅ Build upon your Bachelor's studies and apply your knowledge in various specialized contexts within your field.

✅ Unlock better opportunities for work and self-development in your chosen field.

✅ Explore and expand your interests, and even change careers. You may realize that you’re no longer interested in the subject of your Bachelor’s after graduation, or something else piques your interest. Instead of going through a new three-year or four-year Bachelor’s, you may choose to pursue a Master’s degree program and look for opportunities in another field.

How much does getting a Master's cost?

How much a Master’s degree will cost you depends on a large number of factors: from the country you wish to study in, your citizenship, whether you qualify for funding and scholarships, if you need a visa or not, etc.

Here is a short overview of the tuition costs in some of the more popular countries for Master’s studies.

What is the average salary of a Master's graduate?

The average salary of Master’s graduates varies a lot across countries and fields. Some countries value international Master’s degrees more, while others prefer domestic degrees.

However, the general trend is that holders of Master’s degrees tend to earn higher salaries than those with Bachelor’s degrees only. Here are some rough numbers.

United States - graduate starting salaries

United Kingdom - graduate salaries (Source: Payscale, 2022)

Germany - salaries for types of degrees (Source: Payscale, 2022)

Can I do a Master's online?

Yes! Online Master’s and distance learning courses have become increasingly present due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and students tend to prefer this option due to the overall lower costs, less travel time and more flexibility in learning.

More and more universities are offering online courses and entire online or hybrid programs. It’s a great option if you’d like to study at an international university but can’t or don’t want to pay for the living costs of more expensive countries.