What is Master degree?

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.

How long is a masters degree?

Most master's degree programs will take an average of two years from start to finish – about half of the time it takes to earn your bachelor's degree.

Is a master's degree the same as a PhD?

A master's is a 1–2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers. A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3–7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research.

Can I get masters degree without bachelors?

It is possible to do a master's program without having a bachelor's degree. Whether it is possible depends on a number of factors including the specific university you're applying to and the field of study. Universities are much more likely to accept a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field than no bachelor's at all.

How many types of MA are there?

Generally speaking, there are two main types of master's degrees: course-based (taught) and research-based.

Does a masters give you a title?

Master's degrees come with titles such as Master of Arts – MA, Master of Science – MSc, Master of Engineering – MEng, Master of Research – MRes and Master of Laws – LLM.

Which is better MA or MBA?

While the MBA is suited to students from any academic or professional background who want greater career flexibility, management roles, or business ownership, Masters programmes are the better option for students who want highly specialised knowledge in a specific area.

Is MA equivalent to MBA?

One difference is in the field of studies. An MA is a postgraduate degree in English, history, geography, humanities, philosophy, social sciences, fine arts, nursing, and theology. An MBA is a postgraduate degree in business and is open to all who have a bachelor's degree in any academic discipline.

Types of Master’s Degrees

Generally speaking, there are two main types of master’s degrees: course-based (taught) and research-based. Course-based master’s degrees are based on structured course modules taught through lectures, seminars, laboratory work or distance learning, while research-based master’s degrees require the student to carry out their own research project(s) in a specialized field of study. Research master’s degrees normally take a little longer than taught master’s degrees to complete.

It is also possible to categorize master’s degrees in terms of subject matter, level of specialization, type of coursework and entry requirements, as you will see in the lists below…

What are the types of master’s degrees by subject/coursework type?

The following list describes the distinct types of master’s degrees based on the most common course names used in university listings. 

Master of Arts (MA)

A Master of Arts (MA) is usually awarded in disciplines categorized as arts or social sciences, such as communications, education, languages, linguistics, literature, geography, history and music. 

Master of Science (MS, MSc)

A Master of Science (MS, MSc) is usually awarded in disciplines categorized as the sciences, such as biology, chemistry, engineering, health and statistics. Certain fields such as economics and the social sciences can fall under both arts and sciences, with the individual institution deciding on what to call their master’s degree program.

Master of Research (MRes)

A Master of Research (MRes) degree is designed to provide training in how to become a researcher. Containing a significantly larger research element than MA or MSc programs, an MRes may give candidates an advantage if they wish to pursue a PhD or enter a career in research. 

Master by Research (MPhil)

A Master by Research (MPhil) is an advanced research-based degree which allows the candidate to focus on a particular topic in-depth and independently, to complete a single large research project. An MPhil is often seen as a precursor to a PhD and is often used by institutions to allow students to ‘test the water’ before commencing a PhD degree program. This often takes longer to complete than other types of master’s degrees – though the length of time and the status awarded to an MPhil varies significantly depending on the country and institution.

Master of Studies (MSt)

Taught in only a few places (including the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge), a Master of Studies (MSt) degree is comparable to the MA or MSc, requiring both classroom learning and the completion of a thesis and an examination. An MSt can serve as a provisional enrolment for a PhD in some cases. The need for this category of master’s degree partly stems from the fact that at Oxbridge universities students who have completed a Bachelor of Arts are automatically awarded an MA after a defined time-period has passed. In contrast, those with a MSt have completed postgraduate coursework to gain the title.

Specialized and professional master’s degrees

There are also more specialized types of master’s degrees, often focusing on a specific professional area. These are sometimes known as ‘tagged master’s degrees’, because they are ‘tagged’ to a certain field, or professional master’s degrees, because they focus on career development in a particular profession. As ever, classifications and course details will differ depending on the country and institution. Here are some of the most common examples of specialized and professional master’s degrees:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MA, MALS, MLA/ALM, MLS)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
• Master of Music (MM/MMus)
• Master of Education (MEd, MSEd, MIT, MAEd, MAT)
• Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
• Master's degree requirements

Finally, master’s degrees also vary in terms of the entry requirements applicants need to meet. To meet the requirements of a master’s degrees it’s usually necessary to have graduated with a bachelor’s degree (though not always), and some programs require a certain amount of professional experience. See below for the most common requirements for different types of master’s degrees.

Postgraduate master’s degrees (MA, MSc, MLA, MSW, etc)

These master’s degrees are usually open to anyone who holds a bachelor’s degree.

Business or management master’s degrees (MBA, MSc, MIM, MSM, MA, MEM)

For these types of program, master’s degree requirements usually include a certain amount of professional experience, especially in the case of an MBA (Master of Business Administration). An MSc in Management (MSc, MIM, MSM) typically requires a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, while an MA in Management is more likely to accept candidates from all backgrounds. The Master’s in Engineering Management (MEM) is specially designed for engineering students.

Executive master’s degrees (EMBA, EMS)

Designed specifically for mid-career executive professionals, executive master’s degrees require candidates to have gained significant professional experience – even more than in the case of an MBA. The most common are Executive Master’s in Business Management (EMBA) or Executive MSc programs.

Postgraduate research master’s degrees (Master by Research)

Master by Research programs are designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree with a significant research component and/or have several published research papers.

Integrated master’s degrees (MEng, MMath, MSci, etc)

These are master’s degrees that follow on directly from an undergraduate degree program, most commonly available in scientific and technology subjects. It’s possible to apply for an integrated master’s degree program directly after completion of secondary-level education. Integrated master’s degree programs usually last a year longer than it would take to earn an undergraduate degree, and students may have the option to skip the final year and just graduate at bachelor’s level instead.

There is also the option (particularly in countries such as the US) to earn a master’s degree alongside your undergraduate studies. This is called ‘en route’, ‘in passing’ or ‘in course’ and is awarded following the successful completion of coursework and certain examinations.