Master Background Information The Masters degree is a postgraduate academic qualification offered by universities and universities of applied science in a wide range of subjects. Requirement for entry into a Masters programme is typically a completed Bachelor degree or the equivalent. The degree can be considered as both a specialization and immersion in a specific subject field or can serve as an inter-disciplinary pathway to broaden acquired knowledge. In many European countries, Masters programmes were introduced into the curriculum within the Bologna framework.

While many Bachelor graduates choose to enter employment after completing their degree, a Masters degree provides an opportunity for students to gain specialist knowledge in a relatively short period of time and/or prepare for the more rigorous research programme of a PhD degree.

Some Masters degrees are designated as ‘vocational’ or ‘professional’, which refers to those degrees that offer a more practically oriented curriculum. The Master in Architecture (MArch), Master in Accountancy (MAcc) and Master in Business Administration (MBA) are all examples of such professional degrees. Other Masters are designated as ‘research’ Masters and have their core emphasis on the theoretical frameworks of the subject studied. As such, the research Masters often provides the basis for further doctoral study. A Masters programme may also be offered as a joint programme by more than one university or business school.

The majority of students studying a Masters degree will end their academic education at this level and therefore the knowledge and skills gathered during their Masters studies will impact directly on their career opportunities. The knowledge and know how taught in a Masters programme often leads to higher positions on the graduate’s career ladder.
The various types of Masters degrees are as diverse as there are fields of academic studies and a complete listing of Masters qualifications would exceed the scope of this overview. The basic degree types, however, can be narrowed down to the following: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Law (LLM) and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

In most countries around the globe, the Masters degree is a ‘second stage’ degree that requires a first, or undergraduate, degree qualification or the demonstration of equivalent experience in the chosen field. -

Europe

The Bologna Process was intended to create a common education area throughout Europe – the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) - in order to facilitate an easier transference of credits with a common education credit system (ECTS), promote student and faculty mobility, as well as introduce common quality standards and methods of evaluation. Participation in the Bologna Accord is voluntary. With the completion of the Bologna Accord in 2010, almost all universities in the EHEA have switched to a ‘three cycle’ system, whereby a Bachelor qualification corresponds to the 1st cycle with typically 180- 240 ECTS credits, a Masters equates to a 2nd cycle qualification (60 – 120 ECTS) and the doctoral degree forms the 3rd cycle. Whether a full-time Masters is one or two years in length depends on the respective country’s Bachelor structure.

The Bologna Process requires greater transparency throughout the European higher education landscape and intends to harmonize it with the international system. Some countries distinguish between consecutive and non-consecutive Masters programmes.

Consecutive Masters Degrees:
A consecutive Masters programme is the linear continuation of a specific Bachelor programme (typically a regular undergraduate study programme). The consecutive Masters is intended to provide a theoretical and research-focused immersion in the undergraduate subject. Examples for such consecutive degrees are: 

• Master of Arts (M.A.) - Germany, Austria, Switzerland
• Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) - Germany, Austria, Switzerland
• Master of Laws (LL.M.) – Germany, Austria
• Master of Law (MLaw) - Switzerland
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) – Germany, Austria, Switzerland
• Master of Medicine (MMed) - Switzerland
• Master of Theology (MTh) - Switzerland

Non-consecutive Masters Degrees
The non-consecutive Masters degree does not represent a continuation of a subject-specific undergraduate degree but provides students with additional knowledge and skills in a different subject to that previously studied (i.e. management masters for engineers). Such degrees require a completed first degree (i.e. Bachelor degree or the equivalent). Often extensive work experience in a specific field may be substituted for the undergraduate degree requirement. Many business schools offer non-consecutive Masters programmes.

USA

In the US higher education system a full-time Masters degree generally takes two years to complete but the time frame might vary depending on the structure of the degree programme. As in the European system, the Masters in the US may be considered as a terminal professional degree, or second degree, that may or may not lead to PhD studies. In some subjects, i.e. the behavioural and natural sciences, it is increasingly common practice to proceed directly from the Bachelors degree to doctoral studies. In other fields, a Masters is a required or expected qualification for entry into the job market

Australia / New Zealand

In Australia, a Masters degree typically takes two years of studies after three years of studies on Bachelor level. In some cases a Masters might take only one year, building on an Honours or a four-year Bachelor programme. Coursework is completed by either a project or a thesis.

New Zealand offers Masters degrees at universities, institutes of technology and some polytechnics. Typically, a Masters programme in New Zealand takes two years of studies, but can range from one to four years depending on the specific course chosen. As in most countries, the basic requirement for entry in to this second stage of higher education is the completion of a first degree. The Masters degree is awarded based on a piece of research presented in a thesis, however, degrees based on a combination of coursework, research and thesis are becoming increasingly popular in the region.

Common Modes of Study for Masters Degrees

In Europe and the USA Masters programmes may take on different modes that determine cost and duration of the study programme. The most important ones are summarized below:

Full-time: Generally either one or two year in duration, depending on the country’s education system and the course structure. Allows for a full immersion into the subject matter in a compact period of time.

Part-time: May be anywhere from two to five years in duration, depending on programme structure, institution policies and the local education system. Part-time Masters have become increasingly popular as they enable a student to be employed while studying. Part-time programmes are often taught in module blocks.

Executive: An executive level Masters programme seeks to accommodate professionals with a full-time work schedule and offers its course modules primarily on evenings and weekends. Course units are typically taught in blocks on the weekends or evenings.

Online: In an online Masters programme all course modules and course material are taught entirely online. Tutors are available through various online channels and forums. As such, it offers the greatest flexibility in studying, but also requires the most discipline and self-motivation on the students’ part. While many online Masters programmes are entirely serious and reputable, there may be a danger that some degree mills might offer their titles as online programmes. It is important to research the institution in question very carefully.

Distance Learning: Distance learning programmes enables the student to work on the course modules from home in their own time and at their own pace. In an increasing number of cases local colleges act as teaching centres to provide additional support to students. As with the online Masters degrees, caution is recommended when selecting a distance- learning programme as the number of insincere offers continues to increase. 


Pre-requisites
The requirements for entry to a Masters programme are varied. As previously indicated, admission to a Masters degree usually requires a completed Bachelors degree. However, in some cases, relevant work experience may also qualify a candidate. Sometimes it might be required that the Bachelors degree must be in the same subject as the intended Masters degree, or at least in a closely allied discipline, in other instances, the subject field of the Bachelor does not matter as much.

For a visual representation of a general postgraduate structure click here