All you need to know about the Master Courses
Master’s Degree Courses prepare students to obtain their postgraduate qualifications. To be able to enrol for a Master’s Degree Courses the student must already hold an undergraduate degree, also known as a Bachelor’s Degree. Postgraduate study, however, is one of many options available to students once they finish their undergraduate degree course. Thus, pursuing for a Master’s Degree is not considered mandatory.
For a few students, a Master’s Degree is a step-up stone to proceed with their PhD programme to have a focused career with an academic standard. Whereas for others, postgraduate training is a tool that helps link their undergraduate experience to achieve their specific career goals.
In certain cases, a postgraduate programme can also offer time to reflect on different options. It allows students to try out more specialised academic studies or professional training to enhance their related skills.
Different Types of Master Courses in the UK
Generally, a Master’s qualification is a self-contained course with at least some major independent research components. Master courses are available in different fields, such as science, arts, research, engineering, business administration and much more. They are most significantly divided into two categories, i.e., taught degree and research qualifications.
Taught Programmes
Most of the master’s degrees are taught programmes. They usually involve completing a series of timetabled units across two semesters before undergoing an extended individual research project or thesis.
Among taught master courses, the most common are the Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MSc). These are the master courses that are similar to undergraduate BA and BSc degree. Their content will reflect the needs of different field, but they award a degree at an equivalent level. Some specific subjects such as Law, Architecture or Education have their own title and abbreviations, such as LLM, MArch or Med. These specific Master’s degrees are similar to those of MA and MSc, but their content and assessment may be professionally authorised.
Research Programmes
The other Master’s Degree Courses such as MRes (Master of Research) and MPhil (Master of Philosophy) focuses on student’s ability to undertake independent research tasks.
As all other master’s degree, an MRes will usually commence with some teaching syllabus and focuses more on a series of research assignments. An MRes is mainly meant for those students who want to have a professional career in which the research ability is valuable, but there is no need for PhD qualifications. While proceeding with PhD, MRes offers a new opportunity to develop additional research experience.
Master of Business Administration
Master of Business AdministrationThis is a qualification that is designed for business professionals seeking individuality in their business career. MBA courses are usually considered by students who want to have a very specific goal. This studies mostly require several years of professional experience.
As an alternative to the MBA course, students who do not have a significant professional experience may pursue their career with a Masters in Management (MiM) degree. This course is designed for the graduate students from a range of backgrounds to provide them with knowledge of economics, accounting and organizational theory
Difference Between Master Courses and Bachelor Courses
To begin with, there is no much difference between a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in terms of studying. In both cases, the course units are delivered by the faculty members and are designed to be completed at every designated semester of study. Thus, this makes the initial transition from undergraduate to taught postgraduate work relatively manageable.
The real difference between an undergraduate and postgraduate study cannot be obvious until you investigate the course material and assessment criteria.
A good Master’s Degree is the one that provides the student with a higher level of knowledge and guidance in the development of creating their critical voice.
How to Apply for Master Courses?
A student can apply a Master’s Degree Courses directly at the university or by UCAS, which is a centralised application portal.
To apply for certain vocational courses, such as Law, Architecture and Education, however, you have to inquire directly at the university to proceed with your application. The enrolment processes usually start in the academic years before your Master’s programme is set to commence.
When it’s about applying for a Master’s Degree, there are no restrictions. Yes! You can apply to any number of courses simultaneously. Apart from applications for a Master’s Programme, you might need to fulfil the below criteria:
- Submit a personal statement
- Get references from undergraduate tutors
- Provide CV and academic transcripts
- Attend an interview
The grades in Master Courses
In the UK, the Master’s Degrees are awarded as ‘Distinction’, ‘Merit’ or basic ‘Passing’. In the Bachelor’s programmes, these grades are rewarded as third class, second class and first class.
In the Master’s Degree, these overall grades correspond to different classifications on most taught masters,
- Pass – 50% and above
- Merit – 60% and above
- Distinction – 70% and above
The grading system may vary depending on the university. Some universities award the passing grade at 40%, and others raise the requirement for the distinction to 80%. The assessments associated with individual modules collectively determine your final result and are weighted according to their credit value.
Scope of Master Courses in The Future
A research study shows that the professionals who hold Master’s Degree are more likely to be employed at a higher position than those without such a qualification. Master’s Degree does not, however, guarantee a perfect job. It can, though, demonstrate the value of your qualification to any potential employers.
From the above article, you would have obtained some idea about the Master’s Degree courses in the UK. To explore more, you can visit Mont Rose College. It is one of the best places for learning and education that focuses on real-time experience rather than theoretical knowledge only.
