{"id":77,"date":"2019-11-14T14:29:17","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T14:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentio.co.uk\/?p=77"},"modified":"2020-05-06T14:54:07","modified_gmt":"2020-05-06T14:54:07","slug":"advantages-and-disadvantages-of-studying-for-a-masters-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentio.co.uk\/2019\/11\/14\/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-studying-for-a-masters-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying for a Masters Degree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There are a number advantages and\ndisadvantages to pursuing a master\u2019s degree, with these pros and cons very much\nvarying depending upon your circumstances and current situation. Amongst those who\ntypically begin master\u2019s level study include existing students who have just\ncompleted undergraduate work, mature students who are currently in work, and returning\nstudents who have recently had a break. However, for all types of students at\nthis level, there are a number of common positives and negatives, and these\nshould be given some consideration before applying for such post-graduate studies.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Advantages of Studying For a Master\u2019s Degree<\/strong>  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Provides more opportunities for   employment in the labour market<\/li><li>Offers a different career path than   would otherwise be possible<\/li><li>Provides more focused and advanced   level studies<\/li><li>Is a good introduction to PhD level  work <\/li><li>Increases in monetary value as time   goes by due to rising tuition and living costs <\/li><li>Provides the opportunity to experience   studying at a completely different university    <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Disadvantages of  Studying For a Master\u2019s   Degree<\/strong>   <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>It is generally very expensive to   complete <\/li><li>Sacrifices will inevitably need to be   made in all areas of a master\u2019s student\u2019s life<\/li><li>Job prospects might not necessarily be   improved, depending upon the chosen field of study<\/li><li>It can be a solitary experience with   less social interaction than an undergraduate degree offers<\/li><li>Accommodation may be harder to come by   (as most university accommodation is reserved for undergraduate students) <\/li><li>It will take considerable time and   effort to complete   <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Some\nCommon Advantages of Studying For a Master\u2019s Degree<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are\na number of general upsides of studying for a master\u2019s degree then, which\ncovers most types of students. To begin with, a master\u2019s degree, generally,\nprovides more opportunities for employment in the labour market on completion\nof such a degree, as some roles in the labour market will demand a post-graduate\nqualification as a basic entry requirement. At the very least, having a\nmaster\u2019s degree will help you to get ahead of the competition who do not hold\nsuch a degree. Thus, as education and the labour market becomes more and more\ncompetitive in the years to come as a result of a rising population, and as\nmore and more people hold an undergraduate degree, a master\u2019s degree will aid\nin standing out from the crowd, by going above and beyond what the majority of\npeople are willing to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\naddition, a master\u2019s degree qualification can also offer a different career\npath for those who might feel like they are stuck in a rut, so to speak, and\nare unable to work in a field that really interests them. So, for example, for\nsomeone wanting to be involved in business administration, and who are finding\nit difficult to break in to a business field due to perhaps not studying in\nthis area for their undergraduate work, a Master of Business Administration\nmight be just the ticket towards breaking through in starting such a career. Similarly,\nfor someone who has a bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology, but who has since\nchanged their mind about their chosen career, and want to pursue a career in\nthe field of social work, then enrolling on a Master of Social Work course\ncould be just the ticket. Furthermore, in addition to changing subjects, a\nmaster\u2019s degree can also provide a much more focussed and advanced level of\nstudies, whereas an undergraduate degree tends to be much broader, at least to\nbegin with, in order to cater for all interests and tastes. A master\u2019s course\ntherefore provides an opportunity to study in many niche areas, and this can thus\nalso provide a good introduction to PhD work, as such work tends to offer\noriginal and unique subjects of inquiry. In fact, for many PhD courses, a\nmaster\u2019s degree is regarded as a prerequisite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To add to\nthis, a master\u2019s degree, just like an undergraduate degree, also tends to\nincrease in monetary value over time, as such degrees are becoming increasingly\nexpensive to complete. So, if you can manage to get such a postgraduate\nqualification, then it could be viewed as being more valuable in a decade or\nso, once the cost of attaining such a post-graduate degree becomes too much for\nmany people. In this sense then, obtaining a master\u2019s degree could be seen as a\nlong-term investment, with the returns from it perhaps not being seen\nimmediately, but it could yield a good return over the long term. Nevertheless,\nin the contemporary era, an epoch in which there is a growing trend for instant\ngratification, fewer and fewer people may be willing to wait for such returns,\nand especially if they are not guaranteed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nstudying for a master\u2019s degree also provides the opportunity to experience\nstudying at a completely different university from that which you completed\nyour undergraduate degree at (although you can study at the same university, of\ncourse, if you wish), which can also be an enriching experience, and especially\nif you can enrol at a more prestigious university than your previous one, based\nupon excelling during your undergraduate work. Therefore, if you have done well\nin your undergraduate degree, then it might be well worth taking advantage of\nthis, and stepping up a level, in order to get a more prestigious university on\nyour CV, by completing a master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Some\nCommon Disadvantages of Studying For a Master\u2019s Degree<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To balance the advantages of studying for a master\u2019s degree, there are also a number of notable disadvantages as well, unfortunately. The most obvious of these disadvantages is that studying for a master\u2019s degree can be very expensive, to add to the debts already likely accrued during your undergraduate degree. For example, in the UK, the current average cost per year in tuition fees for a master\u2019s degree is \u00a36,848, but to add to this, one also has to factor in the living costs (such as housing, utilities bills, groceries, etc.), with this estimated at being \u00a312,200 per year. As such, this brings the total average cost, per year, for a master\u2019s degree, to around \u00a319,000 per year for full-time students. This is therefore a significant investment, and particularly as a typical master\u2019s degree will last between 1.5 to 2 years in length (typically one year for taught courses, plus the time it takes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ukessays.com\/services\/dissertation-writing-services.php\">write the dissertation<\/a>). So, the total cost of a master\u2019s degree in the UK is likely to be somewhere in the region of \u00a325,000-\u00a335,000, including all costs&nbsp;\u2013 and so it is important that you can be confident that this investment will reap some significant returns later on, to make it worth your while. Moreover, these expense factors also help to explain why many people choose to do their master\u2019s degree on a part-time basis, so that they can simultaneously get some work experience, and help to fund their continued studies in the meantime. Thus, a number of sacrifices will inevitably need to be made in order to pursue a master\u2019s degree, which will involve giving up a significant amount of time and money, which could impact on both your professional life and your personal life in numerous ways. As such, it is important to choose your master\u2019s course carefully, as job prospects might not necessarily be improved, depending upon the chosen field of study. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore,\nit should also be noted that studying for a master\u2019s degree can very much be a\nsolitary experience compared to an undergraduate course, with much more\nautonomous study being involved, and much less social interaction due to the nature\nof the course and fewer numbers of students. Thus, this will not be comparable\nto the early days of your undergraduate course, while you were a \u2018fresher\u2019, in\nwhich you could go out and have fun and not stress too much about your first\nyear grades. Conversely, a master\u2019s degree will undoubtedly have you working\nhard right from the get-go, with there being no time to settle in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\naddition, another negative is that accommodation can be much harder to come by\nfor master\u2019s degree students, as the majority of dedicated university\naccommodation is reserved specifically for undergraduate students, which\ntypically means that private rented accommodation has to be sought \u2013 which can\nbe much more difficult to find (at least, if your standards are high!) However,\nperhaps the most important disadvantage of undertaking a master\u2019s degree is\nthat it will take <em>time<\/em>, and this may\nbe the most important of commodities when it comes to your career, and your\nlife in general. Therefore, it is a decision that you must weigh very\ncarefully, as it is not for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>The\nPros and Cons of a Master\u2019s Degree Specifically For Existing University Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For existing university students, who are soon to complete undergraduate work, there can be a number of pros and cons of enrolling on a master\u2019s course, which do not apply so much to other kinds of students. For example, the transition from an undergraduate course to a master\u2019s course can be relatively smooth, and especially if one chooses to remain at the same educational institution. Moreover, as one is already well attuned to university and academic life, it can be easier simply to continue your education in this way, without any academic breaks \u2013 while the issue of accommodation might also take care of itself if you already have a place to stay in and you can extend your lease on the property. Furthermore, you might also have developed some good working relationships with teachers at your present institution, which could aid in developing your work to a higher standard than might otherwise be possible. However, on the negative side, it might be unwise not to have such a break from academia, as by this time, one has most likely studied for many years, and you might need a well-earned break, just to reset, and come into your master\u2019s degree fresh, enthusiastic, and raring to go. Therefore, before deciding whether to continue straight on to a master\u2019s degree from your undergraduate degree, you must assess any evidence of academic burnout, to ensure that your time and money will not be wasted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>The\nPros and Cons of a Master\u2019s Degree Specifically For Mature Students Who Are\nCurrently in Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For those mature students who are currently in work, a master\u2019s degree can provide a theoretical basis for the practical experience that they are gaining in the workplace. These studies can often be done on a part-time basis, so that such mature students do not experience burnout, and take on too much, and can continue with their employment. Thus, this can provide an additional qualification for those who have become stuck in their current role, who are unable to move up in their company\u2019s hierarchy, and help to get their career back on track. Moreover, doing a master\u2019s degree can also demonstrate a certain ambition to one\u2019s bosses, and show that you are not content to simply sit back and remain in a familiar and easy role. Furthermore, a master\u2019s degree can also serve to spark new ideas, by taking yourself out of your comfort zone, and doing something different. On the downside though, such mature students will be taking on a much higher volume of work if they remain in employment, and this will leave little time for anything else, so a good deal of dedication is required \u2013 and this extra work could impact upon relationships, or even health, so it is again important to assess all of these variables before making the decision to enrol on a master\u2019s course. Moreover, for those mature students who have been out of the education system for some time, there might be certain technological challenges to contend with (such as using various software packages that they might not be familiar with), and so this could also impact upon their academic performances; so this is also something to consider when making such a decision for mature students. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>The\nPros and Cons of a Master\u2019s Degree Specifically For Returning Students Who Have\nRecently Had a Break<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For those students who have recently had a break from academia, either for one, two, or even for many more years, doing a master\u2019s degree can provide a new lease of life, and can help to provide some well needed intellectual stimulation. Moreover, having had such a break, it might be possible to conduct your studies in a much more energised and fervent way, having been well rested during this period. Thus, this could have a positive impact on your grades as a result of this renewed enthusiasm. Who knows, you might even find that you have missed academic work, having had this break. However, having had such a break, one might also be a little ring rusty, so to speak, and you may need time to get back into the swing of things, and this could negatively impact upon your initial grades and work. Unfortunately, unlike a fresher on an undergraduate course, your initial work does count towards your final grade, and so it is important that this early work is just as good as the work completed later on in the course. Therefore, perhaps it might be best for returning students to take some kind of evening class first before embarking on a master\u2019s degree, just to get into the swing of things and return to academic life. At the very least, this is certainly something to consider, as diving right in to a master\u2019s degree course after having had a significant break like this might not be the wisest option to take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Final\nThoughts\u2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To close with then, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages of studying for a master\u2019s degree, with the pros and cons tending to vary depending upon your particular circumstances. These upsides and downsides must therefore be carefully weighed when deciding whether to take on a master\u2019s course, with there being a number of factors to consider. In the end though, it all comes down to whether the trading of your time and money is offset by the future gains of having a master\u2019s degree. This then, very much depends upon what your aims are, what your goals are, and ultimately, what you aspire to be; along with what your current position is. If you feel that your career has become stuck in a rut, and that you have nothing to lose in trying to get a master\u2019s degree (as you can simply go back to your old role if you fail), then applying for such a degree may be a good option. However, if you are already in debt, and your choice of course does not guarantee a job at the end of it, then it may be wise to give this some careful thought in order to avoid falling into the trap of doing a master\u2019s degree just because you aren\u2019t sure what else to do. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are a number advantages and disadvantages to pursuing a master\u2019s degree, with these pros and cons very much varying depending upon your circumstances and current situation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying for a Masters Degree - Studentio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ukessays.co.uk\/blog\/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-studying-for-a-masters-degree.php\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying for a Masters Degree - 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