Definition · Plain-language
Master’s degree
A master’s degree is a postgraduate qualification earned after a bachelor’s, giving advanced, specialised knowledge in a field.
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Types of master’s degree
Master’s degrees are broadly research-oriented or taught (course-based). The Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS in the US, MSc in the UK) are the most common, distinguished by subject area much as the BA and BS are at undergraduate level. Professional master’s degrees focus on practice in a specific field — the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Education (MEd) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) among them. Some are designed to lead to doctoral study, others directly to a profession.
How a master’s works
A full-time master’s typically takes one to two years, building on the bachelor’s with advanced, specialised study. Programmes commonly mix taught modules with independent work — a dissertation, thesis or substantial project that lets the student demonstrate the ability to investigate a topic in depth. Entry normally requires a completed bachelor’s degree, often with a minimum grade, and sometimes relevant experience. In the UK, a taught master’s frequently takes a single intensive year; in the US, two years is more typical.
Where it sits on the degree ladder
The master’s is a postgraduate degree, sitting above the bachelor’s and below the doctorate on the standard ladder. (In the United States, “graduate” study means the same as “postgraduate” elsewhere.) For many, a master’s is a terminal professional qualification that deepens expertise and improves career prospects; for others it is a stepping stone to a PhD, which builds on master’s-level training with original research. The right framing depends on the field and the individual’s goals.
Key facts
At a glance
- Definition: A postgraduate degree earned after a bachelor’s.
- Length: Usually 1–2 years full-time.
- Prerequisite: A completed bachelor’s degree.
- Main types: MA, MS/MSc, and professional degrees like the MBA.
- Often includes: A dissertation, thesis or major project.
- Ladder position: Above bachelor’s, below doctorate.
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: A master’s degree always takes two years.
Actually: Length varies: a UK taught master’s often takes one intensive year, while a US master’s is more commonly two years. Part-time study extends this further.
Often heard: You must have a master’s before starting a doctorate.
Actually: A master’s is the usual route, but some doctoral programmes — especially in the US — admit strong bachelor’s graduates directly and build master’s-level work into the PhD.
Often heard: “Graduate” and “master’s” mean the same thing.
Actually: In US usage, “graduate study” covers all postgraduate work — master’s and doctoral. A master’s is one type of graduate degree, not a synonym for the whole category.
