Master’s is a form of training for advanced specialists. Master's degree is a kind of an intermediate stage on the way of preparation for teaching and research activities. Master’s graduates should always be aware of modern information technologies and methods for processing and obtaining scientific information, as well as have a solid scientific base and methodology of scientific works.

For admission to a master's program at foreign universities, you must have a bachelor's degree.

The cost of master's programs

CountryStateMinMaxLanguageTOEFL IBTIELTSApplication deadlines
Australia-18,000 USD35,000 USDEng796.5November 15 — the end of May
Canada-10,900 USD39,300 USDEng/French907.5Depends on the university
USA-18,000 USD67,000 USDEng796.5February 1
New Zealand-18,000 USD55,000 USDEng796.5Depends on the university
Great Britain-14,000 USD59,700 USDEng1007September-January
China-3,000 USD5,000 USDChinese796January-March
Germany544 USD2,613 USD25,045 USDEng/German966November-January/May/June
France544 USD4,138 USD38,112 USDEng/French796.5January-May
ItalyFree4,356 USD19,601 USDEng796.5Depends on the university
Norway50 USD8,711 USD9,800 USDEng/Norwegian795December 1
Netherlands-3,267 USD39,201 USDEng796.5Depends on the university
Spain-1,198 USD3,267 USDEng/Spanish796Upon receipt
Finland98 USD10,889 USD18,512 USDEng/Finnish806.5Depends on the university
Switzerland-4,497 USD16,334 USDEng/French7965-11 months before the start

The full list of countries

Why would you need a master's degree?

One of the reasons for introducing a master’s is to increase the flexibility of the education system. At this stage, it is assumed that a person with a bachelor’s diploma, while assessing his capabilities and interests, will be able to objectively decide whether he needs to continue training to deepen his knowledge or retraining.

The master's program will be especially important to those who plan to engage in research or teaching activities. In this case, a master’s degree is a necessary stage on the path to doctoral studies.

In other words, the master's program allows you to move either towards a narrower and deeper specialization, or a scientific or managerial career.

Duration of master's studies

The time of study in a master's program varies significantly depending on the chosen country of study. For example, in the UK, master's studies last only one year, in the USA it largely depends on the particular university and student's abilities (from 1.5 to 4 years), in Canada — from 1 to 2 years.

However, according to the standards of the European education system, a full master's program should be at least 90-120 ECTS, which is equivalent to 2250-3000 hours of study. While MSc/MA programs in the UK, as a rule, do not exceed 1800 hours.

Applying for a master's?

Types of Master's degrees abroad

Master of Arts — MA and Master of Science — MSc

  • Master of Arts (MA) is awarded in the field of humanities. MA degree is obtained in linguistics, anthropology, philosophy, literature, design, political science, sociology, psychology, theology, etc. Often, Master of Arts is contrasted with an MSc degree;
  • Master Science (MSc) is given in the fields of natural and exact sciences, such as astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, science, etc. May also be awarded in technical fields (mechanical engineering, agriculture).

The degrees of Master of Science and Master of Arts allow you to get deeper knowledge in a particular field, as well as prepare the necessary academic base for continuing scientific activities. As a rule, holders of MSc and MA degrees find it easier to land a job and move up the career ladder faster than bachelor’s graduates.

MBA — Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Master of Economic Management, Master of Management) is given in the field of management, economics and finance. Business administration courses last from 1 to 5 years, depending on the institution and type of program. Programs are designed for future and current managers and are focused more on practical problem solving than on theory. Most MBA courses are based on the case study method, students of the program themselves must learn to look for a way out of a particular economic situation.

Master Research — MRes and Master of Philosophy — MPhil

At universities and colleges in the UK, as well as some universities in other countries, master's degrees can be divided into academic and research. The programs listed above are related to academic programs, but Master of Research and Master of Philosophy degrees are awarded to graduates of research specialties. MRes is an intermediate degree, it is awarded after a year of study in a master’s specialty. After another year (less often — two years), the applicant receives an MPhil degree. Of course, while studying at MRes or MPhil, the main focus is on student research. Another year of study leads to obtaining a degree one step higher — PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

Important: a thesis for a doctor’s degree can be prepared already while studying at MRes&MPhil. That is why these programs are chosen by students who want to connect their lives with science. Most of them do not stop at MRes&MPhil and graduate with a highly respected PhD.

Requirements for admission to a master's degree

Standard set of documents:

In addition to good academic (Bachelor's degree) and language (TOEFL or IELTS) indicators, for admission to the master's program, the applicant must demonstrate professional and personal maturity, a clear understanding of his career goals, which should be highlighted in a motivation letter and recommendations. If the applicant already has work experience in the field, then one of the recommendations has to be from an employer, the second from a university teacher. If the applicant has not worked anywhere, then the recommendations are provided by professors of the university where the applicant studied.

Business-oriented programs, as well as some others, require the submission of GRE or GMAT test results.

Application documents to the master's program must be submitted no later than 6-8 months before the start of the program, however, the exact time depends on the particular university and the chosen specialty.

If the applicant does not meet the necessary requirements for admission to master’s studies, he can enter a Pre-Masters training course.

What can a master’s offer?

Undoubtedly, master’s students are more able-bodied, their initial wage rate is higher, and their acquired professional skills are much greater than those of bachelor’s students.

Masters, as a rule, possess the following important skills:

  • Written and oral communication;
  • Problem solving;
  • Project management;
  • Time management;
  • Teamwork;
  • Critical thinking;
  • Ability to analyze;
  • Independent work skills;
  • The ability to motivate others.

In many respects, the list of acquired skills depends on the specialty studied, the duration of the course and the chosen educational institution.

Many items from this list complement and deepen the skills acquired during the bachelor’s course.

Get a master's degree

What is the emphasis of master's programs?

Most of the master's programs should teach you the following:

  • Proficiency in a foreign language;
  • Advanced scientific knowledge;
  • A deeper understanding of business processes;
  • Possibilities for conducting practical research;
  • Compilation and analysis of the data.

Taking into account the above mentioned skills, as well as the fundamental knowledge of your specialization, employers are likely to hire you to work that matches your profile, and then everything will depend on you.

Assistance in applying to foreign universities

In order to receive more detailed recommendations on possible program options and entrance requirements, as well as to devise an admission plan, you can use our help when applying for master’s programs abroad. A list of services is available here.

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