Types of Masters Degrees

Broadly, there are three types of Masters degrees: taught, research and professional Masters. Taught Masters include a series of modules delivered in classrooms or laboratories followed by a final dissertation. Research Masters focus on independent project work rather than seminars and lectures. Professional Masters involve more practical placements and accredited training.

If you thought all Masters degrees were cut from the same cloth, think again! Well . . . alright, maybe they are the same fabric in that they all aim to give you advanced training and expertise in a field of study, but the cut, style and design can be very different! Let’s try and differentiate postgraduate tartans from postgraduate paisley’s then, shall we?

I’ve put together this guide which explains, in detail, all of the types of Masters degrees and how they’re different. Jump straight to the comparative list of Masters degrees below or start with a short summary video.

Taught Masters degrees involve studying a set schedule of lectures and seminars. Although they share plenty of similarities with undergraduate programmes, they involve a much greater level of independent study than you’ll be used to at Bachelors-level.

These are the main types of taught Masters degree and other postgraduate qualifications delivered by coursework:

• Master of Arts (MA): A taught degree awarded for most Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences subjects such as Anthropology, Literature and Sociology.
• Master of Science (MSc): A taught degree awarded for most Science, Technology and Maths subjects such as Computer Science, Architecture and Chemistry.
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): A practise-based degree to be able to work in Art and Design. Unlike an MA (Master of Arts), an MFA is considered a final degree (highest level of formal qualification). Subjects such as Design, Drama, Fashion and Photography offer a Master of Fine Arts.
• Master of Letters (MLitt): A specialised degree offered in Literature, Law, Theology and some other related subjects. It originated in the ancient universities of England and Scotland. At some English universities, an MLitt can sometimes be a two-year research degree.
• Master of Studies (MSt): It is comparable to the Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) and is usually awarded by universities like the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. The need for this kind of degree stems from the fact that students who have completed an undergraduate programme at these universities automatically get awarded an MA or MSc after a period of time. However, students who have been awarded an MSt have attended postgraduate level lessons and completed actual coursework.
• Master of Laws (LLM): A specialised degree for Law subjects. An LLM, however, is considered a non-professional degree which means you don't need an LLM to practise law but it provides you with the skills and knowledge to be desirable to law firms.
• Master of Engineering (MEng): A highly specialised degree in Engineering for students who want to become professional engineers. They are often offered by specialised departments and schools and are accredited by a relevant professional body.
• Integrated Masters: A longer degree that combines two qualifications into one. You can either combine a Bachelors with a Masters (which is more common) or a Masters with a PhD.
• Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) and Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip): A shorter taught degree with Masters-level content but without a dissertation.

Research Masters degrees are even more independent in nature than taught programmes. Students on these courses will typically focus on their own research work rather than following a set timetable of modules.

The main kinds of research Masters degrees are:

• Master of Research (MRes): A research-based Masters degree which places emphasis on research expertise in your choice of subject. You will be required to complete some taught modules but they focus on practical topics like research techniques.
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil): A research based Masters composed entirely of an independent project.

Professional Masters degrees are vocational courses aimed to prepare students for a career in a particular sector.

These are some of the most popular professional postgraduate qualifications:

• Legal Practice Course (LPC): A Masters degree to prepare you for a career as a solicitor.
• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL): A conversion course for those who want a career in law but did not study the subject as an undergraduate degree. A GDL condenses 18 months of study into one year.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA): An elite quaification for business professionals.
• Master of Architecture (MArch): A Masters degree accredited by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the Royal Institute of British Architects to prepare you for a career as a registered architect.
• Masters in Management (MiM): Aimed at recent graduates, the MiM focuses on subjects like Economics, Accounting and Organisational Theory to help you become a businessperson.
• Master of Social Work (MSW): A Masters degree to prepare you for a career as a registered social worker.
• Master of Public Administration (MPA): It is similar to the MBA but focuses on the public sector rather than the private sector. Students with an aim to work in the government, NGOs or in consulting are best suited to the MPA degree.
• Master of Public Health (MPH):The Master of Public Health combines academic and professional teaching in areas of public health. The MPA is best suited for students who aim to work in the government, NGOs or consulting.
• Master of Music (MM/MMus): A Master of Music is usually awarded by universities or music conservatories. It focuses on advanced study in musical theory and students can specialsie in areas like performance or composition.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE): A postgraduate degree to help you prepare for a career as a primary or secondary teacher.
• Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE): A Scottish postgraduate degree which allows graduates to qualify as teachers.

Types of Masters degrees: Comparison table

Looking for a quick way to compare different types of Masters courses, side by side? Check out our list of degrees below.

Please note that individual degree programmes can vary and it’s possible that a specific course at a given university might be slightly different to the typical guidelines above.

Tips from the author

Not long ago, I was in the same position, thinking about doing a Masters in the UK. I eventually chose to do an MA in Journalism. It was an instant decision for me, since I’d already done a Bachelors in Journalism and not a lot of the other degrees I’ve mentioned in this guide suited my needs. Here are my top things to consider if you’re currently deciding what degree to do:

#1 Do I have a research topic already in mind? I didn’t, so a taught Masters was an obvious choice for me. If you do have a topic in mind and might even want to do on to a PhD, a research Masters could be the one for you.

#2 Can I get the same value from a shorter course? I was aiming for a full Masters level degree worth 180 credits, partly because I was studying abroad as well, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the same value from a shorter Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma. It completely depends on your subject area and goals.

#3 Am I already working and looking to upskill or change careers? I went straight from my undergraduate degree to my Masters without any break, so it made sense to continue with the momentum in the same subject. However, if you’ve been working, you’ll probably have a clearer idea of what you need for your career. In that case, a professional Masters, designed to train for specific careers, might be the way to go.

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