Is there value in a Masters degree nowadays in your opinion?

[difficultdecisions2018]

Considering applying for a masters. Inrerested in several, broadly linked in terms of subject area but some are MA and some are MSc.

My undergrad is a BA. Do MSc degrees open a few more doors? I've noticed in a few jobs, for example copywriting for pharmaceutical companies, I'm not eligible to apply because of no science degree.

And in general do you think there's much advantage in postgrad degrees now? It seems practically every job assumed you have a Bachelors, so it can give you an advantage to have a postgrad qualification?

Depends on your subject but on the whole, prob not

I think a Masters is a great way to differentiate yourself from everyone with a degree. I would look at people who were successful in the field I wanted to work in, though, and see what they did.

I have a masters. It helped me get an interview (pharmaceutical company). Never actually used it in the job. I think a masters is worth two years experience in my company (ie for a position they might ask for a degree and three years experience or a masters and one year)

Thank you. It does split opinion, I know. The expense attached needs proper thought but at least you can get loans now.

I'm flexible, but slightly lost, as to what I should aim at job wise at the moment and just want to improve my long term prospects overall.

Depends on the subject.

I use mine everyday. My professional body requires one for chartership.

If it is in a subject directly related to your job then I am sure it is worthwhile.

I have one in an unrelated subject, but I still find it very useful on job applications which ask about research skills, planning and organisation, critical thinking, and so on.

Having said that I would not pay full fees for one unless there was a very clear career path afterwards.

What is the subject of your BA?

I completed my MSc through a local uni and this was supported by my work. I think it has helped me in my role and I would hope it would help should I look to change role.

It completely depends on the subject, which university you take it at, how good the course is, and where you want to work - it's impossible to answer this question without more information, basically.

I've got two and use them everyday. My salary is about 4x higher than it would be without them.

I agree with most - it depends what subject it is in. I applied for a graduate job after BA and didn’t get anywhere near, applied for the same job after getting MSc in a specialist subject and got the job (they hired only about 5 people from the whole UK in that intake).

My MA in social research methods put me a cut above the rest for my current role in clinical audit (although had 10 years in NHS in different role as well) and I would say it is this qualification that secured me the job. Therefore speaking from personal experience, having the MA was a definite advantage.

They do with some employers. Lego likes their senior staff to have a masters, as does an investment management firm we recruit for. For others (like my own employer) they are utterly irrelevant. They do make people take you a bit more seriously though.

I have one and teach on one. Both are highly vocational, basically job training for a specialism.
So I do think they are worth it but only once you know what job you’re aiming for. A random one wouldn’t be anywhere near as valuable.

BA is in English.

Masters I'm looking at tend to be in departments of social policy. Not a qualification in social work though.

Would a professional qualification in the field your aiming for be better? Ive an MA and a BA. it was when the labour government suggested teachers should be
Educated to Masters level. I had it partially funded. I got a promotion while completing it but have found qualifications dont seem to make a difference in education. Nobody expects more than a pgce.

I don't have a specific field I want to work in though. The idea of a masters - probably MSc - would be to get a foot in the door of things like pharmaceutical companies. But had thought it might also be looked on favourably for research roles in other areas, or generalist / back end roles in some corporate environments - the ones that all seem fairly dismissive or a silly little English degree!

Basically I just want to do some further qualification that is a good all rounder for a decent job, and that gives me a leg up.

I would say no, unless you need one for a very specific role.

Depends, as someone else said, I couldn't get chartered without an affiliated masters degree

Mine could possibly ‘open doors’ in the future in my work so I think it’s been worth it. Mine was funded though which was an incentive

I did a conversion Masters that enabled me to make a pretty major career change, so obvs I would say yes.

I think that there is no point spending more money on your studies until you actually decide what you want to do. A masters would get you fuck all if you wanted to go into law for example but a Gdl could get you a training contract. If you want to go into medicine you would only be able to do so with a postgraduate medical degree. It you want to go into academia then a masters is essential. In your place I would be looking for internships or graduate training programs until you get a better idea of what you want to do.

With the new post grad loans the % of people with a masters is increasing.

It's like the equivalent of a degree in the past. Now so many people have degrees its hard to differentiate the best.