Masters Degree

[tescocreditcard]

Would anyone be kind enough to explain what a Masters Degree is and how I would go about obtaining one.

I was only educated to diploma/NVQ level because i come from a working class family and my parents didn't really encourage education just wanted me to get a job quickly - because of this I don't know much about academic stuff.

If anyone could help explain that'd be great.

I’m sure someone more knowledgeable will come along but as I understand it..
a degree is level 6, a masters degree is level 7, It’s a post-graduate degree but I’m not sure if the two are interchangeable?
im a mature student and only had a BTEC National diploma (level 3/ a level) then I did a foundation degree which was 4/5 and am just doing a tip-up now which will make it a degree.
i am unsure if you have to go up the levels or if you have relevant career experience you may be able to skip a level, mine was a complete change.

Thats really helpful @Olindia . I'm hoping to be able to go straight for the Masters, without the degree and top up etc. Do I just pick a university I like the look of and see if they do the course I want and then apply there? I assume I have to pay for it?

I would just find the course you want to do and then approach the tutor by email or attend the open day if they have one. Both of my courses (and one that I chose not to do) were all really helpful, I think they are mindful that it can be quite daunting for people not coming straight from school.

You can’t do a Masters degree without getting a basic degree first. You need to go and talk to the people who run the course you are interested in.

Interesting! What experience do you have that means you feel confident in going straight to a Masters without a first degree, @tescocreditcard?

I can’t say I’d recommend such a venture! I mean, you might be a genius, but a Bachelor’s degree essentially teaches one how to study independently (or at least that’s what it’s supposed to do) and I can’t see how the vast majority of people wouldn’t struggle at MA level without that initial training. Presumably you’ve done some other form of study since leaving school? Or built up expertise elsewhere that you could bring to postgraduate study?

Anyway, UCAS should be able to guide you through the options.

You can skip the degree for some subjects - but you need evidence that you can write at level 6&7. You also need work experience to the equivalent of degree level.
its usually work based subject this applies too. I’m not sure how you go on for arts and humanities.

I have studied a lot as as adult. A bit of OU. various NVQ's in health and social care modules and assessing and training. Have lots of experience in care management and just wanted to expand on that a bit more.

I think i'll look at the UCAS website.

I know someone who was able to do a Master's without an undergrad. She was in HR and had lots of CIPD qualifications which were taken into account. I think the process is called APL or something (accreditation of prior learning??).

I would imagine your prior learning would need to be at degree level (year 1 of an undergrad is level 4, year 2 is level 5 and as pp said final degree is level 6).

I assume I have to pay for it?

I guess, even if you’re pulling our legs, the information may be useful for someone reading this thread.

Again, UCAS is your friend.

depends - whats your subject?

some really need an undergrad to be able to fully benefit from masters learning (and to do well!)

You can’t do a Masters degree without getting a basic degree first.

It depends on the masters course. I run an MA which trains you to do a specific job and we take people with no degree providing they have relevant experience.

Hello OP.

Since your intended Masters’ relates to your current employment or other field of study/knowledge/expertise it’s not quite accurate to say that you ‘need’ an undergraduate degree to enrol on a postgraduate study or to be able to cope with the work. You’d need to show whoever is responsible for admissions that you are able to produce work at PG level. When I did mine, of 13 students in the class, one person had no undergraduate degree. They worked in the field and did PG study for career advancement reasons similar to your own. They got a distinction🥳

My SIL is also nearly finished a MA in Social Work, again without an undergraduate degree. She has been in the job for years and is very well-regarded but certain senior level posts are off-limits to her without some form of FE qualification. She’s been supported by her work in financing the degree. I wonder if you’d be able to speak to your employer about that?

Good luck to you!

https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

Thank you everyone for the tips and advice. I've just started a new job so will speak to my employer when i become a bit more established.

It's very fast paced.

I just finished one. From start to first submission of 1 3 hour exam and 1 7500 word essay was around 15 weeks.

Unlike under graduate, where I had a year for each g module and practice essays /exams along the way with feedback, it was one and done.

Plus of course learning how to reference/argument etc. how to research.

You can get a loan for masters -for £11k. Mine was £16k plus living costs.

You need a minimum 2:1degree to study for a masters

And it is hard work!

Actually, @CallieQ, academic institutions are often quite prepared to vary or waive specific requirements in the case of mature applicants with relevant experience or expertise in the proposed subject. As long as the institution is confident the candidate will cope with the demands of Master’s level study.

It’s one of the few blessings of not being young!

Not true

What modules were your OU in? At what level and what grade? OU courses tend to be looked upon favourably but it would all dependent what you have done.

Not true, I'm just about to finish my second masters and I left school after doing O levels.

No A levels, no undergrad degree, no conversion courses.

I did professional qualifications in my 20s and my first masters in my 30s, second one in my late 40s, just about to finish. Both PT while working full time.

Thinking of doing a PhD next year.

Not doing - I mean starting!

@TearsforBeers

Not true

It is true I have 2 masters so I should know

I agree it's basically a 2.1 at under graduate or equivalent experience (say a professional qualification or recent work experience)

Not that it would be a great idea to plunge into a ££££ masters without a good idea you will do fairly well in it (Ie you are prepared to study and know how to write essays etc as you don't get long to get up to speed)

That means nothing. Most places accept 2:2s these days. Or equivalent experience for a vocational masters.

@CallieQ what you know is that the institutions you applied to may have stipulated a 2:1 as the minimum requirement, and that you applied and got in with your 2:1. But I can promise you there’s a lot more flexibility in the system than that, across institutions, and dependent upon what else a candidate can offer as evidence of capability for the course.

Mature students in particular can very often walk into a Masters course with very different qualifications to those officially required. A graduate school is hardly likely to turn away a former barrister or astrophysicist wanting to study … I dunno, theatre or philosophy, because they happened to get a 2:2 at Oxbridge 30 years ago …