There's a wider range of courses available at postgraduate level. The way that you can study is also much more varied. Generally, there are three types of Masters degree.
Taught Masters such as Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MSc) degrees include a series of modules delivered in classrooms or laboratories followed by a final dissertation. Research Masters such as Master of Research (MRes) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degrees focus on independent project work rather than seminars and lectures.
More professional and vocational qualifications includes Masters of Business Administration (MBAs) as well as postgraduate teacher training, law and pre-registration nursing courses. These involve more practical placements and accredited training.
The guides here explain all of these types of Masters degrees and other postgraduate courses in much more detail. You can also jump straight below to a comparative list of Masters degrees and a short summary video.
What can you get a Masters degree in?
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 spacialised departments and schools and are accredited by a relevant professional body.
Integrated Masters: A longer degree that combine two qualification into one. You can either combine a Bachelors with a Masters (which is more common) or a Masters with a PhD.
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.
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 Architecture (MArch): A Masters degree accredited by the Architects Registeration 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 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 Degrees 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.
Please note that individual degree programs can vary and it’s possible that a specific course at a given university might be slightly different to the typical guidelines above.
Exploring higher education options? Learn exactly what an integrated Masters degree is and how it can help fast-track you in your chosen field with our guide.
Some professional Masters degrees are designed to prepare students to work in specific jobs, such as Social Work, Engineering and Architecture qualifications.
The Juris Doctor is a graduate-entry degree in Law. It is the main way of qualifying as a lawyer in the USA, and is also available in a number of other countries. This guide covers entry requirements, career options and more!
*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.
Do you want hassle-free information and advice?
Create your FindAMasters account and sign up to our newsletter:
Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest Masters news
Hear about our upcoming study fairs
Save your favourite programmes, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates
Due to your Facebook privacy settings, we were unable to create your account at this time. Please select another method to sign up.
We were unable to log you in with your Google account at this time. If you have third-party cookies blocked, please enable them, refresh, and try again.
or
Continue with Facebook
Create your account
We were unable to log you in with your Google account at this time. If you have third-party cookies blocked, please enable them, refresh, and try again.
Looking to list your Masters programmes? Log in here.