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In this case, students who wish to pursue their studies abroad must be aware of the distinction between a bachelor's and master's degree. There are differences between the two types of degrees in terms of their nature, requirements for admission and career prospects.
If you are confused whether to take a bachelor's degree first or take both or neither of the two, then read this article to understand how these two degrees fit in your academic curriculum.
What Is a Bachelor's Degree?
A Bachelor's degree is the first form of higher education that individuals usually undertake after secondary school education.
It offers comprehensive knowledge in the selected field and helps learners acquire analytical, research, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Common names for bachelor's degrees include:
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Bachelor of Arts (BA)
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Bachelor of Science (BSc/BS)
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Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
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Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
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Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Duration of Bachelor's degrees includes:
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3 years in many countries in Europe and UK
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4 years in the US and Canada
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3-4 years in Australia and other countries
Upon graduating from a bachelor's program, an individual may join the job market or pursue further studies.
What Is a Master's Degree?
A master’s degree is a higher education level where learners advance their studies after graduating with a bachelor's degree.
While undergraduate education concentrates on general education, a master's course is based on expertise, specialization, and individual research in a chosen field.
Examples of master's degrees include the following:
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Master of Arts (MA)
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Master of Science (MSc or MS)
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Master of Business Administration (MBA)
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Master of Engineering (MEng)
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Master of Public Health (MPH)
It normally takes about one to two years to get a master's degree.
Which Degree Comes First?
Academic progression in most educational systems across the globe is usually well structured as below:
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Secondary/High School
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Bachelor’s Degree
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Master’s Degree
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Doctorate Degree (PhD)
From this, it can be seen that most students will always go through the bachelor’s program before applying for the master’s program.
The universities normally demand that a candidate have an undergraduate degree for one to pursue any graduate program.
Why Is a Bachelor's Degree Required?
An undergraduate degree gives the necessary academic skills for further studies.
In undergraduate studies, students will be exposed to:
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Basic theories
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Methodologies
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Academic writing
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Specific subject knowledge
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Independent learning skills
Master's programs assume students already possess this foundation and build upon it with more specialized coursework and research.
Can You Skip a Bachelor's Degree?
Most of the time, the answer is no.
The normal requirement for any university is that applicants must have completed their bachelor's degrees before starting their master's degrees.
But there are exceptions.
There are universities that offer:
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Master’s integrated programs
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Master's accelerated programs
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Bachelor's/master's combined degree
This means you can get both degrees through one course of study.
This kind of course is common in fields such as engineering, pharmacy, architecture, and some sciences.
How Do the Two Degrees Differ?
While both the qualifications fall under higher education, there are different goals for each of them.
Whereas a bachelor's degree centers around acquainting the students with a particular field and developing their general academic knowledge.
The master's degree is more about specializing, analyzing, researching and gaining expertise in the profession.
Students pursuing a master’s degree do more individual work compared to the undergraduates.
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
The requirements for applicants who wish to join a bachelor’s degree course include:
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Secondary education certificate
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Academic transcript
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English language test scores (if required)
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Personal statement
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Letter of recommendation (in certain universities)
In some cases, admission tests, portfolio, and interviews may be necessary.
Master’s Degree
Applicants to master’s degree courses should have the following:
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Bachelor’s degree
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Academic transcript
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Statement of purpose
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Letters of recommendation
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Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé (in certain cases)
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English language proficiency
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Research proposal (in research-oriented programs)
For professional courses like MBAs, work experience may also be required.
Career Opportunities
A bachelor’s degree provides many professional job opportunities in the beginning level of a career, and also represents the minimum educational requirement for many different industries.
Examples of such careers are:
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Business
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Engineering
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Teaching
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Healthcare
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Marketing
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IT
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Public administration
Some careers require a master’s degree for which graduates can be well-prepared.
These careers might include the following:
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Research
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Management
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Consultancy
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Data science
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Public policy
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Clinical practice
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University teaching
Some careers require a master’s degree for professional licensing and career progression.
Should Everyone Earn a Master's Degree?
This might not be the case.
The question whether getting a master's degree is worthwhile depends on your personal goals, chosen profession and career aspirations.
Getting a master's degree can be helpful if you wish to:
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Gain specialization
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Enhance earning capacity
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Work in a competitive industry
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Change career paths
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Undertake research studies
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Further education into a Ph.D. program
But most successful careers need nothing more than a bachelor's degree.
Studying Abroad: Bachelor's or Master's?
The choice of place of study is often based on one's educational level.
For instance, many students go to another country for their bachelor's studies to acquire an international education from the start of their educational process.
Other students complete their bachelor's education in their homeland and then join foreign countries for their master's studies.
Such strategies help students become more internationally experienced and employable in global companies.
Common Misconceptions
Students often misunderstand the connection between Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
Some of the myths are:
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A Master’s degree is a guarantee of receiving more money.
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All careers require a post-graduation degree.
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A Bachelor’s degree loses its value if you do not have a Master’s degree.
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Master’s programs are just extended versions of the Bachelor’s courses.
However, each of the degrees has its own purpose and is chosen based on individual needs.
Looking Ahead
There is an increasing need for postgraduate studies due to industrialization and technological progress. On the other hand, employers place much importance on experience and internship.
In such a way, students have to evaluate how each degree helps them realize their future career aspirations instead of studying as many degrees as possible.
Conclusion
Bachelor’s degree represents the first stage in further education and provides students with the necessary expertise. Master’s degree follows it and offers specialization. Understanding the difference between these educational levels will help students in making their decision about further education.
It is essential to understand that regardless of whether students decide to stop studying after completing their bachelor’s or continue their education, the main thing is to choose the direction which will contribute to achieving their ambitions and goals in life.
