It is usually around this time of year when both undergraduate students and those in employment begin to consider applying for a Master's degree. To apply for a Master's, a personal statement, and in some cases, a CV, are required.
A Master's is defined as a level 9, and can be either a one or two-year course through research or exams or a mixture of both. Universities around the country offer a variety of Master's programmes, including both taught and research courses. As with all career planning and development, it is important to research and attend open days.
In general, I think completing a Master's is worth it but one needs to be very clear on why they are doing a Master's and what they want to get out of it. For those who do not know what they want to do in the future, or find the idea of prolonging their time studying, I would not recommend a Master's.
Master's generally offer more subject matter expertise in a particular subject area. According to the Higher Education Authority (HEA ), in 2022, 75.8 per cent of postgraduate students felt that the Master's they completed was related to their job, therefore adding value to their career and increasing their chances of career progression.
There are also research Master's, which equip students with specialised research techniques, which may be very attractive to those interested in research or those hoping to go on and do a PhD. Examples of research Master's in the University of Galway include an MSc in Microbiology, Zoology and Biochemistry to name but a few. It is important to enquire if it is possible to continue to a PhD from a specific Master's if one is thinking of doing a PhD afterwards.
Placements
Some Master's offer placements, for example, the MSc in Marketing practice at the University of Galway offers a 12-month placement. Some of these placements give students valuable work experience in an industry where they may not have been able to secure work, due to a lack of experience or a lack of graduate positions.
If a Master's offers a placement, it will usually say it on the prospectus and in some cases, it may even say the specific company that offers placement. It is advisable to attend open days and to speak to course directors about the Master's in question, to gain as much information as possible about the Master's. The newly revamped Qualifax website, www.qualifax.ie, offers an excellent breakdown of the Master's offered in this country.
Some Master's offer entry into professional bodies, for example, the PME in primary and secondary education offers membership to the Teaching Council. The Master's of Social Work in Sligo ATU is very popular because it is now necessary to have a Master's in Social Work to work as a social worker in Ireland. Other Master's offer professional body exam exemptions, for example, the MA in Accounting in TUS Athlone, offers CAP 2 exemptions, 11 exemptions from CPA Ireland and eight exemptions from ACCA, while also providing the student with specialised knowledge to excel in their specific professional exams.
Master's degrees as a requirement for the job
Nowadays, many undergraduates complete postgraduate study and it is important to remember that many jobs require a Master's to progress to some senior management positions, for example, administration staff in the HSE and University administration staff.
It is also important to remember that there are some Master's that can serve as a ‘conversion course’ or allow people to switch industries or jobs; for example the MA in Journalism, at University of Galway.
To be eligible for an entry, applicants could be required to submit a portfolio of their work and may even have to take part in a short entry interview. It is important to check these requirements with the course director and usually, it says on the university website that 'candidates from any discipline can apply'.
When applying for a Master's, it is advisable to check the entry requirements. Closing dates for Master's are usually omitted from the prospectus because they are offered on a rolling basis. This means that as soon as the Master's course is full, whenever that may be, they stop accepting applications, so it is advisable to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
While completing a Master's is hugely valuable if you have a clear career goal in mind, however, they are costly; usually starting at €9,950 to €15,550 per annum depending on the course in question.
The good news is that according to the HEA in 2022, 89.3 per cent of postgraduates of taught Master's were in employment after nine months of completing their Master's and more than 52.5 per cent of graduates were earning more than €40,000 per annum after completing a Master's.
There are other challenges such as securing accommodation in the place of the study, as well as personal commitments which need to be factored in when considering a Master's; overall many postgraduates who carefully researched their courses described completing a Master's as a very valuable and worthwhile experience.
