Master's stories to help you find the best graduate program

On the higher education ladder a master’s degree is one step beyond a bachelor’s and one rung below a PhD. They’re often concentrated in one specific area of a wider subject, giving students the opportunity to specialise in their chosen field. Master’s programs fall into a wide range of categories, with the most common being a Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MSc). MA degrees encompass the likes of social sciences, arts, humanities and business, whilst a typical MSc degree covers science, tech, engineering and maths.

Over the years a master’s degree has gone from a niche qualification held by a privileged few to the fastest-growing tertiary qualification in the United States. Between 2000 and 2018, the number of US citizens with a master’s went from 10.4 million to 21 million: a 101% increase. This figure tells us one thing: it’s no longer enough to just hold a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree is now THE essential tool to stand out in a crowded global job market and to truly become a master in your field.