3 Reasons To Study A Masters

Studying for a master’s is a big commitment and there are so many pros and cons on both sides. Below I have summarised the three main reasons I think you should study for a masters and three big reasons why you shouldn’t.

Enhance your knowledge

This one is a no brainer really, surely the reason you want to do your masters in the first place is to enhance your knowledge. No? Is it to gain your parent’s approval? To finally prove you’re smarter than Cathy from High School? Because you don’t want to join the real world? All of those are bad reasons, but more on that later.

Most people studying a master’s degree do so in a related field to their bachelor’s degree, but in a more specialised area. This is a great way to build on the knowledge you have gained during your undergrad, if you have a clear career goal in mind, this is likely a very good option for you.

You will have the opportunity to gain deeper knowledge of your chosen subject, this will be much more specialised in comparison to your undergrad, and therefore if you pick the right subject may be far more enjoyable and rewarding as you get to grips with your field of study.

However, if you have your heart set on completing a master’s but hated every second of your undergrad, all hope is not lost. Most University’s in the UK are very flexible with their entry requirements for master’s. The focus is on academic prowess and ability as opposed to modules studied. So, if there was a certain side-line module you did enjoy, or you discovered a love for a different subject while studying, find the masters of your dreams and be brave, contact the Universities, ask if you would be considered, look at alternative routes to get your masters, such as an open MA. If you want it enough there will be a way to make it happen.

Earn more money with a master’s

If enhancing your knowledge wasn’t your real motivator for completing a master’s, it was probably money (or “career prospects”, however you want to frame it is fine by me, I won’t tell!).

The average Salary in the UK for a 35-year-old with an apprenticeship is £25,706, whereas the average with a bachelor’s is £33,335, the average for the same person with a master’s is £38,735 (+16%). I have used the example of a 35-year-old, as salary difference doesn’t really start to show for those with a master’s until they are around 5 years into their careers. So, if you do your bachelors at 18 and your master’s at 21, don’t be expecting to walk straight into a £35k+ position just because of your education, you still need to prove yourself in the work environment, but it will give you an edge with promotions as you move through your career.

In the US the difference is similar, someone with an associate degree is likely to earn $43,472 per annum, whereas a bachelors will put you at $60,996 and a master’s $72,852 (+19%).

So, if money is your goal, studying for a masters is likely to be a good investment with the average masters costing £8,740 in the UK, 2 years of hitting that additional income should cover your costs (not taking interest rates into consideration which are currently 6% for post grad loans). In the USA it’s less cut and dry with the average masters costing you $66,000, meaning it should take you at least 6 years of additional income to pay back what it cost to study.

Personal Development

Now some people might say spending £8,000 on a master’s is a very expensive way to better yourself, but I don’t think that’s true (I mean it is expensive, but I think there is value there).

Firstly, there is the confidence that comes with completing a master’s, master’s courses are difficult, and a lot of the work is completed alone (no coasting off a group project here). When you get that certificate, you will inevitably be filled with pride and joy and a huge sense of achievement. The fact that the nature of a master’s is so autonomous means that no one can second guess that achievement, it is yours, and you earned it. Now that 27% of the population have a bachelor’s degree it can feel like less of an achievement than it really is (and it is, don’t ever forget that), however at a tiny 1.6% of the population holding master’s degree’s there is no denying the awesomeness.

Secondly, in relation to everything mentioned above, master’s degrees are not easy (or everyone would have one). During your master’s degree you will learn many invaluable life skills such as discipline, dedication, time management, multi-tasking, prioritising, not getting drunk every weekend, patience, problem solving, logical thinking, research and analytical skills ….. The list goes on and on, and I am a true believer that with every challenge you set yourself you grow as an individual, and that is never a bad thing.

Obviously, there are many other reasons why studying a masters may be a good idea, but in my opinion, these are the most sensible, now these reasons for not studying a master’s are definitely not sensible. Now you may read these and think they are ridiculous, but if you are struggling to identify why you want to study a masters it may be closer to these reasons than you think.

To Prove to your parents / friends / siblings /ex-boyfriend / neighbour’s cat that you are smart!

Now this may seem crazy, spending £8,000+ to make a point, but it is more common than you think. So many people go through their lives collecting qualifications (guilty as charged) not really knowing why, or what their plan is, and in these instances the underlying reasons is usually something that will make you cringe when you finally unearth it.

So don’t look just keep running……

Ok no you do have to look, at some point. If you have someone in your life who has always made you feel small, stupid, inadequate, not enough. You need to process that, before making any major life decisions. Working on this can come in many ways, it can be a simple as having an honest conversation with that person about how they make you feel, or it could require intensive therapy to break the habits that have built up over time. Only you will know how much work is needed, but until you can tell yourself 100%, that you are not trying to please them, or prove that you are worthy, you still have work to do.

You are not ready to work / You fear the real world.

Now I understand, entering the “real world” can be scary, but if you are going to do your master’s just to avoid it, you will make yourself miserable. You won’t be dedicated, you won’t enjoy it and you will just be delaying the inevitable and missing out on positive opportunities for growth and development, and negative opportunities that also lead to growth and development. The sad truth is you really can’t grow without living your life. Even the scary bits!

You want to spend another year partying like you did during your undergrad!

Again, the sensible among you may be thinking, surely no one would really do this, but this is linked to the above and is surprisingly common. If you were lucky enough to walk away from your Undergrad with a 2.1 or above despite being half cut the entire time, then my advice for you is to pretend you worked hard and take your prize and run. The jump in intensity between bachelor’s and master’s is not small, and the chances of you replicating such feats are slim on a good day. Also racking up another year (or more) of Student loans just to Party is crazy, either take a gap year and party while working in a bar in Ibiza, or better yet, get a job, save some money, and start partying when you can afford it, and avoid the inevitable embarrassing drop out story!

The bottom line is that your reasons should make sense and you should be clear on them, if you are not sure what your real reason is, try the 5 Why’s technique. Ask yourself why you want to do a master’s, then for every answer you come up with, ask yourself why you want that, or why it matters. Keep going until you get an answer that you can’t argue. Now ask yourself is that a reason you feel comfortable with. If it is, your good to go, if it’s not, this may be a good time to step back, reflect and re-evaluate.