Masters Degree - worth it or not?

si1503

Hi,

Just looking for some general opinions on whether or not a masters degree would be worth doing for myself...

I am currently in my 2nd year of a business studies degree, and was looking into a masters to give me that edge over the vast number of other business studies graduates. I have selected the 'Accounting and Finance' route in my course, which gives me accounting and financial markets modules, also doing marketing managemet and international business and comms.

Career wise I'd like to go into investment/risk analysis, or perhaps something to do on the stock market, certainly something financial.

With that in mind, would a masters from a top uni benefit me? Currently at Nottingham Trent, but I'd be looking to study my masters at Nottingham uni, Bath, Durham, Manchester or Southampton uni. So somewhere with a good rep. In terms of subjects am I right in assuming that an economics and/or finance masters would be of most benefit?

Thanks.

abdulinyourface

i dont know the ins and outs of the degree you're doing but i would certainly recommend doing a master/postgrad course because a degree is now the norm for people and anything above is what sets students apart. definately recommend a PhD. hopefully its something im looking to do in the future myself

studentphil

ask over on students, you will get the best answer there.

studentphil

abdulinyourface wrote:

i dont know the ins and outs of the degree you're doing but i would certainly recommend doing a master/postgrad course because a degree is now the norm for people and anything above is what sets students apart. definately recommend a PhD. hopefully its something im looking to do in the future myself

A PHD or a Masters gives you no edge in getting a city job really as they recruit mostly undergrad students.

abdulinyourface

you say that phil....but my company just hired two people, one an undergrad and one with a masters. the one with the masters immediately got a substantial better initial pay than the undergrad

the reason why they recruit undergrad is because there are so many more undergrads than master/phd student out there.

like i said today a degree is seen as a norm like gcse's a-levels were seen as the norm a few years ago.

studentphil

In a sense, it depends on your job as to if your Post grad research helps you at work.

abdulinyourface

if you do further studies then it is an indication that you would like to go into research, which is what masters/PhD is.

undergrads want to get out there and get a job. but i still hold by my word and say if you have a masters you stand a better chance although some places will think you're too educated if youre applying for a basic job with a PhD to your name

studentphil

There are two different levels degree work and real day to day work and so many students are really useless at the day to day stuff as it needs common sense and to think for yourself.

abdulinyourface

studentphil wrote:

There are two different levels degree work and real day to day work and so many students are really useless at the day to day stuff as it needs common sense and to think for yourself.

yes i can really see graduates applying for jobs down the local offy! :rolleyes:

studentphil

I have have worked with soon to be graduates on stuff that is outside book work and they are really weak I have to say.

abdulinyourface

phil im not going to go into a tit for tat with you.

i myself have just recently graduated a couple of years ago and have been working ever since.

what i speak of is what i actually see day in day out and in my experience having a masters etc is more beneficial in the working world than just a degree. this is FACT, not my own opinion of what i think will happen in the future not because i have spent time with "soon to be graduates".

i have friends who have done degrees different to mine, accountancy, law , optometry, doctor, pharmacy, IT studies (I could go on) and it may not necessarily be masters but further studies like doing courses for say, chartered accountants etc are definately more beneficial than just stayin an undergrad.

in this instance si15 needs to find out all his options be it masters or more tailored courses to suit his career development as it will help him in the long run, when looking for a job initially and gaining the necessary experience.

undergrad will get you a job theres no doubt about it, but having that extra edge of doing further studies will place you in far greater stead and will open a lot more doors for you than just having a degree, because unfortunately some of the "easier" degrees as they say, like media studies etc have brought the importance of a degree down.

thats all i have to say.