What are the big differences between degree and Masters level?

studentphil

What are the big differences between degree and Masters level?

Is the step up really that huge?

eventer

studentphil wrote:

What are the big differences between degree and Masters level?

Is the step up really that huge?

Yes, it is a big step up, not in terms of intellectual ability, I found it no more difficult in terms of concepts etc, but in terms of what you are expected to do.

At Masters level they expect you to do a lot of self-directed study - the concepts are introduced to you but you are expected to read widly around the subject, and I found there was a great deal less contact time. The workload was also higher.

Unless you are seriously interested in the subject I think you will struggle - lots of people on my course did, whereas I found the subject fascinating so was happy to put in the work. There is a lot less 'spoon-feeding' of ideas, and generally they are assesed on your ability to generate new thinking, rather than at degree level where you learn the answers and can do well even if you only read the reading lists.

There is a good reason why if you don't have a 2:1 at degree level but complete a masters it is a way in to doing a PhD - a masters is much more independent research.

Of course it depends on the type of masters too, you can do a research masters or a taught masters (research gives you an MPhil usually).

The other benefit of masters is that there are usually 3 exit points, so if you hate it you can leave but still have a qualification - leave at christmas and you get a Post Grad certificate, before the thesis and you get a post grad diploma (or possibly the other way around).

For the record I loved my MSc, it helped me get a job in my chosen field that I otherwise would not have stood a chance of getting and I got a distinction to boot (averaged over 75% in all the modules and over 80% in my thesis). But I worked damn hard for a year.

Gabriel-Ernest

It depends where you study - at Oxbridge your undergrad course is a Masters if it is 4 years long. One of the anomalies of the system.

cupid_s

I did an undergrad degree and a masters degree. Undergrad at leeds then masters at birmingham. So both good Unis. I worked twice as hard, actually probably more than that, for my undergrad degree than my masters yet got an equivalent mark in both.

I found that less work was required, the concepts were no harder and less was expected of me at masters level. Though I know I worked ridiculously hard and for really long hours for my undergrad degree. The fact I got a first in my undergrad degree also helped. Those on my masters course with 2:2s really struggled and I reckon they would have found the difference enormous.

[Deleted User]

Quick CV:
BSc Genetics (liverpool uni) 2:2 (2001)
MSc Biosystems and Informatics (liverpool uni) (2002)

Frankly, i found the first term a walk in the park, i boozed and went out a lot more than i'd done in my 3rd year of my degree. Genetics was hardly an easy course and prepared me well for independent study. The 2nd term had a lot more work in it but was no harder than my degree course. The MSc did have a large portion of IT work in it, which i find very easy (I'm now an IT analyst..)

Really, it depends on the course, my bro did an MRes in Psychology at Brum uni and didn't find it too bad either.

studentphil

Cheers,very interesting!!

talksalot81

It depends greatly upon what you studied and where you studied it. Different establishments have different goals for their bachelors students. Some of the above is correct for some situations, but others it is wrong. In my subject area the teaching load is similar to BSc. But there is alot more contact with the academic staff and higher students in the form of a research project.

fran_from_willesden

I wouldn't have got my current job without a Masters...I got a 2:1 at Liverpool (fellow alumni ringo_24601!) and it took me a while to decide what Masters to do (two years!). I've ended up with an MSc in Environmental Engineering and now have a graduate position in that area (well, a part of it anyway). I didnt realise that I wouldn't have been able to get a job with my firm with out that extra degree.

I graduated on Wednesday this week from Newcastle and am very proud of what I achieved. In my opinion, it was a lot harder then I envisiged (sp? I am a scientist after all!). I found my thesis more difficult as it is more directed to what you want it to be. Eventually I would like to do a PhD...in a few years anyway!

Stompa

Oxbridge graduates can buy theirs for a small fee:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/478163.stm

http://teflsmiler.typepad.com/weblog/2005/03/the_cheats_of_o.html

studentphil

I really can not understand masters. Some of my teachers at school had Masters and yet they were a bit stupid in all honesty and they did not really know much about their topics. But yet the best teacher I know got her assignment at Masters level failed.

talksalot81

Some masters can be very like BSc. We all know that any idiot can get through a BSc course and resultantly there are alot of individuals, with degrees, who you wouldnt claim to be particularly bright. The same can seem to apply for a masters. PhD seems to be where you get change but then you that most people are not short on brain cells, but you will find some lacking in common sense!