Master's degree

==Structure==
{{Further|Master's degree in North America|Master's degree in Europe}}

There is a range of pathways to the degree with entry based on evidence of a capacity to undertake higher level studies in a proposed field. A [[dissertation]] may or may not be required depending on the program. In general, structure and duration of a program of study leading to a master's degree will differ by country and university.

===Duration===
Master's programs in the US and Canada are normally two years (full-time) in length. In some fields/programs, work on a doctorate begins immediately after the bachelor's degree, but a master's degree may be granted along the way as an [[Doctor of Philosophy#MASTER's degree "en route"|intermediate qualification]] if the student petitions for it.<ref name="US Master's"/> Some universities offer evening options so that students can work during the day and earn a master's degree in the evenings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scheller.gatech.edu/degree-programs/mba/evening-program/index.html|title=Georgia Institute of Technology: Evening Program|access-date=14 July 2015|archive-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109045921/https://www.scheller.gatech.edu/degree-programs/mba/evening-program/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the UK, postgraduate master's degrees typically take one to two years full-time or two to four years part-time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/masters-degrees/what-is-a-masters-degree|title=What is a Master's degree?|publisher=Prospects|access-date=9 February 2019|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209232241/https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/masters-degrees/what-is-a-masters-degree|url-status=live}}</ref> Master's degrees may be classified as either "research" or "taught", with taught degrees (those where research makes up less than half of the volume of work) being further subdivided into "specialist or advanced study" or "professional or practice". Taught degrees (of both forms) typically take a full calendar year (180 [[Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme|UK credits]], compared to 120 for an academic year), while research degrees are not typically credit rated but may take up to two years to complete. An [[MPhil]] normally takes two calendar years (360 credits). An ''integrated master's degree'' (which is always a taught degree) combines a bachelor's degree course with an additional year of study (120 credits) at master's level for a four (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or five (Scotland) academic year total period.<ref name=FHEQ/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/master's-degree-characteristics-statement.pdf|title=Master's Degree Characteristics Statement|publisher=QAA|date=September 2015|access-date=9 February 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411222920/https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/master%27s-degree-characteristics-statement.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Higher education credit framework for England|date=August 2008|url=https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/academic-credit-framework.pdf|publisher=QAA|access-date=9 February 2019|archive-date=10 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210044350/https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/academic-credit-framework.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Australia, master's degrees vary from one year for a "research" or "coursework" master's following on from an Australian [[Honours degree#Australia|honours degree]] in a related field, with an extra six months if following on straight from an ordinary bachelor's degree and another extra six months if following on from a degree in a different field, to four years for an "extended" master's degree. At some Australian universities, the master's degree may take up to two years.<ref name=AQF />

In the [[QF-EHEA|Overarching Framework of Qualifications for the European Higher Education Area]] defined as part of the [[Bologna process]], a "second cycle" (i.e. master's degree) programme is typically 90–120 [[European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System|ECTS]] credits, with a minimum requirement of at least 60 ECTS credits at second-cycle level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ehea.info/Uploads/QF/050520_Framework_qualifications.pdf|title=The framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area|date=20 May 2005|access-date=10 July 2016|publisher=European Higher Education Area|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306091710/http://www.ehea.info/uploads/qf/050520_framework_qualifications.pdf|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref> The definition of ECTS credits is that "60 ECTS credits are allocated to the learning outcomes and associated workload of a full-time academic year or its equivalent",<ref>{{cite book|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/ects/users-guide/docs/ects-users-guide_en.pdf|title=ECTS Users' Guide|publisher=European Union|date=2015|isbn=978-92-79-43559-1|doi=10.2766/87192|page=10|author1=European Commission. Directorate General for Education Culture|access-date=10 July 2016|archive-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626013143/http://ec.europa.eu/education/ects/users-guide/docs/ects-users-guide_en.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> thus European master's degrees should last for between one calendar year and two academic years, with at least one academic year of study at master's level. The Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) in England Wales and Northern Ireland level 7 qualifications and the Framework for Qualification of Higher Education Institutes in Scotland (FQHEIS) level 11 qualifications (postgraduate and integrated master's degrees, except for [[Scottish MA|MAs from the ancient universities of Scotland]] and [[Oxbridge MA]]s) have been certified as meeting this requirement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Verification-of-compatibility-of-the-framework-for-qualifications-of-higher-education-institutions-in-Scotland-with-the-fr.pdf|title=Verification of compatibility of the framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland with the framework for qualifications of the European Higher Education Area|date=October 2006|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|access-date=10 July 2016|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817175318/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Verification-of-compatibility-of-the-framework-for-qualifications-of-higher-education-institutions-in-Scotland-with-the-fr.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Verification-of-the-compatibility-of-The-framework-for-higher-education-qualifications-in-England--Wales-and-Northern-Irel.pdf|title=Verification of the compatibility of The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area(FQ-EHEA)|date=November 2008|publisher=[[Quality Assurance Agency]]|access-date=10 July 2016|archive-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409193524/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Verification-of-the-compatibility-of-The-framework-for-higher-education-qualifications-in-England--Wales-and-Northern-Irel.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Irish master's degrees are one to two years (60–120 ECTS credits) for taught degrees and two years (not credit rated) for taught and research degrees. These have also been certified as compatible with the FQ-EHEA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verification of Compatibility of Irish National Framework of Qualifications with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area|date=November 2006|url=http://www.ehea.info/Uploads/QF/QF-Ireland_en.pdf|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322060821/http://www.ehea.info/Uploads/QF/QF-Ireland_en.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Admission===
Admission to a master's degree normally requires successful completion of study at bachelor's degree level either (for [[Postgraduate education|postgraduate]] degrees) as a stand-alone degree or (for integrated degrees) as part of an integrated scheme of study. In countries where the [[Honours Degree|bachelor's degree with honours]] is the standard undergraduate degree, this is often the normal entry qualification.<ref name="Master's Characteristics"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Verification of Compatibility of Irish National Framework of Qualifications with the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area|date=November 2006|url=http://www.ehea.info/Uploads/QF/QF-Ireland_en.pdf|page=7|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322060821/http://www.ehea.info/Uploads/QF/QF-Ireland_en.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, students will normally have to write a personal statement and, in the [[liberal arts|arts]] and [[humanities]], will often have to submit a portfolio of work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/masters-degrees/applying-for-a-masters-degree|title=Applying for a Masters degree|date=June 2016|access-date=13 July 2016|publisher=Graduate Prospects|website=prospects.ac.uk|archive-date=17 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817010256/https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/masters-degrees/applying-for-a-masters-degree|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the UK, students will normally need to have a [[British degree classification|2:1]]. Students may also have to provide evidence of their ability to successfully pursue a postgraduate degree to be accepted into a taught master's course, and possibly higher for a research master's.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucas.com/ucas/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/why-study-postgraduate/faqs-about-postgraduate-study|title=FAQs about postgraduate study|date=5 January 2015|publisher=[[UCAS]]|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822093918/https://www.ucas.com/ucas/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/why-study-postgraduate/faqs-about-postgraduate-study|url-status=live}}</ref> Graduate schools in the US similarly require strong undergraduate performance, and may require students to take one or more standardised tests, such as the [[Graduate Record Examinations|GRE]], [[GMAT]] or [[LSAT]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/admissions-advice/graduate-admissions-tests-glance-gmat-gre-lsat-toefl-ielts|title=Graduate Admissions Tests at a Glance: GMAT, GRE, LSAT, TOEFL & IELTS|website=Top Universities|publisher=QS Quacquarelli Symonds|date=13 November 2013|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-date=26 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726041155/http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/admissions-advice/graduate-admissions-tests-glance-gmat-gre-lsat-toefl-ielts|url-status=live}}</ref>