What Master’s Degree should you Pursue? Discover how to choose the Right Master's Degree for You!


Wednesday, 19 August 2020

It is not a simple task to decide which Master’s degree to pursue because it involves many important aspects that you should consider. From job opportunities and future earning potential, to job satisfaction and the cost of the degree, it can be really hard to find a degree that meets all your needs or wants. Maybe the following list can help you to make the final decision.


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When you are young, it’s hard to make a decision that involves the rest of your life. Many people decide to pursue a career in Law, Business or any other field and, 10 years later, realize they don’t like it at all. 

It can be highly beneficial to earn a Master’s degree if you want to have more job opportunities, a better possibility to have a higher income and a more comfortable life. These are important aspects to consider when choosing a Master’s degree. However, it is also important to choose a career you are interested in and you are good at if you want your job to be a more pleasurable experience. 


What Master’s Degree should I Pursue?

Among the most popular fields of study Masters students choose in South Africa are Engineering, Science, Law, Business, Humanities and Social Sciences. However, if you are interested in pursuing a career in any of these fields, you should consider that they are broad areas that include many different fields of study. 

If you choose a career only considering its earning potential, you may end up being unhappy even though you make a good living out of it. 

On the other hand, if you are interested in your job but you can barely make ends meet, you will also end up frustrated. 

Both these aspects should have the same importance when it comes to choosing a master’s degree because, when your future is at stake, nothing can be taken for granted.

Many people ask themselves the following questions when choosing which Master’s degree to pursue:

  • Which university is the best?
  • Which specialization suits my needs?
  • How will the master’s qualification improve my career?

How to make the right decision?

The following is a list of things you should consider when choosing your master’s degree and that may help you feel good with the final decision:


1. Choose a University
It’s crucial to choose an institution that will open doors for you. From its reputation and its links to the industry to its ranking and its overall standing, you should examine the university you are interested in so that you choose the one that will benefit you while you study as well as in your future career.

Luckily, most universities in South Africa are internationally accredited and globally competitive, providing postgraduate students with excellent opportunities.


2. Pick a Specialization you are interested in
Deciding which specialization to focus on is as important as the university you choose. You may be interested in Humanities, Health or Business, but there are many possible degrees inside of each of those areas. You first should choose the broad area and, then, find out which specialization of that area you prefer. 

Being passionate for your future career will go a long way in helping you study it better, managing your time in a more efficient way and help you succeed in your future job. 


3. Take into consideration the length of the programme
Master’s degrees generally last from 1 year to 2 years. It is important to consider the length of the degree because. If the degree is shorter than a year, it may not be recognized or respected. 


4. Examine the curriculum of the programme
Once you know which degree you want to pursue, you need to dig a little deeper so as to have  a better understanding of what the overall programme will be. You need to be aware of the modules you will take and what you will study in each of them, the assessment criteria and strategies, etc. 


5. Take a look at the Career Prospects
The competitive world we live in currently requires professionals to keep on polishing their knowledge and skills if they want to succeed or have more career options. That’s why it is important that you take into consideration the career possibilities the degree you want to pursue will provide you with.

If you consider the career prospects, once you finish your degree, you will enter the workforce from a different perspective than you did before if you already have a job. This time, you will be better prepared to compete for different jobs or for promotions because your degree will back you up. 

In sum, choosing a master’s degree is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. That’s why it is crucial that you take all the previous factors into account before making the final decision if you want it to be a fruitful one. 

The following are some of the best universities in South Africa that offer top Master's degrees:




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