Is Getting A Master’s Degree In Education Worth It?

Studying for a master’s degree in education is a popular choice for those who want to develop their career in teaching, mentoring, lecturing or other careers in the education field. 

This postgraduate qualification can help you to learn and develop skills at a higher level than undergraduate degrees or postgraduate certificates, but is it really worth it?

A master’s degree is a postgraduate degree which is usually taken after completing an undergraduate degree. A master’s degree is a Level 7 qualification and, therefore, contains more in-depth, complex and specialised material than a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate diploma or certificate. Master’s degrees usually take one year to complete full-time and two years part-time.

You can study a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MSc) in education, and which you choose is likely to be down to where you want to study and your career goals. An MA is more suited to those who want to go into a teaching career, in particular the humanities and an MSc is more catered to those who want to study academia or pursue a career teaching the sciences.

You can study a master’s in education degree program online, as well as in person or through blended learning opportunities. Distance learning master of education degrees are super flexible options to help you study alongside work or other commitments. 

The modules you will cover will depend on the master’s program you enrol on and where you study, but some of the modules that an MA/MSc in Education might include are:

You will also need to complete a compulsory master’s degree dissertation at the end of your advanced degree, which is on a topic of your own choice. A master’s dissertation is usually either an essay examining your thesis statement and discussing the literature that exists already or a research study which involves exploring previous studies and conducting your own research study. 

A master’s degree in education is ideal for anyone working or wanting to work in the field of education. This postgraduate study program can help you progress in your career path, access opportunities for new job roles and advance into more senior positions with a higher average salary. Some of the career prospects which a master’s degree in education would be useful for include: 

However, master’s degrees vary when it comes to the specific compulsory and elective modules they offer. When exploring which education programs to pursue, having a look at the modules will give you an idea of the careers which that degree could be most useful for. For example, some grad school master’s degrees have modules for higher education teaching and specific SEN modules for those interested in working in higher education or working with children with special educational needs. 

Getting a master’s in education in the UK is a great opportunity for career development and can open the door to many opportunities to take on education roles at a higher level. 

Masters degree holders can enjoy higher salaries, opportunities for further professional development and the ability to transition into other areas of education more easily. Having the knowledge and skills gained during an MA or MSc in education makes you more valuable to an employer and broadens your skillset so you can work your way up to achieve career goals such as working as a head of year, subject head, assistant head teacher or head teacher. 

Master’s in education degrees are also incredibly useful if you have a degree in another subject and you want to go on to tutor, mentor or teach about that subject. Using your undergraduate degree knowledge and your master’s degree teaching skills, you can build your career as an expert in your field and a skilled educator. If you want to explore further study opportunities, then you can go on to study for a doctoral degree after a master’s degree as well.

Alongside the practical benefits of getting more job opportunities and an increased earning potential, studying for a master’s degree can help your confidence and ability as an education provider. Having a higher level of understanding when it comes to key skills in education, such as teaching techniques, child and adolescent development, and international education, is incredibly useful for helping you in your current role and any job in education you later pursue.  

Postgraduate qualifications are also highly regarded among employers in all fields, and they can help develop key transferable skills. If you enjoy learning and want to discover more about education whilst developing your career as an education provider, then attending graduate school and getting a master’s degree is definitely worth it.

The most common route to getting a master’s degree in education is to study an undergraduate degree, ideally in a related subject. Some related bachelor’s degrees include education, teaching, English literature or English language, or another humanities-based degree such as psychology, social work, sociology or history. 

Depending on what you want to teach and the level at which you want to teach it, you might need to get an undergrad degree in a topic you would be interested in teaching and then go onto a master’s degree in education so you can develop your teaching skills. 

There are a range of teaching courses available online if you do not have previous teaching qualifications or want to expand your knowledge and skills. There are flexible online programs available at all levels, from short courses to online masters in education degrees, as well as specialisation courses such as digital resources for teaching courses and teaching specific subjects. They can also be more affordable and flexible than on-campus master’s degrees.