For students completing a bachelor’s degree, deciding what to do next can be quite overwhelming. Even if you know the field you want to specialize in, navigating the various Master’s degree options and their acronyms can be confusing.
In this article, we will discuss two types of Master’s degrees: Taught Masters and Research Masters.
Taught Master’s degrees are common everywhere, while Research Master’s degrees, often abbreviated as MRes (Master of Research), are primarily found in the United Kingdom but can also be found in countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy.
Taught Masters vs. Research Masters
There are numerous types of Master’s degrees, with Taught Masters being the most prevalent. In the United Kingdom, these programs are also known as postgraduate taught or PGT for short. They generally require students to complete a specified number of modules and a thesis (also called a dissertation), and sometimes include work experience through a placement. The nature of the dissertation varies depending on the Master’s degree program and might involve a small research project. Most postgraduate taught degrees incorporate elements of independent work and research to different extents.
Conversely, a Research Master’s degree is heavily focused on research. In the UK, these programs are also referred to as postgraduate research or PGR (although PGR can also refer to doctorate programs). Instead of attending classes each semester and completing module assignments, students primarily work on an independent research project under supervision. While the course includes a few taught modules, usually on research methodologies, the majority of the time is spent working independently.
Master’s degrees in the UK typically take one year to complete full-time or two years part-time, though the duration may vary in other countries.
Key Points to Remember:
- A final dissertation is mandatory for all Master’s degrees. However, a dissertation for an MRes is usually more extensive than one for an MA (Master of Arts) or MSc (Master of Science).
- Research Masters usually result in an MRes degree. However, some universities may award an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) or MLitt (Master of Letters) instead.