What is an Integrated Masters Degree

Victor Okoma

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An integrated Master’s program merges a Master’s degree with a Bachelor’s degree or a Ph.D.

It might seem pretty weird, but there are many other reasons why you may need to explore one: to follow a highly structured training program or to gain access to unique qualifications.

Hence, this article gives an overview of all that is related to what an Integrated Master’s degree is. Therefore, keep reading if you desire to know more.

What is an integrated Masters degree?

A four-year integrated Master’s degree program combines undergraduate and postgraduate study into a single course. These courses are for you if you want to pursue a career in advanced technical or research in your field, whether in industry or academia.

An Integrated Master’s degree merges undergraduate and graduate education. When you apply for an Integrated Master’s Degree, you are devoted to both undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Read also: What is a Master of Research (MRes) Degree?

What are the Types of Masters Degrees?

While graduate school offers numerous economic benefits and career opportunities, it also has numerous non-financial advantages. Returning to school can revitalize your desire to learn, provide the opportunity to finally make a career change, and broaden your cognitive development.

For people considering returning to school but having difficulty deciding on a master’s degree, the following programs may be of interest:

  • Integrated master’s degrees
  • Master of Arts (MA)
  • Master of Science (MS, MSc)
  • Postgraduate/graduate master’s degrees
  • Master of Research (MRes)
  • Master by Research (MbyRes)
  • Non-master’s level master’s degrees
  • Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Explanation of some of the types of Master’s Degree:

When selecting a program, there are significant differences between undergraduate and graduate degrees to consider.

The focus of graduate degrees, on the other hand, is frequently outside of the classroom. While undergraduate courses are focused on exams and class participation, graduate programs are more concerned with developing research and communication skills and less on regularly scheduled lectures and exams.

Take the following core types of master’s degree for instance :

Read also: Pros and Cons of Doing a Masters Before PhD(Professional view)

Master of Arts

The M.A., which typically lasts between two and four years, is one of the most accessible degrees for students. Master of Arts degrees in social science, such as sociology, political science, psychology, and anthropology, are common and can be research or academic-based degrees.

While business degrees and more specialized master’s degrees frequently present specific career paths, Master of Arts degrees cultivate a diverse set of social and professional skills.

MA degrees are socially centric, which means that students consider complex theories and their long-term and short-term implications from a sociological or anthropological perspective.

Master of Science

For someone already operating in the tech industry, an M.Sc. can help you broaden your expert knowledge, such as in ai technology, cybersecurity, or software.

As one of the people who are simply starting out in their career paths, an M.Sc. provides a strong basis for research & innovation, exposing students to a variety of fields of technology.

How do Integrated Masters Degree Programmes work?

When people talk about ‘integrated Masters degrees, they’re usually referring to programs that award a Masters-level qualification. (A degree at level 7 of the UK qualifications framework or the second cycle of the European Bologna Process.)

However, Masters degrees are sometimes combined with PhDs. Strictly speaking, these aren’t integrated Masters programs so much as Ph.D. programs that include a Master’s as a sort of ‘foundation’ year. However, it is worthwhile to briefly describe them.

A ‘four-year PhD’ or ‘1+3’ program is the most common type of combined Masters and Ph.D. programs integrated Masters degrees. As the name implies, these include a one-year Masters degree followed by a three-year Ph.D.

Read also: Part-Time vs Full-Time Masters: Which is Best? (Expert Answer)

What Subjects Award Integrated Masters Degrees?

Integrated Masters degrees are available in any subject, especially if you study in a country where undergraduate Masters are more common, such as Scotland.

However, the majority of programs that combine Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. They typically emphasize applied knowledge and practical training that is closely related to specific vocations or career paths.

1+3 PhD programs are also more common in STEM fields, though some in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences are also funded by Research Councils.

The benefits of an integrated Masters Degree

The integrated Master’s degree is for you if you want to gain a specialist understanding of your subject in order to pursue an advanced technical or research-related career in your field, either in industry or academia.

Read also: Masters or PhD: Which is the Best Option for You? (Expert Opinion)

  • Undergraduate student finance is available for all four or five years of an integrated Master’s degree, including tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, and grants.
  • With a professionally accredited MEng degree, you can apply for chartered status shortly after graduation. Once the first cohort of students graduates, we will be able to apply for chartered status for our new MEng courses – accredited status will then be granted to your degree.
  • In a competitive graduate job market, an integrated Master’s degree allows you to stand out from the crowd. Employers are increasingly looking for graduates with advanced technical skills and expert knowledge, which an integrated Master’s degree course provides.
  • The final year project, which will assist you in developing advanced laboratory, technical, and professional skills required for research or other practically-based careers, is a significant benefit of integrated Master’s degree courses.

Is an Integrated Master’s Degree Worth it?

Nowadays, a master’s degree is necessary to submit a competitive application or even get into a good workspace.

You must, however, consider what the integrated master’s courses will entail before you think of applying. Will it be relevant to your course field, or will the course content be completely unrelated?

In any situation, I would suggest you apply for a bachelor’s if the integrated Master’s is completely irrelevant to your field. And then apply for a master’s degree that is more relevant or related.

Read also: Can I Get Ph.D Programs Without Masters?

Conclusion

The most common integrated Masters degrees start at the undergraduate level but end up awarding a Masters rather than a Bachelors. These are also known as ‘undergraduate Masters degrees.’

Source

The Student Room

The Guardian

University Compare

Sharda

BCU

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