Hi

What sort of person does a master's? Obviously you need to enjoy it but i mean do you think it depends on your nationality etc.

i do not see many english students at UK universities or abroad studying for a masters - they seem to come from all parts of the world except the country where the university is!

is my theory wrong?

Any response would help clarify my issues so i can feel confident in applying for a masters.

Andy

I'm an American student doing a MA at a UK university. You're right; I don't see many UK students here. I think it depends on the program -- one of my friends is the only non-UK student in her degree; another friend is one of two UK students in hers.

"What sort of person does a master's? " An unemployed one.

Yes, this sounds flippant, but it's a general running joke in British academia, and one that is very applicable to UK students. A proportion of UK students are in masters courses because a) they didn't get a graduate job, or b) they are undecided about their career....watch the numbers increase in the next few years!

A British graduate, unless requiring specialist knowledge or pursuing an academic career, doesn't really need a masters degree. Most employers (I can speak from a corporate perspective) do not see them as a necessary element for graduate employment. There is generally less kudos associated with masters or phd qualifications compared to other countries (with the exclusion of highly specialised degrees/MBAs etc.) so there is less motivation for a British graduate to pursue one.

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I agree with misspacey to an extent...I am a UK student, did a Masters to bolster a very succesful BA so I could go into research e.g working for a think tank or some such in an area that required more specialist knowledge than at BA...I did manage to get a research job in that particular area of studies, and without my MA i don't think it would have been possible...

it turned out, that research job led me to my current PhD which I am enjoying very much and I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else

So yes, "what type of person" i'd say an unemployed one indeed (although i also worked during my MA but not in a job i enjoyed), who either has designs to start a PhD or research in a particular area. Essentially, an MA is by no means a bad thing, but depending on what you wish to get out of it in terms of area you want to work in etc, it adds varying amounts of value to your professional credentials for employment

In my third year of my batchelors i decided i wanted to do a masters. Partly to prove to myself that i could do it, to increase my job opportunities and to study my chosen area of study in more detail. I am very glad i did it- possibly the best year i ever had at uni. It was a great stepping stone leading to my PhD