Swansea University: Why do a master's degree?

Why do a master's degree?

The benefits of a taught postgraduate degree include enhanced skills and employability, and intellectual reward. A master's programme also offers you the chance to move in a new career direction or prepare for PhD research.

Enhanced Employability

The skills and qualities you develop during your master's degree will enhance your CV and help you stand out in a highly competitive graduate employment job market.

The combination of taught modules, course work and dissertation will improve your organisational skills, time management and ability to meet deadlines.

You can also expect to further develop your transferable skills in the following areas:

Communication

Project management

Data analysis

IT

Independent thinking

Critical thinking

Problem solving

At the end of your studies, the additional qualification you have acquired will prove to an employer that you have determination, tenacity and the ability to develop high level knowledge.

As a result of the skills and experiences gained, you’re more likely to secure a job and attract a higher salary. That means you can be confident of getting a return on your investment in your postgraduate education.

Intellectual reward

A master's degree will allow you to pursue a specialist area of interest that you developed during your previous studies or in your career.

Our master's programmes allow you to specialise through optional modules and a dissertation or research project which is completed on a subject of your own choosing. This means that you have the opportunity to build a programme which reflects your own unique interests and which will prove interesting and intellectually rewarding.

Prepare for PhD research

A master’s degree is ideal preparation if you intend to pursue a PhD programme. The detailed knowledge and specialist skills you acquire will provide an excellent foundation for the next level of study and allow you to progress your PhD research more quickly. A master's qualification can also help you secure PhD funding from Research Councils.

Convert to a new subject area

If you already have a degree but are yearning for a change of direction, a taught postgraduate programme can give you the opportunity to move into an entirely new career area.

We offer a number of conversion courses which are open to graduates of any subject area and can help you take the first steps to a new and rewarding career.