We explain some of the career benefits you might experience with a master’s degree.

1. Career advancement

Many studies suggest that earning a master’s can increase your earning potential. Although it’s not a guarantee, having a master’s degree on your CV does make it more likely that you’ll earn a higher salary. This is true of both taught master’s and research master’s degrees.

Statistics show that full-time employed, working-age postgraduates in the UK had an average salary of £39,000 in 2017, compared with £33,000 for working-age undergraduates.*

*Graduate labour market statistics, 2017

Furthermore, many of our master’s programmes offer the best path forward for certain jobs or promotions and help to prepare our students for specific exams and training. For example, our master’s in Surgical Sciences helps prepare surgeons for the MRCS examination.

2. Enhanced knowledge and expertise

A master’s degree is a postgraduate qualification designed to give you in-depth knowledge of a particular subject area.

So it goes without saying that once you complete an MSc, you’ll be well-equipped to transfer that knowledge to your chosen career path. In fact, many of our online degrees are designed to provide you with expertise that you can use practically week in, week out, and improve your work even before you graduate.

Having a master’s degree on your CV also shows employers and bosses that you’ve made an effort to enhance your skills in the job market and keep up-to-date with industry trends.

Finally, a master’s also helps you earn the skills needed to transfer to an entirely new career if needed. That’s how Bex, one of our current students, transitioned from a 9-5 admin job to a role as an assistant ecologist.

3. Networking opportunities

Masters degrees offer you an immediate opportunity to network with people working in similar fields from all over the world.

Whether it’s your tutors or fellow students, you will build up a network of contacts who may well prove useful in any future career move.

And after you graduate from the University of Edinburgh, you’ll have yet more opportunities to connect with like-minded people working within your field of study (and beyond).

There are also plenty of alumni clubs and societies based around the world, allowing you to access an established community of fellow graduates.

Career benefits of online learning

Watch the video below to find out how our online masters are helping current students and graduates. We also offer a range of on-campus taught masters.

(Main photograph: Douglas Robertson)