The 4 differences between Postgraduate and Master

Academic training does not end after obtaining a degree or degree. After that stage, there are other opportunities to continue increasing your academic curriculum. Of course, the alternatives are diverse, and sometimes they lend themselves to confusion.

In this article we will review the main differences between postgraduate and master and we will see the individual concepts of each of these alternatives.

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What are postgraduate studies?

Postgraduate studies are all those that can be completed once the undergraduate degree is finished. That is, in order to access these studies the most common is that a university degree has been completed in its entirety. Some good examples of postgraduate courses can be; diplomas, specializations, master's degrees, and doctorates.

The differences between postgraduate and master's degree can occur depending on the area of ​​study of the career that we have completed; then we will be able to access a diversity of postgraduate studies, which are specifically selected to complement the learning we have already obtained from our base degree.

There are also alternatives of a more flexible nature, which can be taken by professionals from various careers; They are not within any specific area of ​​knowledge, but are accessible to almost any professional who wishes to train in that branch.

Apart from these alternatives, there are also professional updating courses that are dictated from time to time to keep those who belong to the academic unions of any area updated.

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What is the master's or master's degree?

The Master or Master's degree falls within what are postgraduate studies. However, the main difference between this alternative and some others (such as diploma courses) is the level of complexity that each one has.

While graduates represent specific and timely knowledge on a subject, Master's degrees represent a deeper level in terms of preparation in a branch of knowledge.

A Master, therefore, means moving up one step within your academic rank, taking into account the number of hours of study that must be completed (greater than 150), the level of complexity, and the requirements that must be met to have been able to enter said course.

Differences between master and postgraduate

Let's see now a list of the main differences between the prostrate and the masters.

1. The requirements

While to enter some postgraduate studies such as diplomas and other professional updating courses It is not necessary to have completed the university degree in its entirety (it would be enough to be in the last semesters), to access master's studies, it is necessary to have a university degree.

2. duration time

The duration of the master's degree is considerably longer compared to other alternatives, taking into account that it represents a higher level of complexity and grants a higher rank within the academic ladder to whoever completes it.

3. The range it grants

As we have seen previously, a master's degree implies obtaining a higher level within your range as a professional. In fact, having completed, the person becomes a Master of Science (MSc) or in another field of knowledge, which offers better job prospects.

Diplomas, on the other hand, are smaller studies, and only represent a complement to your undergraduate degree.

4. The level of demand

Compared to smaller caliber alternatives, the master represents a clear difference in terms of the levels of demand raised during the development of the studies.

This responds to the hierarchical order that exists within the postgraduate courses. It is assumed that those who are studying this kind of studies have previously gone through other academic challenges that have prepared them sufficiently.

Hierarchical order of postgraduates

Within the studies that can be taken once the university degree is completed, there is an order of hierarchy, which although it does not always have to be exact in terms of which one is done first, it is in terms of the level of demand each. Let's see how this order is.

1. diplomat

This represents a complement to the academic qualification received in the undergraduate course, and could even be completed while in the last semesters of the university degree.

2. The specialization

This is based on academically preparing the individual within a specific area of ​​knowledge. Depending on your university degree, you will be able to opt for different specialization alternatives. The degree of complexity of this is less than that of the master's degree, but higher than that of the diploma.

3. Master

In general, it is completed after having completed the specialization; however, sometimes, it could only be accessed with the undergraduate degree. As we have seen, it represents a higher level than the previous ones in terms of demand and academic merit.

In this instance the emphasis is above all on the scientific part. Wanted that the student leaves a significant contribution to the scientific community of his line of research.

4. the doctorate

This is conceived as the last academic achievement for a professional. To access this, you must have a Master's degree, or otherwise, a record of good grades in some specialization, and it is necessary to have some research product (thesis or similar).