How long does it take to get a Master’s degree?

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How long does it take to get a Master’s degree? You may ask this question all day long but without a proper answer like we’re bringing you in this well researched piece at Start Skool, then the big question remains unanswered.

We’re always here to breeze away such troubles for you so that you’d worry less about such questions so relax on your sofa while we take you through this informative article.

To get a master’s degree, a prospective student would need a really good length of thought. After finishing your first degree program, usually your bachelor’s degree, one question that people would normally ask is “are you planning on getting a master’s degree?” Now, most people already know whether they will pursue a master’s degree or not. Some people take time to think about it while others may not even know how to get a master’s degree or how long it takes to get it.

A very important thing to note is usually the length needed to get a master’s degree. Some shy away from the prospect of boosting their credentials simply because they do not want to spend an extra 3 to 5 years studying again.

Simply put, college is expensive! Between grants, scholarships, and comparing different student loan options, the process of actually obtaining the financial means and resources to attend school for several more years can be meticulous to say the least.

While it is understandable, the length of a master’s degree program shouldn’t put you in a state of fear. In fact, the pros of obtaining a master’s degree flawlessly outmatch the cons associated with obtaining the academic honour, if any.

Years it takes to get a Master’s Degree

Now, we will look at the average number of years it takes to get a master’s degree in five academic fields. The reason for finding the average time is simple, no institute, or college or university is the same. They all have they’re own specialised courses and programmes. Due to this variation we will just take the average length of time necessary to complete the master’s degree program in a particular field.

1. To get a Master’s Degree in Engineering

How long does it take to get a master's degree

One of the two broadest disciplines, along with medicine, that has been around throughout history. It is a great academic and career choice for people who desire to create systems that will help human life, while reducing economic costs to humans and their surroundings. In recent years, engineering has seen itself expand and mix with other areas of life such as technology and finance.

Studying engineering is seen as a very noble and prestigious thing, especially in countries like India that have produced academic stalwarts like Rajput, Gupta, etc.

Some of the biggest aspects of engineering which have shaped the world today are;

  • Mechanical Engineering( my career path .💖).
  • Electrical Engineering.
  • Chemical Engineering.
  • Petroleum Engineering.
  • Civil Engineering.
  • Materials and Metallurgical Engineering.
  • Agricultural Engineering.
  • Systems Engineering.
  • Computer Engineering, etc.

According to degreequery.com, the average time it takes to study any aspect of engineering is 3 YEARS . I strongly support this average time as I am an engineering student myself. My course duration is 5 years and that’s the longest period I’ve ever seen for a bachelors degree in engineering.

The award given to a student who completes the master’s degree programme in medicine is given the title of M.Eng.. Some sites that give listings of various master’s degree programmes in engineering include,

  1. Mastersstudies.ng
  2. Gradschoolhub
  3. BestColleges

There are other sites that can give equally great information, but for time, we will leave it at three and move on.

2. To get a Master’s Degree in Medicine

How long does it take to get a master's degree

The profession of heroes. Practitioners in this field have become the heroes we don’t deserve in the past year. Risking their lives in the face of an unknown deadly virus, working over 24 hour shifts, putting the health of others above their own, leaving their families to attend to the sick and a whole slew of noble acts of human empathy. The biggest sacrifice being those who have passed away fighting this disease. To their families, we offer our sincere condolences and thanks.

The practice of medicine spans a wider scope than engineering, it’s probably the broadest practice known to man. A few branches of medicine include,

  • Cardiology
  • Optometry
  • Dentistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Anaesthetics
  • Neurology
  • Family planning, etc.

The medical profession has so many stages and it may be “improper” to give a timeline, be it average or not, to the length one could spend studying for an MMed. However, I have gotten a set of data from different schools that operate in different parts of the globe. For some, the average time it took to finish an MMed program ranged between 2 and 3 YEARS. An example of such school is Edge Hill University.

For others, there was a general average of 3 to 5 YEARS. An example of a university offering an MMed program with this length is Witts University, South Africa.

The time it takes to get a Master’s Degree is important, however, if you are looking for something else, visit our home at www.startskool.com for all information regarding academic pursuits.

3. To get a Master’s Degree in Business

How long does it take to get a master's degree in business

“Money makes the world go round”. A saying with an unknown origin that has permeated into the contemporary society. The business world is one part of life that will never become obsolete. We all need money, we all need to buy and sell. We all need to manage money. Simply put, money is a crucial in everyday life. Business is the broad body that encompasses all areas of money circulation and theory. Some of the areas under business which one can obtain a master’s degree include,

  • Economics
  • Business Administration/ Management
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Healthcare Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Accounting
  • Public Relations, etc.

According to an article from MBA.com, the average time it takes to get a master’s degree in business will depend on the brach of business being studied and the school offering the program. However, they reported that an average time of 16 MONTHS are needed to complete a master’s degree in business.

Some schools that offer MBA degrees include,

  1. The University of British Columbia.
  2. The University of Manchester Alliance Manchester Business School.
  3. INSEAD MBA.

4. To get a Master’s Degree in Law

How long does it take to get a master's degree

The noble art of lying 😂😂. Seriously, I’ve watched so many tv shows like Suits, Power, How to get away with murder, The Blacklist, etc and I’ve come to the conclusion that lawyers are paid to bend the law to the favour of their clients, wether wrong or right. However, I do know that the appearance of something in a tv show may not be the true depiction in reality.

I have an aunt whose a lawyer and all I can say is “law is a great and necessary degree program that the society needs”. I’ve been in law courts, seen real lawyers in action and marvel at the manner of approach they use to tell us about the laws of the land. There are different aspects of law one could choose to study, some of which are given below,

  • Admiralty Law.
  • Bankruptcy Law.
  • Business/Corporate Law.
  • Entertainment Law.
  • Criminal Law.
  • Family Law.
  • Civil Rights Law.
  • Environmental Law.
  • International Law.
  • Intellectual Property Law.
  • Military Law, etc.

The average time it takes to get a Master’s Degree in law ranges between 1.5 – 2 YEARS. However, this average gotten may not include the time for the teaching terms, the time for the dissertations, etc. However, getting an LLM within such a time frame is worth it.

If you need a site that lists various master’s degree programmes in law, then visit masterstudies.com.

5. To get a Master’s Degree in Humanities

How long does it take to get a master's degree

As the clichè goes, this will be the last, but not the least. One of the broadest fields of study in any institution of higher learning, it spans such a broad spectrum which includes programmes like,

  • Theology.
  • Literature.
  • Modern linguistics.
  • Philosophy.
  • History.
  • Politics.
  • Archaeology.
  • Arts.
  • Geography, etc.

Law is also a branch of humanities. Such a large group of courses are available under the umbrella of humanities. According to gradschoolhub.com, a Master’s Degree in Arts for example, could take 2 YEARS.

Given the average time stated to get a master’s degree in law, I would not be wrong to conclude that the average time to get a master’s degree in any branch of humanities will be in the range of 1 – 2 YEARS. We should remember that the time it will take depends on the school offering the program, the courses on offer and the work  required.

Some schools that you may be interested in pursuing a master’s degree in humanities at are given below.

  1. York University.
  2. Victoria University of Wellington.
  3. Arden University.

For more on master’s degree programmes in humanities, you can visit masterstudies.com.

There are so many other programmes I wanted to touch and we could do so soon, but in the moment, these five are the most popular areas of study currently in the world. If you have any thoughts or misgivings, or even more accurate information on this subject, feel free and welcome to comment below.

A master’s degree programme in any discipline is no fluke and should not be treated as such. Do not apply or progress to a master’s degree programme if you have any doubts about it. Wasting years of your life, while paying unnecessary costs would not be a great way to move forward in life, right?

Your due diligence to meticulously comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of getting a master’s degree should not be neglected.

Proper research of the school you wish to attend, the course you want to offer, the faculty, past student records, study expenses and all other factors will go a long way in helping you to get a master’s degree with less hassle.

Goodluck everyone and happy learning.

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