In the USA, a minimum of 12 + 4 years of basic education is required to enter a Master's degree course. In some instances, appropriate work experience can be substituted for a Bachelor's degree. Most universities take in students twice a year: in late August (autumn) and January (spring). Applications for the autumn intake begin in January and the spring intake starts recruiting in October of the previous year. Most American universities require candidates to take the GMAT/GRE tests and submit their scores with their application materials. Master's degree courses in the USA are usually 2 - 2.5 years in duration and are based on a credit system. Typically, each course is worth three credits and students are required to complete 30 – 36 credits in order to earn their degree. In Europe, Master's degree courses start in September. Some European universities offer a mid-year intake in January/February. One of the main differences between European and American Master's degree courses is that European courses do not generally require candidates to take the GMAT. Additionally, application deadlines are usually more open and admissions are often organised on a rolling basis. With the Bologna Accord, earning a Master's degree requires an additional 90-120 ECTS credits (depending on the course) after earning a Bachelor's degree.

Master's Degree Quick Reference:

MA – Master of Arts degrees are generally awarded for studies in humanities, fine arts, social sciences or theology. MA degrees can be obtained in fields ranging from international affairs to children's literature. Additionally, obtaining an MA degree can require the completion of research work and/or a thesis.

MSc – Obtaining a Master of Science degree generally requires the completion of a thesis as well as research work. A minimum of 30 graduate hours of credit must be completed in the sciences or in a specific professional area. Like the MA, a wide variety of Master of Science degrees are available.

MPM – A Master's degree in project management is designed to give students an understanding of business and project management principles. These often include project planning, risk management and project acquisition. In addition to the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree, many schools require relevant professional experience in order to enter an MPM course.

MSW– Earning a Master's degree in social work will prepare graduates for a career as social care professionals. This may include work with employment services, housing associations and immigration agencies, to name a few. Students in this field can expect to take classes dealing with numerous social topics, such as human behaviour, human growth, social policy and social work research.

MAS – The Master of Advanced Studies degree is usually geared to professionals rather than scholars. This degree generally focuses on a particular area of study and training in a specific field, granting participants access to higher qualifications in their profession. A MAS degree can also lead to an entirely new career. Because this degree is professionally oriented, MAS courses will often take work experience and informal education into consideration. Students in a MAS course can expect regular course work as well as independent study. In addition, a Master's degree thesis is often required.

MPA – Earning a Master's degree in public administration is useful for students interested in working in national and/or local government or in international policy making bodies. However, some MPA courses have more specific areas of application (Hospital Management and Association Executives, to name a couple). Additionally, an increasing number of MPA graduates are using their degrees to work in the non-governmental/nonprofit sector. An MPA course generally covers a wide variety of topics, including global information systems, statistics, economics, finance, ethics, management and leadership.