The most interesting Master’s degrees make advanced study possible for people with different careers and circumstances or change how applicants demonstrate what they can do. Here are three trends to explore if you are considering postgraduate study.
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Degrees that connect disciplines
Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are shaping the skills employers expect. The World Economic Forum identifies AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy among the fastest-growing skills through 2030. Its research also points to the continuing value of analytical thinking, leadership and collaboration.
That combination is reflected in Master’s programmes that cross traditional subject boundaries. Imperial College London’s MSc Climate Change, Management and Finance, for example, connects environmental challenges with business and finance. MIT’s Master’s in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy brings data analysis and economics to questions of public policy.
The lesson for prospective students is to look beyond a fashionable degree title. Examine the modules, projects and skills you would develop, and ask how they fit the work you want to do.
Flexible formats with a clearer purpose
In 2018, the launch of an online Master’s degree could make headlines. Online study is now an established option, so the more useful question is how a programme’s format supports its learning goals.
Penn Engineering Online currently offers Master’s programmes in computer and information technology, data science and artificial intelligence. Its AI degree is designed for applicants with a relevant computing background, while its MCIT Online programme is aimed at people whose previous degree was outside computer science. The subject may be related, but the right entry point depends on what a student already knows.
Online, blended, part-time and campus-based Master’s degrees can all be valuable. Compare the teaching schedule, opportunities to work with classmates, practical projects, support and total cost. Flexibility matters most when it makes a demanding programme possible to complete well.
Admissions that let applicants demonstrate their ability
Some universities are also reconsidering how applicants qualify for postgraduate study. MIT’s Data, Economics, and Design of Policy programme offers a distinctive example: candidates must first complete the five online courses required for its MicroMasters credential before they can apply to the Master’s. Admission to the degree remains competitive; completing the credential makes someone eligible to apply, rather than guaranteeing a place.
This route gives applicants a way to show their performance in relevant graduate-level work. It also lets them experience the subject before committing to the full degree. For anyone comparing unusual Master’s degrees, admissions requirements deserve as much attention as the curriculum: they reveal who a programme is designed for and what preparation it expects.
The most interesting Master’s degree is ultimately the one that opens a useful direction for you. Start with the questions you want to work on, then compare the subject, format and route into each programme.
Originally published: 31 August 2018
Updated: 12 October 2026
