What is the difference between bachelor's and master's degrees?

Since recently, the Russian and Ukrainian education systems have undergone reform, according to which universities cease to produce specialists, but go on to a two-level higher education. However, for most applicants who graduated from grade 11 , and their parents, much of this innovation remains incomprehensible. And this, of course, puzzles the incoming, making it difficult to make an important choice for life. In confusion, and students wondering whether you need a master's degree after a bachelor's degree, or one degree will be enough. Therefore, we will try to explain what these concepts mean and how the bachelor's degree differs from the master's degree.

What does baccalaureate and magistracy mean?

The undergraduate degree is called the basic stage of higher education, oriented at obtaining practical knowledge in the chosen specialty. Usually, studies in this academic level last 4 years. Among the commoners, the opinion spread that the bachelor's degree is an "incomplete" higher education. In fact, this is not the case, because after graduating from the university, the student receives a diploma of higher education, which allows him to work in the areas for which his profession is oriented. It can be social and economic spheres: engineers, journalists, managers, administrators, economists. By the way, employment in foreign companies is possible, since the qualification of a bachelor is considered international and is accepted by foreign employers.

Master's degree is the second stage of higher education, where it is really possible to enter only after the end of the basic level. Thus, the question that first bachelor's or master's degree, disappears by itself. Studies in magistracy last two years, during which students receive more in-depth and profiling theoretically knowledge of the chosen specialization that will allow them to engage in further teaching or research activities, solving complex problems. Thus, in the master's program, professionals are trained to work in analytical and research centers, large companies.

Bachelor's and Master's Degree: Difference

And now, let's list the main differences between the master's degree and the bachelor's degree:

  1. The duration of study in the bachelor's degree is four years, in the magistracy - two. And you can enter the last one only after receiving a bachelor's degree. Thus, if we talk about a master's degree or a bachelor's degree, which is higher, it is the master's degree that is considered the next step in higher education.
  2. The difference between bachelor's and master's degrees is the fact that, when receiving the first level of education, the student is aimed at working life, for applied use of the acquired knowledge in any activity. The master also focuses on scientific research, in-depth and narrowly studying any specialization. However, a master and a bachelor can successfully build their career.
  3. All universities graduate bachelors, but the master's degree is not in every higher educational institution. With the diploma of graduation Bachelor student can enter the magistracy of another institution, even a foreign one. It will only be necessary to finish the discrepancy between educational programs.
  4. When enrolling in an institution of higher learning to obtain the degree of balakavra, admission commissions select entrants among a large number of applicants for a specific number of places. In the magistracy, too, take admission exams, but the number of seats here is much less than in the bachelor's.

Thus, it makes no sense to guess what is best - bachelor's or master's. The choice of the level of higher education depends on the personal orientations, goals and objectives of the incoming or already today's student.