In many universities, students have the option to complete a master’s degree through regular coursework, through research, or a combination of both. This is a significant change from when such degrees required a specific number of coursework hours. Now, both masters by coursework and research carry weight and students can choose to complete their degree by selecting any of the components. However, there may be specific requirements depending on the program, so students should look into these before making a decision.
Masters by Coursework
As the name suggests, the main component in Masters by coursework is regular attendance of lectures and tutorials. Students must fulfill assessment requirements, such as essays and assignments. However, even in Masters by coursework, there is a small research component where students work under the supervision of professors and submit a thesis of their project for assessment. Some courses, like doctorates, are defined as coursework even though a significant part of the degree consists of research.
Masters by Research
Masters by research courses are dominated by research work, and lecture attendance is not as important as in coursework. Typically, a master’s degree through research has a research component of up to 70% in comparison to regular classroom lectures. Masters by research can be considered a mini PhD, as students are not required to attend classes or write exams to complete coursework. If there are preliminary courses, they are designed to provide a foundation for the student on the subject, and the majority of the content is given to the student through a supervisor who helps and assists in research.
Key Takeaways
- Masters by coursework and Masters by research have different program content.
- Coursework requires more lecture attendance than masters by research.
- Masters by research is more similar to a mini PhD.
