This article was originally published by COBIS, written by Dr Bethany Kelly, Director of Programmes, Faculty of Education, University of Buckingham
Getting a Master's degree is a good opportunity to improve your abilities
1. It's an investment in yourself. Some would go so far as to suggest that completing a Master's can result in an increased wage across your career. However, it is not that kind of investment that I am thinking of. It's more about you, the kind of person you are and what you want out of life. Spending the time (and money) on taking part in a Master's programme is worth it if you want to develop yourself and the way that you think. It doesn't have to bankrupt you. I was able to pay my Master in installments and many courses enable you to do this. Some also allow you to access a Master's loan which helps with the financial impact.
2. You acquire a new set of skills. In particular, I think it is incredibly useful in developing critical thinking skills and also the ability to write critically as a reflective practitioner. You are also required to engage with a wide range of arguments and be prepared to be critical of them, to synthesise arguments, and perhaps most importantly to begin to develop your own critical voice.
3. You can study something you are genuinely interested in. Lots of people have different areas of interest, challenges they face, or problems they want to solve. These are often a product of your work and experience. A Master's is a great way to investigate them and even become an expert on a topic.
Getting a Master's degree leads the way to career progression
4. It opens doors for you. People do really take notice of your qualifications. Lots of people add their qualifications on places like Twitter and LinkedIn. When applying for higher-level posts, you can easily use your experiences of completing a Master's to demonstrate your abilities.
5. It could take your career in a new direction. It did for me and has certainly developed careers for many teachers I know. Not least, it could lead to the ability to apply for more senior posts with increased confidence.
6. It can enhance your current work. When I completed my Master's, I was working as a Deputy Head and it led to a number of new initiatives. You encounter so many different perspectives, it challenges and shakes up your way of thinking. A fresh challenge can stop you from becoming stale. Ideas are always changing in Education; new research is always coming into effect and sometimes it's easy to fall behind and not be aware of new ideas. This is why doing a Master's can be so important, to keep you fresh and up to date.
Getting a Master's degree is a life booster
7. Push yourself to the next level. Learning never stops. We are continuously trying to get that message across to our students, so it's good to be practicing what we preach.
8. You connect with people outside of your comfort zone. Engaging with a Master's programme enables you to connect with a whole new group of people, potentially from all over the world.
9. It could lead to more. It should lead to more and that is what is so exciting about taking your first steps on the research road. There are a number of different options once you have done a Master's, not least the possibility of a Doctorate. This is another big leap, but an entirely possible one. There are lots of ways of working in Education and completing a Master's might take you in a different direction.
10. It is a great feeling when that certificate arrives. It is a chance to celebrate all that work you did and what you have accomplished. Depending on the kind of person you are (and this will be a big factor in the research you undertake) this could be a head/heart decision. It certainly was for me, but I am so glad that I did it.
Teachers do not stop learning at any stage in their working lives. Tailored for educators at different career stages, the University of Buckingham offers a variety of Master's degrees and teacher training programmes.
Visit our course pages to learn how to take the next step in your career!