- Both degrees typically take around two years; an MA focuses on arts and humanities, while an MSc focuses on sciences.
- An MA adopts a more liberal, classroom and research mix; an MSc emphasises theory and intensive research and reading.
- An MA is often regarded as a terminal degree; an MSc commonly prepares students for doctoral study.
- Use resources like EDUopinions and consider your career path to choose the degree matching your subject interests and future goals.
Are you confused about which degree to pursue? An MA degree or an MSc? To understand which degree will suit your career better, it is important to first understand the difference between an MSc degree and an MA Master’s degree.
Even when you apply for admission to a programme, your application will easily stand out when you know which degree you want to pursue and why. An MA is a Master of Arts while an MSc is a Master of Science. We at EDUopinions will tell you all about the differences between these two types of postgraduate study.
EDUopinions is a unique platform where you can read real, verified student reviews about universities from all over the world as well as get free information about them.
The basic difference between an MA and MSc Degree
Both the MA degree and MSc degree take around two years to complete, but there are some major differences between both. The major difference between both the topics is that an MA degree is usually related to an arts field, while an MSc degree is usually for students who are pursuing topics related to science. An MA might be in arts, history, English or foreign language, while an MSc will be in fields like engineering, biology, chemistry etc.
difference in the way of teaching
Another difference between the courses is the way they are taught. An MA has a more liberal approach and it combines desk classes with research. While an MSc focuses more on theory and puts more emphasis on research and reading.
Terminal Degree
Another major difference between both the courses is that the MA is a terminal degree while an MSc isn’t. A terminal degree is usually the highest type of degree that an individual can receive in his or her field. While an MSc is usually a degree that prepares the students for working on doctoral degrees.
So, think about all these points, the career path that you want to take, and then think about the degree that you want to pursue. Good luck!
Also read:
- What experience do I need to do an MBA?
- When to apply for student finance?
- Which degree earns the most money?
Editor’s note: This article was first published on the 1st of May 2019. We’ve updated it for current readers.
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