Is Masters degree becoming the new standard?

With the introduction of 10k postgraduate loans, the Masters programmes are becoming more accessible and there is an expected increase in a number of prospective students.

Would you say there is a new standard being set in the process for job applications?

Or perhaps, a Masters degree is yet another way for universities to drain some cash and in the first place, is a Masters degree even helpful aside from being a stepping stone into a PhD?
From my understanding, because the 10k student loan is repayable in a similar fashion as the undergraduate loan, I see a Masters degree as a perfect opportunity to refine one's professional skills, like organisational skills, problem-solving etc whilst doing a big project, like a dissertation. Also for those that did not do a year work experience, Masters could be viewed as one. Equally, I see Masters as a perfect opportunity to delay the job search and the career development. So again, is it even necessary?

What is your take?

With the introduction of 10k postgraduate loans, the Masters programmes are becoming more accessible and there is an expected increase in a number of prospective students.

Would you say there is a new standard being set in the process for job applications?

Or perhaps, a Masters degree is yet another way for universities to drain some cash and in the first place, is a Masters degree even helpful aside from being a stepping stone into a PhD?
From my understanding, because the 10k student loan is repayable in a similar fashion as the undergraduate loan, I see a Masters degree as a perfect opportunity to refine one's professional skills, like organisational skills, problem-solving etc whilst doing a big project, like a dissertation. Also for those that did not do a year work experience, Masters could be viewed as one. Equally, I see Masters as a perfect opportunity to delay the job search and the career development. So again, is it even necessary?

What is your take?

Not the norm in medicine and I doubt it will be seeing that you can do a PhD/MD after your medical degree without doing a masters beforehand. Most people also intercalate in a BSc, it's fairly rare to see someone with a masters. The MBChB, MBBS, MB BChir etc confuse people since they think it's a masters degree but it is in fact bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery.... No masters for us guys

I'd say the increase in integrated masters has definitely helped. Traditionally exclusive to the sciences at my university they have trialed integrated masters in other subjects such as geography.

yeah, what else to do when it offers the most limited graduate job prospects

Do you really think criticising a different discipline is advisable? http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=63197065&highlight=

In terms of the usefulness of the masters for jobs, I think that in many cases they aren't really all that useful [...] Masters degrees are usually about academic skills rather than professional skills, with the aim of providing further knowledge in a specific area, and preparation for a PhD.

Do you really think criticising a different discipline is advisable? http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=63197065&highlight=

You can intercalate at Masters level
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/undergraduate/courses/bm5_a100.page
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/intercalate/nonresearch
http://medhealth.leeds.ac.uk/info/250/intercalation/162/masters_programmes
http://www.mms.manchester.ac.uk/study/why-study-medicine-manchester/intercalation/