choosing what to do after undergraduate degree?

Is it better to take an integrated Masters or a direct Masters right after an undergraduate degree?

Reply 1

Is it better to take an integrated Masters or a direct Masters right after an undergraduate degree?

Before choosing, you should consider factors such as your academic goals, financial situation, and your future career plan. Integrated Master's is better for researching projects, which helps if you are considering a PhD. Direct Master's is more flexible so that you can switch fields, and may be better for employability. By contrast, the tuition fees of Direct Master's are more expensive than those of Integrated Master's.

Reply 2

UEA Rep Grace

Official Rep

Original post by Liv.Patel

Is it better to take an integrated Masters or a direct Masters right after an undergraduate degree?

Hi Liv, I think it depends on your circumstances and experience of uni. Some people finish their undergrad and decide they want to get work experience or start earning money, others (like me) decide to apply for a masters at the end of their final year when they know what career/extra qualifications they'll need. I think it all depends on how you feel after having been at uni and whether you're happy to continue for another year.

Additionally, masters are more expensive that undergrad courses because you only get one loan and this often isn't enough to cover course costs, so you'd need to save up to be able to afford the masters, accomodation and living expenses as well.

Overall I don't think it mattters to much; if you finish your undergraduate degree and decide you want to do a masters, you can always apply for one, but I'm not sure how it works for an intergrated masters. If you have a uni in mind perhaps you could reach out and ask if they're flexible and would let you just do an undergrad if you decided not to do a masters?

Hope this helps!

Reply 3

Swansea Students

Official Rep

Original post by Liv.Patel

Is it better to take an integrated Masters or a direct Masters right after an undergraduate degree?

Hi there,

I don't think it matters too much. An integrated Masters (as others have said) can be great as it can allow you to continue pursuing any research projects you have started in your undergraduate. On the other hand, a direct Masters gives more flexibility by allowing you to take a gap year if you want (either for experiences or to work and save some money to help pay for the Masters). It will also be easier to change specialities/ disciplines if you want to.

Overall, I'd say it depends on how certain you are on your topic of study and whether you want flexibility.

Hope this helps!

Imogen (Student Ambassador)

Reply 4

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Original post by Liv.Patel

Is it better to take an integrated Masters or a direct Masters right after an undergraduate degree?

Hey Liv,

Both options definitely have their associated pros and cons, so it really just depends on your situation and what you’re aiming for

An Integrated Master’s is part of your undergrad course, usually lasting 4–5 years. The main advantages are:

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It’s often funded the same way as undergrad

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Everything is structured for you, and you don’t have to reapply after your bachelor’s

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It can be a smoother academic progression since you're already in the system

A standalone Master’s is something you apply for after finishing your undergrad degree, and this route is good if:

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You want to specialise in a particular area or you want to just completely switch fields of study

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You're considering applying to a different university for postgrad, like a higher ranked one etc

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You want a break before continuing your studies or might be working for a bit first

Some things to consider:
If you're unsure about doing a Master's, the integrated route can feel like a bigger commitment!! But if you’re confident and want a straight path through, integrated can be more convenient and cost-effective. Some uni's don't let you switch back to a BSc once you're on the integrated path. so that’s also worth checking!

I hope that this helps 🙂

Gemma
Official LJMU Student Rep