MSc Degree Definition

The definition of an MSc is a Master of Science degree – meaning you have a master’s degree in a scientific subject. Now, it’s important to note that subjects such psychology may be studied as either an MSc or an MA, so if you’re looking into a borderline you’ll want to consider what style of course you want, because the reason it’ll be categorised differently is dueto the teaching style and the content (for instance, theory vs experimental).

Now let’s have a look at the question – just what is an MSc degree?

Well, to start with, an MSc is a taught masters, rather than a research-only masters – we can tell this due to the fact it’s not considered an MRes. Now, this doesn’t mean there is no research involved, only that there are taught components. These taught components will be similar to an undergraduate degree – lectures, classes, etc – and will be tested. There will then be a thesis which will make up a third of the required credits. This dissertation can take up to anything from two to six months in total.

MScs differ from many other master’s courses as they can be done both standalone and as a carry on from an undergraduate course. If being done as a standalone, then it’s likely to be broader, whereas if it carries straight on from the undergraduate course it’s treated as a fourth year of your degree, rather than as a one year course. Depending on which of these you do will greatly change your experience of an MSc.

When it comes to integrated MScs, you’ll often find the majority of your year taken up with a research project, as well as additional lectures and classes on linked modules. Should you choose to go down this route, you’ll find there’s not as much distinction between your undergraduate course and your postgraduate course as there may otherwise be – you’ll be at the same university, often with the same staff members. Because it’s also the last year in a four year course, rather than a standalone fourth year, you may find more of a direct link between modules you took earlier and the choices you make now.

Should you choose, however, to do a standalone masters, it’ll be separate from your undergraduate degree program and there’ll be the option of a break in between the courses if you want to take a year out, for a start. Usually, you’ll have core modules that you’re required to do, and then certain options available to you. Due to the nature of an MSc, you’ll be studying things more specifically than you would do on an undergraduate course, but still fairly broadly in comparison to a PhD degree.

On the note of research projects, you’ll find they are designed to give you a glimpse into the life of a PhD – you’ll have a combination of independent and team-based work to do. To start with, you won’t yet be in charge of your project instead you’ll choose a supervisor’s project to work on. This doesn’t mean you’ll only do what you’re told; you will have independence to conduct your own experiments and potentially, should you find some interesting results, to follow up on them yourself. At the end of your research project, you’ll be required to write your thesis (or dissertation, as you may know it) discussing what you intended to find, whether you found it, and what your results mean.