Have you finished your undergraduate degree and don't know whether to pursue a postgraduation or a master's program?

In this article, we explain the differences between each option, to understand which one better suits your individual goals and ambitions.

If you have finished your degree and want to continue investing in your education, in the same field or in another, it is important that you know effectively what distinguishes the two types of specialization, analyzing each one objectively.

This will help you make a more beneficial decision for your future, knowing that you are investing your time and money in the best solution. Also, by adding more and more knowledge to your background, you are ensuring that you stand out from other candidates who only have an undergraduate degree when it comes to applying for a position in a company.

Master's or postgraduate program: what you should consider before making your decision

Before deciding which path, you will choose, you should consider several aspects, such as the financial and personal investment you will have to make in each of the options. Taking a master's degree or a postgraduate course can mean a substantial financial effort, depending on both the course and the academic institution you choose.

It is therefore important to understand in advance how you can organize and prepare for these expenses, so that they do not have too great an impact on your accounts.

Regarding personal availability, it is relevant to mention that both a post-graduation and a master's degree are demanding in terms of dedication - in many cases, there may be classes at the weekend and the workload is intense - and of time invested.  In other words, you should ensure that you will be able to apply yourself to meet the objectives of the postgraduate or master's degree, whilst also making sure that your personal expectations are not compromised throughout the course, as you may have less time for activities with friends or family.

If you decide to take a postgraduate course or master's degree while working, resorting to an after working hours program, you must ensure that you can reconcile the two and that your employer will be understanding at times when you have to make a deeper commitment to your studies.

In addition, before deciding, you should do some research regarding the existing options in your area of ​​interest, obtaining information regarding the duration of training, its curricular program –whether it matches the areas you intend to invest in – and the professional opportunities it offers.

In summary, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1. Do I have the financial means to pursue a master's degree or postgraduate course?
2. Am I willing to dedicate myself to this training, ensuring that I have time to fulfill its objectives - and at the same time giving up some personal activities for a while?
3. Will I be able to reconcile work and studies?
4. Have I investigated all options for master's degrees or postgraduate programs in my area of ​​interest?

What are the major differences between postgraduate courses and master's degrees, after all?

Both postgraduate programs and master's degrees are courses that allow you to expand your knowledge and develop ideas. In the first one, it is not necessary to have a completed degree, however it is recommended that you do, while for the second one you must have a completed degree.

Master's degree

• The master's degree has a more academic component and generally lasts two years (between 3 and 4 semesters, with the first year being curricular and the second usually for developing the thesis).
• Allows you to pursue a future career as a teacher, part-time or full-time, undertake research or even pursue a doctorate, allowing you to obtain a higher salary. This training provides 90 to 120 ECTS credits (European Credit Accumulation and Transfer System).
• In the master's degree, it is possible to study in an area different from the degree or the profession practiced. Since the Bologna Process, many degrees have an integrated master's degree after completion of a Bologna degree. However, it is possible to enroll in a master's degree years after completing an undergraduate degree, in a more traditional way, for those who did a pre-Bologna degree.
• Normally, students wishing to apply for a master's degree must have a minimum average of 14 points in their undergraduate degree, but the institution may accept a lower average. For example, some universities admit the enrollment of students with a postgraduate degree whose average is higher than their undergraduate degree.

In some professional areas, master's degrees may not be the most beneficial option, as there are specializations that allow you to develop more technical and specific knowledge. In the master's degree, reflection on themes and scientific development is promoted.

Postgraduation

• Post-graduations work as a specialization and allow the student to deepen or develop skills, whether more technical or scientific, ensuring that one remains up-to-date in a given area.
• Post-graduate courses also correspond to courses that form part of the master's cycle, but which are not sufficient to acquire the degree.
• Furthermore, this training can have different durations, although it is, on average, shorter than the Master's (a few months or a school year), and does not confer an academic degree: if it lasts only one semester, it provides 30 ECTS credits; if it is a full-year postgraduate program, it grants 60 credits.

Costs and support:

Postgraduate and master's degrees have different costs depending on the universities (between public and private the values ​​are very different). In public higher education, in 2022, the maximum fee set by higher education institutions could not be higher than the amount set in the previous academic year.

In some postgraduate courses, the costs are higher than those of a master's, as with an MBA (master’s in business administration), for example, a postgraduate course focused on the areas of management and administration and which includes subjects such as finance, accounting, law, marketing, human resources, among many others. The teaching staff is made up of experienced professionals in their area of ​​training. In Portugal, it can reach sums ​​that exceed 30,000 Euros.

It is also possible to attend a postgraduate course and a master's degree at the same time, if you wish. You must, however, have great willpower to carry them out, since they require considerable dedication and available time.

Support for masters and postgraduate studies

With regard to financial support for this type of training, it is possible to apply for scholarships (find out more about these types of support). The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), as well as other entities, regularly offers assistance of this type. It should be noted that most of this financial support is only awarded to students who are attending courses leading to a degree, that is, a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree.

NOVA IMS 

NOVA IMS is the School of Information Management and Data Science at the Nova University of Lisbon. Created in 1989 as a response to the shortage of senior management specialists in information management and the growing need to use information technologies, today NOVA IMS provides high-level education to more than 3,000 students, including undergraduate, postgraduate, master’s and doctorates.

NOVA IMS postgraduate and master's courses are part of the ISAºFJN, the José Neves Foundation scholarship program, based on the Income Share Agreement model, which allows students to benefit from a loan to pay the tuition fee, which is paid directly by the Foundation to NOVA IMS.