One of the dilemmas that students face is what to do after finishing their degree or university degree. Normally there are two alternatives: work in what they studied or continue studying for further training. In this post we are going to talk about this second assumption.
Types of university studies in Spain
In Spain, there are three levels of university studies: undergraduate studies, postgraduate or master's studies, and doctorate. In order to access a higher level, the previous studies must have been completed, so a doctoral candidate must have a university degree and a master's degree, and a person who wants to undertake postgraduate or master's studies must have completed their university degree.
There are many options for postgraduate and master's degrees that complement our training and that can specialize us and prepare us for the job market. But what is better: a master's degree or a postgraduate degree?
In order to answer this question, we must carefully analyze each option.
What is a postgraduate?
A postgraduate degree is a complementary training to a degree that does not usually have a large number of teaching hours. The teaching load is usually between 30 and 60 credits. ECTS, which is why it is less expensive than a master's degree. It is also distinguished from a master's degree by offering a high level of specialization and/or updating in a discipline. It is oriented towards the professionalization of the person in the area that is being studied. In some cases, it is possible to access postgraduate studies without a degree, although then, if the course is passed, a postgraduate degree is not obtained but rather a certificate of achievement.
What is a master's degree?
Master's studies aim to provide advanced training, which can be specialized or multidisciplinary and is aimed at academic or professional specialization or also at initiation into the world of research. To access the master's degree, it is necessary to have completed a university degree. The course load is 60 to 120 ECTS credits, distributed over 1 or 2 academic years. There are official master's degrees and specific master's degrees.
Conclusion
As you can see, postgraduate and master's studies have differences between them and at the same time they can be complementary. From here we can establish the following differences between master's and postgraduate studies: duration of the courses, method of access, orientation, qualification and types. In order to know what suits us, we have to be clear about where we want to direct our professional future.
- Normally, if you want to be an expert in a field, a master's degree would be the best option for you.
- If you want to expand your knowledge in other areas, a postgraduate degree would be best.
If you need advice to achieve your professional goals, don't hesitate! Contact us and we will study your case personally to offer you the best possible help.
