Professional Master’s vs. Research Master’s: What You Need To Know

Sponsored by Clarkson University

When it comes to pursuing a postgraduate degree, you might find yourself wondering whether you should opt for a research master’s or a professional master’s. While they share some similarities, they also have key differences, ranging from course duration to mode of learning, course content, how you’re assessed, and even the application process.

We’ve teamed up with Clarkson University in the United States to find out what you need to know about both options.

It’s important to ask yourself what you want from your master’s experience and what your reasons are for studying one. Looking back at your undergraduate degree, did you like having a set timetable? Or did you enjoy the freedom that came with researching your capstone or thesis project? Are you looking for an academic challenge or do you want to enhance your career development? It’s these questions that can help you come to a final decision.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

Professional master’s

A professional master’s is perfect for a student who wants to move forward in a field or add new skills. Typically, they are more course-based and more structured with a timetable of lectures, seminars and lab sessions made up of a certain number of core modules and electives. Most professional master’s programs assess students throughout the year via set assignments, group projects, presentations and exams.

Many professional master’s conclude with a significant project, similar to a thesis, but of an applied nature, rather than theoretical. Other programs end with a comprehensive exam and some are entirely course based, where students graduate after completing all requirements.

If you’re wanting to work towards a particular profession and develop a more well-rounded skillset, a professional master’s is usually the best option. You may also wish to pursue a professional master’s if you want to expand your knowledge of a particular subject for your own personal development and interest. 

For Ryan Coleman, the MS in Engineering & Management Systems at Clarkson University was an “easy decision to make.”

“I wanted to absorb as much classroom education as possible for my degree, so when I was presented with the option to do research vs taking additional classes, it was an obvious choice,” said Ryan.

Research master’s

A research master’s is an advanced research-based degree with a heavy emphasis on self-directed work. You should be prepared to learn independently and have a good sense of self-discipline as there may be very few timetabled classes (or none at all!), as your time will instead be dedicated to completing a single large project. For the extended research project, you will be assigned a suitable supervisor who can offer guidance and support.

A research master’s is ideal if you have a keen interest in extensive academic research, want to develop your research skills and ultimately narrow your focus to a more specialized field of study.

This is something which Joshua Fontana realized after completing an internship at Naval Nuclear Laboratories in 2017.

“I had planned to pursue a master’s, but I didn't know when, or what focus area, until I came back from my internship. After learning more about the optimization of using computers to fine-tune and maximize the efficiency of design, I was fascinated,” said the mechanical engineering graduate from Clarkson University.

“I knew then that I wanted to pursue a master’s immediately after my bachelor’s and that I wanted to do research in optimization. The MS in Mechanical Engineering at Clarkson University gave me that opportunity,” he said.

Because a research master’s is far more research focused, it’s considered more suitable for those who want to pursue a career in academia or progress to a PhD.

After graduating from his research master’s, Joshua revisited the idea of pursuing a PhD – something which he hadn’t given much thought since his bachelor’s.

“I thought, ‘maybe I would like to earn a doctorate and become a professor’, but the idea of actually pursuing a PhD seemed distant, almost unattainable,” said Joshua. “I did consider the fact that the research master’s kept the door open to a PhD more so than a professional master’s, but I wasn’t planning on pursuing a PhD just then [during his bachelor’s].”

Fast forward to today, and Joshua is currently completing his PhD in mechanical engineering.