Five Myths about Master’s Programs: SUSU Discusses why Bachelor’s Students Should Continue Studying

 

“Master” sounds prideful. Especially today, when quality education is becoming an important step towards a successful career and prestigious work. More and more, truly highly qualified workers with two degrees and three languages are being valued. One of those languages should be Chinese. South Ural State University invites future applicants to become competitive in the difficult “intellectual market” by receiving a master’s degree. As a special stage of higher education, master’s degrees open up new opportunities for young professionals and help them radically change their lives. This year, SUSU is preparing for the largest admissions campaign ever – 150 degree programs and vacancies from 3000 employers.  We’ll dispel unnecessary doubts and refute the most popular misconceptions about master’s degree programs.

Myth number 1. Well, who will I be after two years?

“I’m not going to waste my time behind a classroom desk, it’s better if I go earn some money.” “I already have a degree, even if it’s not one I love.” “Either way the master’s program I need isn’t offered.” This is exactly how many Chelyabinsk bachelors students talk themselves out of going into a master’s program. But these simple phrases sound ridiculous given the opportunities presented by South Ural State University today.

It’s this plan – first the bachelor’s degree (four years) and then, if you want, either a master’s degree (two years), or immediately into employment – that Russian universities offer. SUSU has fully implemented an academic system which prepares staff with high qualifications for working in businesses or to admissions to graduate school.

Master’s programs are a unique chance to receive a new specialty – humanitarian or technical. SUSU’s institutes and higher schools offer 150 degree programs. They are all certified and in demand by employers.

Master’s programs give students a chance to form higher skills that specialists need to become part of the innovative processes at a business, and to be ready to create their own firm. The goal of the master’s program is not just to finish studying something but to give the additional skills students lack to form the educational elite.

For a certain category of master’s program applications, this is a chance to do post-graduate students and work in academics or research. It turns out that with such a degree you can go in any direction: become a highly paid specialist, a top manager, or a researcher.

Myth №2. I won’t get a good job either way.

Many moms and dads of students who are not yet independent are hesitant to suggest their beloved child enter a master’s program. Will their young one find prestigious work afterwards? More than 3000 employers with which SUSU has signed partnership agreements are standing in line for the university’s master’s students. Already while they are studying, future graduates are trained at leading Russian businesses and are immediately employed.

A master’s program is the symbiosis of theory and practice. At the university there are eight international scientific laboratories, 20 world-class research centers, and small businesses. They are all the foundation for masters dissertations with a practically-oriented character. Future master’s students receive skills and knowledge participating in international student mobility programs, so they can choose an employer for themselves outside of the country.

Dual degrees, internships, and exchange programs – all of these things are offered at SUSU.

“Our students study at both Russian institutions, for example, in aerospace engineering, and in leading universities around the world,” says the head of the master’s programs, “We work with university leaders within academic programs which interlock with one another like puzzles. Our main goal is that at the end of the program, all of the knowledge gained abroad and in Russian universities combined into a unified skills base. Here are the programs we offer:

Master’s students who are unable for one reason or another to get into an international program should not be upset. After all, professors from international universities often come to Chelyabinsk and offer lectures at SUSU.

Study in master’s programs can be completed full-time or part-time. After graduation, the alma mater offers a chance to broaden the scope of not a search, but a choice of dream jobs from the many options offered.

Myth №3. There are no budget spaces for me.

The most talented young people study in the master’s program absolutely free. This year, the number of budget spaces increased at SUSU. The non-commercial admissions equal 1208 people – this is a record number for the Chelyabinsk region. Accordingly, the chances of getting one of these spots will become even larger. In 2017, 2500 possible master’s student. It is worth fighting for the budget spot.

Myth №4. It’s just impossible to enroll.

Yes, you’ll have to take exams, since there are rules for the right to admissions in master’s programs. They are necessary to sift out the candidates not meeting the high status of “master’s student”. After all, these specialists have certain privileges which they should earn rightfully. The entrance exams consist of three units and information about this testing is already published on the SUSU site. You can read, choose a profile, and start getting ready.

Myth №5. I’m from another university, they won’t accept me.

Master’s programs are a great chance to change your specialty or get a new one as an addition. Master’s programs are good in that with their abundance of degrees they give students a chance to get their hands on new knowledge and also increase their competitiveness.

For example, a student completes a bachelor’s program in the Faculty of Linguistics, and when enrolling in his Master’s program, he can choose economics or political science. Or a specialist with technical education gains additional skills in economics, management, law, or journalism. In this way, he totally increases his level and becomes more universal.

“At the open doors day for SUSU master’s program there were graduates from various universities,” say teachers, “and these applicants want to totally change their profession using master’s programs. This is tied to the fact that businesses they are trying to work at carefully form their requirements for applications. There are ecologists and biochemists, here they choose the biotechnology area.”

In conclusion we’ll list a few advantages that students earn while completing a master’s program:

  • The knowledge gained during their education will be deeper than those gained from bachelor’s programs;
  • The student will have a chance to complete their own research work;
  • The last semester of education, the student can fully dedicate themselves to writing their master’s dissertation;
  • The student can complete the candidate minimums in philosophy and foreign languages to later become a post-graduate student;
  • A student in the master’s program will gain teaching experience.

Don’t forget that the level of Master of Science opens new roads. To go from a half-educated student to a competent and in-demand specialist, it’s worth thinking about a master’s program.

 

Tatyana Nikulitsa, photo by Oleg Igoshin
You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.