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Undergrad vs Masters: Workload and Expected Standards

  • 13-04-2019 03:50PM
    #1
    infidell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28 ✭


    I'm considering going back to college to do a taught masters degree.
    I finished my undergrad 7 years ago and have been working in IT since. I'm wondering what the differences are between an undergrad and 1 year taught masters somewhere in the computer science/engineering realm.

    Is the workload significantly higher?
    Is the standard of assignments expected to be significantly higher?

    Are the modules taken in a masters course specifically for masters students or are postgrads thrown in with the undergrads and expected to do the same assignments?
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Comments

  • #2
    Nelbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭Nelbert


    infidell wrote: »
    I'm considering going back to college to do a taught masters degree.
    I finished my undergrad 7 years ago and have been working in IT since. I'm wondering what the differences are between an undergrad and 1 year taught masters somewhere in the computer science/engineering realm.

    Is the workload significantly higher?
    Is the standard of assignments expected to be significantly higher?

    Are the modules taken in a masters course specifically for masters students or are postgrads thrown in with the undergrads and expected to do the same assignments?

    Separate modules.
    Depends on the course in terms of workload.

    I did 4 modules totalling 30 level 9 credits per semester for a year (doing a 30 credit thesis for MSc now).... was tough going more so schedule wise (working full time) than anything else. I planned leave around assignment due dates and aimed to complete all assignments at a week early (when possible) to allow for life to get in the way.

    Generally what I found was similar to undergrad. The good lecturers made the hard topics easier and vice versa.

    They are of a higher standard and difficulty and assignments are expected to be of a higher standard, often with a lit review to show some research of the topic and justify choices in assignment design.

    If you’ve a natural inclination towards academic style writing you’ll do well if you put the work in.


  • #3
    Sad Professor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,714 ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    It depends on the course and the college, but it is possible to end up in with final year undergrads with some master's modules. I think it generally happens when they can't make up the numbers. You'd still have slightly different assignments though and obviously the grading would be harder.


  • #4
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,510 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    You'll be expected to up your critical thinking at masters level, no doubt about it. It can be an adjustment, especially if you've been out of a the university system and working for a while.


  • #5
    .......
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,048 ✭✭✭.......


    My own experience has been that Ive found masters/post grad degrees significantly easier overall than undergraduate degrees. Workload is lighter, time spent attaining the degree is much less. Also as masters tends to be more focused/specialised you dont have to suffer so much from the modules you dont enjoy but are compulsory.

    However, the early parts of an undergraduate tend to be easier, and certainly your critical analysis skills and overall ability to write academically are expected to be upped for a Masters.


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