Should You Get A Master’s Degree In The Philippines?

Education is a lifelong process. This is even true with today’s highly competitive job market where you need to update your knowledge and skills every now and then. Even if you’ve just graduated in college or are someone who has already been working for years now, having a strong drive for continuous learning will help you stay ahead of the curve. This is why many people consider pursuing a graduate school degree.

However, graduate school is not cheap. Thus, pursuing postgraduate studies is an important decision in your life that should not be taken lightly. Before you enroll in a graduate program, here are some points you need to consider:

What are the benefits of having a master’s degree?

Getting a master’s degree is an investment. With the amount of time, effort, and money that you will put to getting your education, it is important to know how you will benefit from your postgrad degree. Here are the top five benefits of having a master’s degree.

1. It provides more in-depth knowledge about your field.

Getting a master’s degree will help you gain specialized knowledge to advance in your profession. If you are pursuing a specific area in your field, studying a master’s degree relevant to the job you want will increase your industry expertise and credibility.

For example, business graduates may take MBA courses to become experts in relatively narrow fields such as Human Resource Management, Risk Management, Banking, or Oil and Gas Management.

2. It opens more career opportunities.

Many companies, especially with senior positions, look for employees with a master’s degree. In fact, certain professions such as psychologists are required to have their master’s degrees. In general, having a postgrad diploma can provide you with more opportunities when it comes to finding employment in the future.

3. It will enhance your network.

As you go through a master’s program, you will have opportunities to work with different individuals within your industry. This is a great chance to bring yourself closer to established industry leaders and learn from them. Or at the very least, you will have a number of contacts you can depend on as you continue to advance in your career.

4. It can help increase your earning potential.

As previously mentioned, master’s degree holders have higher chances of landing senior positions together with relevant job experiences. A study conducted by Entrepreneur.ph in partnership with Jobstreet.com, reveals that employees who have postgraduate degrees were paid 73% higher than the salary of college graduates only. Thus, earning a master’s degree can help significantly increase your income.

5. It keeps you competitive.

Pursuing a master’s degree will help you improve many skills such as writing, researching, and analyzing. These skills are some of the traits employers look for in job candidates. A master’s degree does not only highlight your academic achievements but also, more importantly, it shows your motivation for continuous learning. This gives a good impression to potential employers who are looking for people who have a strong desire for personal development.

Should you get a master’s degree in the Philippines?

The Philippines is a great place to pursue your master’s degree. The country has hundreds of higher education institutions that offer postgrad programs on a wide range of disciplines. Here are more interesting reasons why you should get a master’s degree in the Philippines:

1. Philippine universities and colleges are among the world’s best.

Higher education institutions in the Philippines provide bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Students are usually taught with high academic standards. In fact, a number of universities in the country were able to join worldwide rankings.

The University of the Philippines and De La Salle University made it to the list of World Emerging Economies University Rankings, based on the results posted by Times Higher Education (THE).

2. Philippines has a lot of graduate school scholarships!

Postgrad education is costly. Getting a master’s degree requires a hefty amount of funding to support the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses. However, you don’t have to worry. There are many graduate school scholarships in the Philippines you can apply for.

3. Philippine graduate schools offer a wide range of programs.

Whether you are pursuing further education in Agriculture, Engineering, Arts and Design, or any other field, you can find master’s and doctorate programs for that in the Philippines.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has a list of schools that excel in various areas (e.g. instruction, research and publication, extension and linkages, and institutional qualifications). These schools are awarded with a Center of Excellence (COE) and Center of Development (COD). The COE and COD are awarded to institutions that show excellent performance in the areas included in CHED’s criteria. You can find here the list of top education institutions in the country based on CHED COEs and CODs.

Still uncertain whether to take a master’s degree? Don’t worry, we are here to help you every step of the way. Find more tips and guides on how to navigate your career from school to the workplace on the Edukasyon.ph blog!

Excited to take your education to the next level? Register now on Edukasyon.ph and browse through hundreds of colleges, programs, and scholarships that could be the right one for you!

Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/news-and-events/do-master-s-degree-holders-really-get-paid-more-than-college-grads-a00200-20170627