Is this the right online master’s for me? Four questions to ask
| 3 Min Read
A programme can be relevant to your field while also being offered by a university you respect. That doesn’t automatically make it the right next step for you.
The fit depends on what you want to change, what the programme teaches and whether it builds on where you are now.
Before you make your decision, ask yourself four questions.
1. What do I want to be different after completing the programme?
Start with the outcome rather than the qualification.
Perhaps you want to take on greater responsibility in your current field. You may need deeper specialist knowledge, or you could be preparing to move your career in another direction.
Try to make your answer specific. “I want to progress” is a start, but what would progress actually look like? It could mean becoming more confident when making complex decisions, qualifying for a particular type of role or gaining knowledge that’s missing from your current experience.
Once you know what you want to change, you have something clearer to compare with the programme.
Ask yourself: Can I explain what I want this master’s to help me do?
2. Does the curriculum address what I need to develop?
A programme title can only tell you so much. The curriculum will tell you what you’ll be learning.
Look closely at the modules and learning outcomes. Which subjects will you study in depth? How do they relate to the capabilities you want to develop? It’s also worth checking how you’ll be assessed and whether there are projects that connect with the kinds of problems you want to work on.
Not every module needs to relate directly to your immediate goal. Some may give you the broader grounding needed to understand your subject from a different perspective. What matters is whether the curriculum, taken as a whole, moves you in the right direction.
Ask yourself: Can I identify which parts of the programme support my goal?
3. Does the programme begin at the right level for me?
The right master’s should build on your existing knowledge while giving you room to grow.
Entry requirements can help you judge this. They show more than whether you’re
eligible to apply. They also indicate the academic background, professional experience or subject knowledge the programme expects students to bring.
Requirements vary across the University of Birmingham’s online programmes, so check the criteria for the course you’re considering. If your background doesn’t follow a straightforward route, do not make assumptions about your eligibility. A Student Recruitment Coordinator can review your experience and help you understand whether the programme is a suitable fit.
Ask yourself: Will this course build on what I already know without simply repeating it or moving too far ahead?
4. Can I see how I would use what I learn?
Think beyond the qualification itself. How can my studies further my career?
You might apply new ideas in your current role, approach an existing problem differently or prepare for work you want to take on later. The benefit doesn’t have to arrive as soon as you complete your first module. However, you should be able to see a connection between what you’ll study and the direction you want to take.
This is also worth checking through the programme’s assessments and learning outcomes. They can show you whether you’ll only understand new ideas or have opportunities to put them into practice.
Ask yourself: Where could I use what I learn?
Still unsure about the fit?
You don’t need to force a decision from the programme title alone.
Return to the course page and compare its curriculum, outcomes and entry requirements with the answers you have written down. If something still doesn’t feel clear, speak with a Student Recruitment Coordinator. They can help you talk through your background, your plans and what the programme involves.
Speak to our Student Recruitment Coordinator:
Call +44 (0)800 032 7101