Why pursue a master's degree? The added value of a degree

Why getting a master’s degree will help you further develop your career

Accelerating your career demands determination. By actively taking charge, you can really bring about change and open new doors. One way in which you can actively take matters into your own hands is by getting a master's degree.

Broadening your theoretical framework with a master's degree offers you the right tools and competences to further develop your career. But what does a master's program entail and what can a master's degree mean for your career? On this page we will look in more detail at the added value of a master's degree.

The benefits of a master's degree for your career

During a master’s program, you will acquire the knowledge and skills you need to build a strong, theoretical foundation to rely on in your job and make better decisions. This will provide you with the following benefits:

• A master’s degree opens doors

A master’s degree shows that you are an authority in your field of expertise. Not only does this command respect from the management team at your organization, showing your drive to actively develop your knowledge and skills in your field can open doors. You are willing to invest a great deal of time in your professional development, helping the organization get ahead. In return, the organization will be getting an employee who makes better decisions. Employers know the value of this drive.

• You will achieve better results for your company

A master’s program enriches your insights, allows you to acquire new experiences, and helps you apply a new way of thinking in your work. A master’s program offers you a solid academic framework that enables you to conduct thorough analyses of problems and arrive at more creative solutions that help you achieve better results. 
It also helps you to hold conversations with people on a variety of levels. During the program, you will learn to identify the different interests at play and respond to these on a strategic, tactical and operational level. You will be able to tailor your message to your interlocutor, easily switching to the appropriate level. The assistance you provide them helps you to get your team on board, continue to motivate them and ultimately achieve better results.

• It makes you a more persuasive leader

Participating in a master’s program is a deciding moment in many people’s careers. As a student, you will notice that you change, become stronger and grow in different areas during a master’s program. You will feel strengthened because you have a theoretical and empirical substantiation for the choices you make in business after following a master's degree. As a result, you experience more ambition and more certainty and strength in performing your job.

After obtaining a master's degree, our alumni experience that they are taking steps in their career and are achieving better results. In the video below our alumna Ashley van de Broek explains how a master's program has accelerated her career:

What does participating in a master’s program entail?

Taking part in a master’s program while working full-time demands commitment. What exactly is expected of a master’s student, and how much time do you have to free up to successfully complete a master’s program?

Course load

A master’s program brings about a certain course load. The duration of most master’s programs is 18 months. An average of 12 months is set aside for classes and independent study, and six months are reserved for writing a master’s thesis.

In general, you should take a course load of 15 to 20 hours per week into account for a master’s program. This includes three classroom days per month plus extra time for independent study. In order to ensure that you can combine this course load with your job, it is important to make clear agreements with your employer.

Admission requirements

In most cases, admission to a master’s program is subject to requirements that must be satisfied before students can start the program. These admission requirements are there for a good reason; they ensure that the right group of participants with plenty of talent and potential are enrolled in each master’s program. This guarantees extra added value during the program.

Most master’s programs require students to have a bachelor’s degree and a few years of relevant work experience. In addition, participating in a master’s program in addition to your job demands qualities such as an eagerness to learn, discipline and determination.