A Master of Arts (MA) degree can lead you to advancements in your field, help hone your skills, and set you up as a lifelong learner. It may also help if you're seeking a career in education, human services, or journalism.
A Master of Arts (MA) is a postgraduate degree that can deepen your knowledge of a subject in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. Through an MA degree programme, you can gain important knowledge and skills for various careers. These include education, art and design, journalism and communications, and human services. You may also qualify for more senior roles because many employers prefer advanced education. Outside your career, you may experience personal growth and acquire lifelong skills, including critical thinking and problem-solving.
Explore the many benefits of pursuing MA degrees. Learn about the different specialisations in which you can earn a MA, the advantages of a postgraduate degree, and the job outlook for graduates.听聽
A Master of Arts (MA) degree is a postgraduate degree focusing on a specific concentration within the liberal arts or humanities, such as English, philosophy, or art. Earning an MA usually takes one to two years.听
Since the MA is a taught degree, the MA programme structure focuses on modules in the form of lectures, courses, and seminars. Instructors typically guide students through coursework, and it's a less independent programme of study than research degrees.听
In addition to taking advanced courses in your subject area that may include seminars, discussions, and academic research and writing, your programme may also expect you to complete a thesis, final project, or research project, depending on the type of programme.听聽
Other master's degrees鈥攍ike particular Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees 鈥攑repare you to pursue specific career paths or industries. A Master of Arts may also prepare you for a designated career path, but you'll likely gain valuable and versatile transferable skills.听
Some common subjects that you might explore as part of your Master of Arts degree include:聽聽
Art history
Journalism and mass communication聽
Languages (classical languages, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, etc.)聽
贰苍驳濒颈蝉丑听
Education and various topics within the topic of education, like educational psychology聽聽
History
Political science
Sociology
Philosophy
搁别濒颈驳颈辞苍听
International affairs
Comparative literature聽聽
Take a closer look at some common MA fields of study and where they might lead your career.听聽聽
Many people who earn their MA degree often work in teaching and education. In some cases, teachers or those working in education will seek an MA in Education or an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)聽to expand their career choices. It's also a great option for people with bachelor's degrees in other topics who would like to transition to teaching. People who earn this degree typically work as:聽聽
Art educators/teachers聽
History teachers聽
Principals and school administrators聽
Educational consultants聽
Curriculum developers
While the MA degree is more about liberal arts than fine arts, you can earn an MA in art and design. You could also pursue a related MA focusing on more creative subjects like art history, art and design, art therapy, publication, and design. This type of master's degree can help you hone your talents and may lead you to one of these careers:聽聽
Art teacher
Animator
Graphic designer
Museum director聽
Design education聽
Retail development聽
Set design聽
Exhibition and event organisation聽
Museum curator聽
Museum educator聽
Art therapist聽聽
Earning a master's degree in languages and cultures can open up opportunities in any field where overcoming language barriers is essential for effective communication. You might find jobs in both the public and private sectors, such as:聽聽
罢谤补苍蝉濒补迟辞谤听
English as a foreign language teacher聽聽
Foreign correspondent聽聽
Researcher
Educational consultant聽
Manager of research and development within an educational institution聽
尝颈苍驳耻颈蝉迟听
Foreign service officer
Healthcare interpreter聽
An MA degree in journalism or communications can help you advance your career or lead to opportunities in journalism, advertising, public relations, new media, and mass media. Some potential jobs in these areas might include:聽聽
Podcast creator or producer聽
Staff writer聽
Fashion publication editor
Copywriter
Broadcast journalist
Event manager聽
Public relations manager聽
Advertising manager
Social media specialist
TV or film producer
Digital marketer聽
If you鈥檙e interested in serving others, you may choose a Master of Arts that can lead to a career in public policy. You might select a degree specialisation like sociology, social sciences, counselling, or human services. This can lead to careers like:聽聽
Civil servant
Policy and engagement manager for a government body
Local councillor聽
Democratic services officer聽
Senior business consultant聽
Public policy consultant聽
Getting your MA can help you advance your career or enter a new field. The benefits of earning this degree include career advancement, specialised knowledge, and skills development.
Many people get a Master of Arts degree to help advance their careers. Whether aiming for a promotion or seeking a leadership or management role, a master鈥檚 degree can be essential鈥攐r a way to distinguish yourself from other applicants.听
For example, if you鈥檙e interested in a career in arts management, earning an MA in Arts Management can position you as a highly qualified candidate for curation, business, and beyond positions.听
You should advance your knowledge in a particular field, not because you're aiming for a promotion, but because you want to be better at your job. You may learn about new technology or methods that are prevalent in your field now compared to when you first started or earned your bachelor's degree. With the MA degree, you can contribute more to your job or even offer your skills and knowledge as a consultant.
Listing the MA degree on your CV demonstrates your educational and experiential qualifications to potential employers. Completing a MA programme requires a blend of practical and classroom experiences. You will have your portfolio to showcase your work and details on how your practical experiences have prepared you for the position you are applying for. Employers likely feel confident in hiring MA graduates as they know the applicant is equipped with both the skills and experience to do the job well.听聽
MA degree graduates are, and will continue to be, highly valued in the UK economy for several reasons. First, those who study arts, humanities, and social science are highly employable due to the versatility of skills graduates of these types of degrees hold. Employers value employees with critical technical skills; however, more and more employers seek candidates with strong personal workplace skills such as collaboration, creativity, communication, and independence. In fact, a report from Youth Employment UK found that skills like emotional intelligence and adaptability were among the most sought-after qualities that employers seek [闭.听
In addition to the variegated skill set graduates possess, the sectors that commonly employ MA grads are often amongst the fastest growing. These sectors range from creative industries to information and communication. The demand for creative individuals to fill roles in these industries is rising. According to the UK government, roughly 2.4 million jobs were filled in the UK creative industries in 2023, up six percent since 2019 [].
The UK economy increasingly needs individuals who can solve problems in creative and innovative ways, and those who pursue degrees like the MA are situated to fit these growing needs as versatile and highly-skilled individuals of the arts.听聽
Earning your MA online offers an efficient way to move forward with your career goals. Online master鈥檚 degree programmes allow you to advance your career flexibly and easily.听
Whether seeking new career opportunities or specialised knowledge, discover how earning a master鈥檚 degree online from a leading university on 糖心vlog官网观看 can align with your life and goals. Explore the many online master鈥檚 degree programmes available on 糖心vlog官网观看 and enroll today.听
Youth Employment UK. ", https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/top-5-skills-employers-will-be-looking-for-in-2025-and-beyond/." Accessed 31 August 2025.
UK Government. 鈥, https://www.great.gov.uk/international/investment/sectors/creative-industries/.鈥 Accessed 31 August 2025.听
Editorial Team
糖心vlog官网观看鈥檚 editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.