A growing number of students are opting to earn their master鈥檚 degree online. Learn more about online master's degrees and their particular benefits.
Master's degrees continue to grow in popularity. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Report 2021-2022, of all students in India enrolled in higher education, 12.1 per cent are studying a postgraduate level course [闭.听Students are discovering that having a master's degree can bring more job opportunities, higher salaries, and faster promotions.听
Whether you opt to begin a master鈥檚 programme immediately after earning your bachelor鈥檚 degree or first enter the workforce and gain some professional experience, an online master鈥檚 programme can often be more flexible than an in-person option.听
Discover more about online master鈥檚 degrees, including the types available, what it takes to apply, and how you can determine the best programme for you.听
An online master's degree is a postgraduate degree you earn online. You can do this either from a traditionally in-person university that offers specific online programmes, or from a fully online college that does not offer any in-person experience. Rather than relocate to attend an in-person programme, you'll work through your coursework from home, either by attending virtual classes at a set time or by completing asynchronous classes on your own time.
Increasingly, students are opting to earn their master鈥檚 degree online as it offers flexibility, convenience, and a range of subject options. The uptake rate has steadily increased over the past five years and is predicted to keep rising [闭.听
You鈥檒l find online master鈥檚 degree courses for both working professionals and recent graduates seeking flexible study options. Courses are available in a range of subjects relating to areas like business, education, and technology.听
At the master鈥檚 level, you may choose to enroll in programmes that deepen your interest in a particular industry or career, much like those noted above. With coursework that spans foundational subjects as well as specialised areas, you can gain advanced knowledge and skills needed to pursue targeted roles after graduation.
Some popular online master鈥檚 degrees include:
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Science in Data Science
Master of Science in Maths
Master of Arts in English
Master of Arts in Economics
Master of Computer Science
Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication
Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance
Master of Arts in Psychology
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Technology in Artificial Intelligence
The major difference between an online master's degree and an in-person master's degree is the way you earn it. Your online master's programme should provide the same curriculum and skills development as a master's degree earned by attending a person in the programme.
With an online master's degree, you can pursue more advanced roles, such as the ones below.
Sample job title | Master鈥檚 degree | Salary |
---|---|---|
Social worker | Master of Social Work (MSW) | 鈧2,64,000 |
Private tutor | Master of Education (MEd) | 鈧1,80,000 |
Chemical engineer | Master of Chemical Engineering | 鈧6,00,000 |
Business consultant | Master of Business Administration (MBA) | 鈧2,40,000 |
As a master's degree holder, you can expect to earn a higher salary and have better opportunities for career advancement and promotions.
The cost of a master鈥檚 degree, whether in person or online, varies widely, depending on where and what you choose to study. However, in general, online master鈥檚 programmes cost less than comparable in-person courses. This is largely because in-person courses are more expensive to run and therefore cost more to cover resources and campus facilities. Additionally, with online learning, you can save money by living at home and avoiding a long commute.听
A master鈥檚 degree usually takes two years to complete when you attend full-time, sometimes less.听
The MBA in Business Analytics delivered by the OP Jindal Global University, available on 糖心vlog官网观看, is 100 per cent online and takes聽 12 to 24 months to complete.听
Besides the lower costs and the opportunity to learn at your own pace, you鈥檒l find a number of other benefits you may experience from earning your master鈥檚 degree online.听
Work whilst studying: Online master鈥檚 programmes often provide flexible scheduling, which may make it easier to work full-time whilst earning your degree. Not only can that help offset some of your degree costs, but it also means you won鈥檛 pause your professional development as you focus on your education.听
More choice: You will have to apply to each online master鈥檚 programme that you鈥檙e considering, but when you choose a fully online programme, you won鈥檛 have to relocate in order to attend. That means you鈥檒l have more access to some of the top-rated schools in the country鈥攁nd around the world.听
Network with your peers: Earning a master鈥檚 degree online no longer means having to forego the benefits of socialising and networking with your peers. A growing number of online master鈥檚 programmes foster those kinds of connections using an array of virtual tools.听
Refine important workplace skills: Earning your master鈥檚 degree online requires both self-discipline and time management, thanks to the self-paced and flexible nature of learning. Both are important workplace skills, and earning your master鈥檚 online can help you strengthen your abilities in each area.听
In most cases, what you learn is more important than how you learn it, which is why it鈥檚 crucial that you find a programme that aligns with your larger educational goals. Two helpful questions to pose as you research potential programmes include:聽
Will the course syllabus help me gain a broad understanding of the subject?聽
Will I be able to deepen that knowledge through elective modules and specialisations?聽
Certain programmes may be more hands-on than others. In these cases, how you learn may be important. Although you have the option of attending such master鈥檚 programmes online鈥攎any of which are designed and equipped to help you succeed virtually鈥攜ou may want to investigate how you will learn important procedures or experiments.
Thanks to the growing advances in technology, earning your master鈥檚 degree online may make you more comfortable and familiar with technology in a way that can ultimately benefit your career.听
Determining which online master鈥檚 programme will be best for you means first figuring out why you want to earn your master鈥檚 degree. What do you want to achieve with your master's? Once you know why you want to pursue a postgraduate degree, spend time researching programmes鈥攂oth online and in-person鈥攖o figure out which makes the most sense for you and your resources.
Outlined below are a few factors you can incorporate into your research.听
Attending an accredited college or university that offers online degrees can provide you with some assurance that you鈥檙e earning a quality education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) provides accreditation for universities under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) gives its alliance to highly rated technical courses.听
Many master鈥檚 programmes list a number of concentrations that can deepen your area of expertise. For example, Master of Computer Application students can concentrate on blockchain, machine learning, or artificial intelligence, or MBA students can concentrate on marketing, analytics, or digital management. If you鈥檙e interested in learning about a niche area, look for programmes that allow you to focus or concentrate in it.听
An online master鈥檚 degree should offer some amount of flexibility, but it can differ by school or programme. Find out whether your courses will be asynchronous or synchronous and how much you鈥檒l be able to work at your own pace in order to determine the best approach for your schedule.听
Some online master鈥檚 degrees are entirely online, whilst others are hybrid (a mix of in-person and online courses). Depending on the structure you prefer, you should find master鈥檚 programmes that will suit your needs.
Each college or university employs different technology to administer online learning. It helps to know what type of learning management system (LMS) and other virtual tools you might expect to encounter.
Who ultimately teaches your courses is important. Spend time looking into each programme鈥檚 online faculty鈥攎any of which may also teach in person depending on the university. Think about how their expertise or academic qualifications will help contribute to your overall learning.听
Not all online master鈥檚 programmes foster networking among peers, but if that鈥檚 something you鈥檙e interested in, then it鈥檚 best to find programmes that provide that kind of opportunity.听
Applying to an online master鈥檚 programme is relatively similar to applying to an in-person master鈥檚 programme. As you narrow the programmes that most interest you, pay attention to their deadlines so that you can gather your materials in time.
Each college or university may have different requirements relating to skills and experience, but in addition to the application you鈥檒l complete for each programme, you may need to submit the following:聽
Undergraduate degree in relevant subject at 55 per cent at least
A statement of purpose
Scores for specified entrance exams
Online master鈥檚 degrees are an alternative to an in-person master鈥檚 degree, if you鈥檙e looking for something more flexible. It鈥檚 possible to earn your postgraduate degree from a number of top-ranked universities in in-demand fields, such as computer science, business analytics, business administration, and electrical engineering. Check out some online master鈥檚 degrees on 糖心vlog官网观看 including the MBA in Business Analytics, delivered by OP Jindal Global University.听
Ministry of Education. 鈥 https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s392049debbe566ca5782a3045cf300a3c/uploads/2024/02/20240719952688509.pdf.鈥 Accessed 23 May 2025.听
Statistica. 鈥, https://www.statista.com/outlook/emo/online-education/online-university-education/india#users.鈥 Accessed 23 May 2025.听
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/social-worker-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm.鈥 Accessed 23 May 2025.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/private-tutor-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm.鈥 Accessed 23 May 2025.听
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/chemical-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm.鈥 Accessed 23 May 2025.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/business-consultant-salary-SRCH_KO0,19.htm.鈥 Accessed 23 May 2025.听
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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.