A Guide to Online Master's Degrees

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 [1]. Students are discovering that having a master's degree can bring more job opportunities, higher salaries, and faster promotions. 

Whether you opt to begin a master’s programme immediately after earning your bachelor’s degree or first enter the workforce and gain some professional experience, an online master’s programme can often be more flexible than an in-person option. 

Discover more about online master’s degrees, including the types available, what it takes to apply, and how you can determine the best programme for you. 

What's an online master's degree?

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’s 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 [2]. 

What types of master’s degrees are available online?

You’ll find online master’s 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. 

At the master’s 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’s 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

What can you do with an online master's degree?

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.

As a master's degree holder, you can expect to earn a higher salary and have better opportunities for career advancement and promotions.

Online master’s degree costs + time to graduation

The cost of a master’s degree, whether in person or online, varies widely, depending on where and what you choose to study. However, in general, online master’s 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. 

A master’s degree usually takes two years to complete when you attend full-time, sometimes less. 

The MBA in Business Analytics delivered by the OP Jindal Global University, available on Coursera, is 100 per cent online and takes  12 to 24 months to complete. 

Benefits of earning your master’s degree online 

Besides the lower costs and the opportunity to learn at your own pace, you’ll find a number of other benefits you may experience from earning your master’s degree online. 

• Work whilst studying: Online master’s 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’t pause your professional development as you focus on your education. 

• More choice: You will have to apply to each online master’s programme that you’re considering, but when you choose a fully online programme, you won’t have to relocate in order to attend. That means you’ll have more access to some of the top-rated schools in the country—and around the world. 

• Network with your peers: Earning a master’s degree online no longer means having to forego the benefits of socialising and networking with your peers. A growing number of online master’s programmes foster those kinds of connections using an array of virtual tools. 

• Refine important workplace skills: Earning your master’s 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’s online can help you strengthen your abilities in each area. 

Is an online master’s as valuable as an in-person master’s? 

In most cases, what you learn is more important than how you learn it, which is why it’s crucial that you find a programme that aligns with your larger educational goals. Two helpful questions to pose as you research potential programmes include: 

• Will the course syllabus help me gain a broad understanding of the subject? 

• Will I be able to deepen that knowledge through elective modules and specialisations? 

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’s programmes online—many of which are designed and equipped to help you succeed virtually—you may want to investigate how you will learn important procedures or experiments.

Thanks to the growing advances in technology, earning your master’s degree online may make you more comfortable and familiar with technology in a way that can ultimately benefit your career. 

How to select the best online master’s programme for you 

Determining which online master’s programme will be best for you means first figuring out why you want to earn your master’s 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—both online and in-person—to figure out which makes the most sense for you and your resources.

Outlined below are a few factors you can incorporate into your research. 

Accreditation

Attending an accredited college or university that offers online degrees can provide you with some assurance that you’re 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. 

Programme focus

Many master’s 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’re interested in learning about a niche area, look for programmes that allow you to focus or concentrate in it. 

Flexibility

An online master’s 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’ll be able to work at your own pace in order to determine the best approach for your schedule. 

Structure

Some online master’s 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’s programmes that will suit your needs.

Learning technology

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.

Faculty credentials

Who ultimately teaches your courses is important. Spend time looking into each programme’s online faculty—many 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. 

Networking

Not all online master’s programmes foster networking among peers, but if that’s something you’re interested in, then it’s best to find programmes that provide that kind of opportunity. 

How to apply to an online master’s programme 

Applying to an online master’s programme is relatively similar to applying to an in-person master’s 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’ll complete for each programme, you may need to submit the following: 

• Undergraduate degree in relevant subject at 55 per cent at least

• A statement of purpose

• Scores for specified entrance exams

Explore online master’s degrees on Coursera

Online master’s degrees are an alternative to an in-person master’s degree, if you’re looking for something more flexible. It’s 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’s degrees on Coursera including the MBA in Business Analytics, delivered by OP Jindal Global University.