Jolina recently secured admission to a UK Master’s student scholarship program. The way she talks would now tell how well she is getting along with the prospect of earning a graduate degree. Unfortunately, she was not using the correct name to describe herself and her fellow students, thus often causing herself and her friends some embarrassment. Lets’ start with How To Refer A Student At Masters Level And Why?
How Not To Call The Student
No doubt, on getting enrolled as a master’s student, you might have referred to someone or even been called a masters candidate.
You may wonder, how is that wrong? Worry not, as it is never too late to learn the correct name now.
You do not call it that name because candidacy doesn’t exist within academia at the master’s level, as the title of candidate rightly belongs to Ph.D. students who are usually to cover additional courses, complete a dissertation, and defend for a longer duration.
The Name to Call a Masters Student
To start using the correct name, you need to answer the question, what is a master’s student?
A master’s student can mean someone who has met his requirements for Bachelor’s Degree, graduates, and gets enrolled to participate in a Master’s program. Such a person shares the honor of being referred to as:
- Master’s student
- Graduate student
- Postgraduate student
- Postgraduate
- Postgrad
Other Names Students Are Called
- An Undergraduate.
- A High School Student
- A Student graduate
Undergraduate
When you have not received a B.Sc or B. A Degree simply because you are yet to complete the requirements, you are to be known as an undergraduate student.
High School Student
You become a high school student after enrolling for a course of study in a high school and hope to receive a High School Diploma upon graduation.
The high school and undergraduate students are referred to as undergraduate students until they complete and receive the appropriate Degree upon graduation.
Student Graduate
Graduate Degrees include Masters, Ph.D., MD, JD, and others, and when you are a student of this type of Degree, it is correct to refer to you as a graduate student, and you assumed this status only after you have received your undergraduate Degree and proceeding for advanced studies in a graduate school.
Why Call It the Correct Way
Why bother learning and calling a graduate student’s Degree status the correct name! Here are a few reasons:
- It shows you uphold the institution’s academic integrity.
- It shows you respect and appreciates other students’ programs and dedication to their studies.
- It helps prevent confusion and shows you understand your program.
Degrees a Master’s Student Can Pursue
In UK and US, the Degrees a master’s student may earn include:
- Master of Arts(MA)
- Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Masters of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
- Masters of Laws (LLB)
- Masters by Research (MRes)
Master of Arts (MA)
After completing the relevant undergraduate subjects and holding a Bachelor of Arts (BA), this qualifies you to start a master’s program in any intended area of specialty covering art, humanities, or social science and earn a Master of Arts (MA) upon your graduation.
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Once you complete the relevant undergraduate subjects and hold a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree, you are qualified to enroll as a master’s student in a scientific, engineering, technological, and mathematical based program of study, which upon graduation, smile to the labor market with a Master of Science (M.Sc) Degree.
Masters of Philosophy (MPhil)
Think of an MPhil student as an advanced research degree student who may also be a Ph.D. student and M.Sc. Degree student in Philosophy.
As an advanced research Degree student and a graduate, you will be happy to apply your previously gained research and study skills during your undergraduate degree to pursue this course of study.
Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
What is an MBA?
An MBA is a postgraduate qualification designed for students who have demonstrated appreciable levels of experience and skills in business management but lack leadership skills.
Although simply having relevant work experience provides you an entry requirement for MBA program, years of experience (A minimum of 3 years for regular and up to 10 years for executive MB) is very important but varies, depending on if a regular, MBA or executive MBA program is required.
Are there other requirements? Yes, there are, but it is not what you aren’t thinking.
A 2.1 or 2.2 in your undergraduate Degree and readiness to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are needed.
Masters of Laws (LLB)
Assuming you have asked someone to describe what an LLM student is to you and what the person answers are someone with an undergraduate degree in Law. Correct!
It is not always required but is usually a prerequisite for starting an LLM course because one may begin practicing as a lawyer, a barrister, or a solicitor simply by getting further postgraduate training.
Masters by Research (MRes)
MRes is a project-based program that requires in-depth independent study, leading to a research career. Its study cuts across sciences, technology,engineering, arts, and humanities.
Most students do prefer conducting their research rather than following with taught study. If you are in this category, it shows a Master of Research Degree is a good option for you, especially if you want to pursue a research career.
Conclusion
No doubt, having followed this article carefully, you have noted why a student at the master’s level should not be called the name master’s candidate. The preferred names include: Master’s student, Graduate student, Postgraduate student, Postgraduate, or PostgradS.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What am I not to call a graduate student at the master’s level?
Master’s candidate.
- How Can I call a graduate student at the master’s level?
Master’s student
3. Can I call an undergraduate a graduate student?
No
4. How can I refer a graduate student at the Ph.D. level to show some respect??
PhD. candidate.