The master's course is a stricto sensu postgraduate course, as well as doctorates, which expands the knowledge acquired during an undergraduate degree. Pursuing a master's degree is mainly recommended for those who intend to pursue an academic career, whether as a professor or researcher. However, a master's degree in the curriculum is a big differentiator and can mean a better position and higher salaries. In addition, there are stricto sensu professional postgraduate courses, with a greater focus on the job market.

How long does a master's degree take?
The average duration of a master's course is two years. Professional masters, on the other hand, usually last less, around a year and a half. The workload of classes is reduced compared to an undergraduate degree, but the student must have a great research routine, since reading and writing the dissertation are one of the main parts of the course.

How to get into a master's degree?
The selection process varies from institution to institution. Generally it is necessary that the candidate already has a pre-project of the research to be done during the course and a professor interested in guiding the student. In addition, candidates usually have to take a general knowledge test and a test of proficiency in a foreign language. It is also necessary to have a good academic curriculum, as it will be analyzed during the process, and it is interesting that the candidate has participated in scientific initiation programs during graduation.

How is the course?
During the master's course, the student, in addition to attending classes, must participate in lectures, congresses and conferences. The guiding professor is the one who helps the student to choose the ideal subjects for their research and in the writing of the dissertation. And not only that. Research is one of the main objectives of the Master's. Much of the student's time will be spent on reading and researching for the writing of the dissertation. Finally, the work must be presented to a panel made up of university professors and, in case of approval, the student receives a master's degree.

Should I take an academic or professional master's degree?
As in the academic case, the professional master's degree also requires the student to carry out scientific research and write a dissertation. However, with a different approach. While an academic master's aims to prepare researchers and professors, a professional master's main target is the application of theoretical and scientific knowledge to the job market. Deciding which one is best for you depends on your profile and your intentions for the future.

What is the difference between a master's and a doctorate?
Both the master's and doctoral degrees are stricto sensu postgraduate courses, but they are different categories of training. During the master's degree, the student does not need to prepare an unprecedented study, but rather to deepen their skills as a scientific researcher within the disciplines of the studied area. In the doctorate, the student must prepare an unprecedented thesis that represents some advance in knowledge within this area.

Do I need to have a master's degree to pursue a doctorate?
Not necessarily. However, most Brazilian universities only accept students in doctoral programs after they have already passed their master's degree, but this is not a rule. It is rare, but the institution may accept a candidate with a good research project and a qualified academic curriculum, even without a master's degree. However, the ideal would be for the student to go through the master's degree first, because doctoral research is usually based on studies initiated during the master's degree.

Why do a master's degree?
Pursuing a master's degree is a great idea for those who enjoy research and want to dedicate themselves to academic teaching. In such cases, the master's degree would be a step towards a doctorate and, later, even a postdoctoral degree.

Differential in the curriculum
Having a master's degree makes a difference not only in the academic area, but also in the curriculum. According to a survey by the CGEE (Center for Management and Strategic Studies), 65.8% of master professionals in the country have formal employment.

higher salaries
In Brazil, a person with a master's degree earns, on average, four times more than other workers, according to the same survey carried out by the CGEE. While a professional earns an average of R$ 2,449 per month, doctors earn R$ 9,719 monthly. It is worth remembering here that a master's degree is an open door to a doctorate, and that doctors in Brazil earn on average more than R$ 13 thousand per month.

COMPLETE
Through Integralize, it is much easier to have access to master's courses at universities around the world. You don't need to take any kind of test or know how to speak foreign languages. In addition to the fact that the international master's courses are available completely in Portuguese, it is enough for the student to convert his undergraduate TCC (Course Completion Work) into a master's dissertation, without the need for prior approval of the research project.

If the student has already completed a lato sensu postgraduate course (specializations and MBAs), the system of payment of educational credits allows the student to request exemption from the mandatory subjects of the master's degree and can focus completely on research. Thus, with Integralize, it is possible to complete a master's course at an international university in up to two years, depending on the quality of the research and the speed of the student.