Bachelor's, Specialist's and Master's degrees are the levels of professional higher education, differing in the content and duration of training. To master bachelor's or specialty programs, you must have an average general education, for master's programs - higher education. In the future, the bachelor can continue his studies and receive a master's degree.

Bachelor's, Specialist and Master's Degree as Levels of Professional Higher Education

Currently, the following levels of professional higher education are established in the Russian Federation (clauses 2, 3, part 5 of article 10 of the Law of December 29, 2012 N 273-FZ):

Bachelor's degree;

Specialty, master's degree.

Moreover, each of the bachelor's, specialist's and master's programs belongs to an independent type of the main professional educational program higher education. Admission to training is carried out separately for each of these programs (subparagraph "b", paragraph 2, part 3 of article 12, part 5 of article 69 of Law N 273-FZ).

Persons with appropriate education are allowed to master these programs. So, for undergraduate or specialty programs, it is necessary to have a secondary general education, for master's programs - higher education of any level (parts 2, 3, article 69 of Law N 273-FZ).

Features of Specialist, Bachelor's and Master's Degree

Specialization is an education system familiar to the Russian Federation. Specialists are trained for professional activities in a particular industry. The term for obtaining the first higher education is, as a rule, five years. However, many universities have switched to the Bologna (two-tier) education system, which implies the training and graduation of bachelors and masters.

A person intending to get the first higher education at a university, who has switched to the Bologna education system, enters the bachelor's degree. Provided successful passage final attestation he is awarded the qualification "bachelor" and a diploma is issued, indicating that he has a higher education (clause 2 of part 5 of article 10 of Law N 273-FZ).

Bachelors can continue their studies and receive a master's degree. At the same time, it is not necessary to enroll in a master's program at the same university. Admission to master's programs is carried out on a competitive basis based on the results entrance examinations... Conventionally, a bachelor's degree can be characterized as a basic higher education, and a master's degree as a further specialization (parts 3, 5, 6, article 69 of Law N 273-FZ).

Unlike undergraduate and specialist programs, not only universities, but also scientific organizations(Clause 4 of the Procedure approved by the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated 05.04.2017 N 301).

The essential difference between bachelor, specialist and master is the length of study, which is established by federal state educational standards. As a rule, it takes five years to obtain a specialist diploma, four years for a bachelor's degree, and two years for a master's degree (part 4 of article 11 of Law No. 1173; clause 3.3 of the Standard, approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated 07.08.2014 N 943; clause 3.3 of the Standard, approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated 17.08.2015 N 827).

Over the past 15 years, the wind of change has swept away many stable concepts in the Russian open spaces. Soviet higher education, so good-quality and understandable, gradually faded away and now it is difficult to build new system... We are gradually getting used to new names: bachelor's and master's degrees.

A bit of history

For Russian students it all started in 1996. A two-level training system was introduced in universities. The purpose of the innovation was to join the Bologna Process - a voluntary association of higher education systems in Europe, which by that time was about two decades old.

The process of joining European standards was formalized legally in 2003, when Russia signed the Bologna Declaration. And since the beginning of 2011, the two-tier system has become the main one in Russian higher education.

For the sake of fairness, it must be said that students who entered before 2010 still have the opportunity to obtain a degree " certified specialist". This is an intermediate step between bachelor's and master's degrees. But today the system of climbing a rock from the granite of science looks like this:

1. Bachelor;
2. Master.

What is the Difference Between Bachelor's and Master's

These two words, so unusual for our hearing, mean the degree of preparation of a university graduate. To understand the difference between a bachelor and a master, you need to know the goals of preparation at these two levels.

Bachelor's Degree - Preparation of a Practicing Specialist

After graduating from school, young people enter the bachelor's degree. This is the beginning of higher education. After studying for 2 years, each of them can receive a diploma of incomplete higher education. That is, a diploma is issued stating that you have mastered half of the first stage of the higher vocational education, the scope and content of which is indicated in the appendix to this diploma.

But practically no one stops there. Continuing my studies for another 2 training course, and after passing the final certification, you receive a bachelor's degree. By this time, you are passing not only general education, but also special disciplines and professional practice. This diploma is a certificate of complete and completed higher professional education. You have the right to apply for positions where the qualification requirements include the need to have a higher education.

Master's degree - focus on scientific work

If you want to further conquer scientific peaks or engage in teaching activities in universities, you need to enroll in a magistracy. A master's degree is necessary for students who want or have the opportunity to further engage in scientific activities or teach at a university.

But those wishing to study further after 4 years of study at the university today, according to statistics, about 25-30% of the total students. The explanation should be sought in the realities of our life. Not every student can afford to continue their studies.

The downside is that they prefer to hire bachelors for work - no more is needed for office work. A person must be able to work with information, process documents, work in a team. In a word, be a competent and executive employee of the company. And special studies of scientific activity are not required here. That is why most students prefer to spend 4 courses to acquire basic knowledge, some practical experience and then get serious about your career.

There are a few more things that keep me from entering the magistracy:

• The need to re-pass exams upon admission. Even at your home university, you again find yourself on the rights of an applicant and on a par with applicants from other universities.
• On the free education it is even harder to enroll in a master's program than when mastering the first stage. Approximately one third of applicants pass the test. But for those who are eager to enroll, there is a paid education.
• It can be considered a fact that the starting salary of masters is higher than that of bachelors. This is especially confirmed by foreign studies (for example, in the USA and Canada). More details can be found in another material: statistics of salaries of masters and bachelors.

Pros and cons of two-tier preparation

The new system of levels of university education has not yet taken root in the vast the former USSR and causes many difficulties in understanding. It is sometimes difficult for personnel officers to determine the degree of preparedness of a newly minted specialist. Moreover, both of them write "higher education" when filling out the questionnaire. The older generation perceives the graduate of the first stage rather as a “dropout”. In addition, there are areas where a bachelor's degree is clearly not a winning moment: jurisprudence, economics, high tech... The first stage is sometimes equated with a technical school (according to the old school personnel officers).

But there are also pluses. Large companies will quickly hire a first-degree graduate. Especially those structures that have their own training system. It's easier to teach than to retrain. And it is much easier to finish teaching a person who has mastered the practice of studying at a university - training for 4 years gives the skills of readiness for learning.

And his focus on practice is greater than that of a master. Indeed, during the continuation of studies in the magistracy, an orientation is created more towards scientific and theoretical activities than practical ones.

If a student wants to engage in scientific activities, promote scientific and technical progress in laboratories or subsequently teaching students - he cannot do without a master's degree.

But before entering to continue your studies, you need to find out if your university has a license to issue masters and its validity period. It is not advisable that your license expires in the year you graduate. Everything happens in life…

Universities began training graduates of this level in 1996, and until that time, the only direction of educational institutions was traditionally a specialist.

Bachelor Is the degree for which the corresponding training programs have been introduced. Compared to other degrees, the length of study is significantly reduced. This level implies training from 4 to 6 years, but now there are practically no educational institutions that award a bachelor's degree after studying for more than 4 years.

The timing advantage has greatly influenced the fact that many people want to get a bachelor's degree. But many doubt whether a bachelor's degree is a higher education or not. It is because of doubts that many former students choose specialists or masters.

Specialization is a traditional form of study at a higher educational institution, while bachelor's and master's degrees are areas borrowed from European countries. A specialist studies from 5 to 6 years, a bachelor's degree - 4 years, and a master's degree - at least 6 years.

Often people, after graduating from a bachelor's degree, hesitate to get a second education as a specialist or master's degree. So, in the Russian Federation there is an opportunity to continue studying in a magistracy after completing a bachelor's level.

In this case, in the magistracy, you will study your specialty in more depth. After graduation, you will be able to continue to engage in scientific activities. This is in contrast to the bachelor's degree, which provides knowledge only for practical activity.

Very soon it is planned to completely abolish the specialist level, since the bachelor's degree in conjunction with the master's degree provide the most complete skills and knowledge for further development.

What is the difference between a bachelor's and a master's degree?

Both bachelor's and master's degrees are higher educations. The difference lies in the terms of study and, accordingly, in the level of knowledge of graduates of these areas. A master's degree implies mastering more complex programs than a bachelor's degree, but after graduation you will be able to continue to engage in scientific activities.

In the master's program, you will receive in-depth knowledge of your specialty. After graduation, you can choose any scientific direction in which you will develop. After the bachelor's degree, there is an opportunity only to realize oneself in practical activity, that is, to work only in your direction.

Thus, a bachelor's degree is a level that implies the application of acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace, and a master's degree is a degree that allows you to develop in the future in the chosen scientific direction.

It is because of this that the prestige of the bachelor's level has dropped significantly recently. This is partly justified, since a bachelor's degree is an incomplete higher education, and a master's degree is a complete higher education.

But in fact, bachelor's and master's degrees are distinguished not by prestige, but by the goals of obtaining them. If you want to get a job after university and realize yourself from a practical point of view, building a career, a master's degree will not be useful to you. You only need the amount of knowledge you need to fulfill your job responsibilities.

Thus, our education system allows you to spend as much time on study as is really justified for your future studies. But the specialist degree still exists and is relevant. Why, let's figure it out.

Differences between specialist and bachelor's and master's degrees

Some universities no longer practice the specialist level, but those that still provide such an opportunity allow students to go to graduate school after graduation. This is exactly the advantage that distinguishes the specialist from the undergraduate degree.

You cannot enter graduate school after completing a bachelor's degree. This requires a specialty or master's degree. That is why future graduate students choose a specialty. It is easier to complete the specialist level and become a graduate student than to study for a bachelor's degree, then go to a master's degree in order to be able to study in graduate school.

While in some higher educational institutions there is an opportunity to enroll in a specialist, applicants use this, but most universities and institutes no longer provide such a right. They are in the process of a complete transition to European educational standards, according to which the bachelor's and master's levels remain.

It is worth noting that a specialist is also a complete higher education, unlike a bachelor's degree, which also raises the demand for this level.

Which diploma is better: specialist, bachelor's or master's?

In fact, this question cannot be answered unequivocally. Indeed, in Russia there are many different directions for which different diplomas are needed. Now more and more often the employer looks at practical activities trainee, and not on his diploma. And in order to be a good worker, the knowledge gained in the bachelor's degree is enough.

Today in the legislation Russian Federation only 3 levels of higher education are spelled out:

1. bachelor's degree;
2. specialty;
3. master's degree.

Therefore, bachelor's education is also higher, albeit incomplete. Of course, a master's degree is better if you plan to continue your scientific activity, but the level of a specialist or a bachelor's degree will be enough to build a successful career and realize yourself from a practical point of view.

The difference between these three degrees is not at all their prestige. It consists of a degree of specialization. Therefore, talking about the prestige of each of the levels and comparing them is meaningless, because they are obtained for different purposes.

Is it difficult to find a job with a bachelor's degree?

There is an opinion in society that a bachelor is a person who has dropped out at the university. As mentioned above, a bachelor's degree is a higher education degree, and now we will talk about the main myths that most people are sure of.

"The bachelor's level is all I can, because it is difficult to enter the master's program." The magistracy will have to do the same as in the bachelor's degree, that is, to take exams. Talented students who studied rather than walked will receive budget places... If for some reason this has not been achieved, you can always enroll in paid education.

"Employers are reluctant to hire people who have only graduated with an undergraduate degree." Frequently advertisements for vacancies indicate the requirement for a higher education. We assure you that the employer does not care whether you have a bachelor's or master's degree, the main thing is that you have it. And in the announcement nothing of the kind is indicated.

"A master's degree greatly increases the chances of getting a prestigious job." We assure you that if instead of a master's degree you graduate from special practical courses in your specialty or earn some experience for yourself, then you will be much more willing to be hired than if you spend another 2 years sitting at your desk.

"A master's degree significantly improves your chances of getting a job." A well-written resume, a good formulation of the speech at an interview, ingenuity, good manners and, of course, knowledge, but not a master's degree, help to get a job.

V modern Russia very rarely employers look at the degree of your diploma, more often they are interested in your work experience and your creative ideas. There can be many reasons for getting a master's degree, but they do not include the desire to get a high-paying job.

If you are a talented student who wants to delve into science and devote your life to it, then you really need to go to graduate school. But if you want to realize yourself in a prestigious job, then it is better to spend time on special courses, developing your own ideas and looking for a job, this will bring you closer to your dream much faster.

Thus, one should not question the prestige of a bachelor's degree. No employer will underestimate you because of this, if you are truly a worthy and responsible employee.

Is a bachelor a higher education or not? Understanding the levels of higher education updated: February 15, 2019 by the author: Scientific Articles.Ru

Modern system higher education with its levels and options can confuse applicants and their parents. They often ask a question to representatives of the university administration: is a bachelor's degree a complete higher education or not? Let's take a look at the modern teaching system, its nuances and features.

Features of modern higher education

Modern society is characterized by high mobility and a steadily increasing information flow. To successfully fit into the new world, young people must have certain qualities. First of all, these are:

• the ability to quickly switch between tasks;
• the ability to receive and filter information;
• the ability to use knowledge in a mobile way, and, if necessary, get new ones.

Unfortunately, the higher education system has lagged behind progress for quite some time. Once having received a specialist diploma, the graduate became a professional in a rather narrow field. However, this does not imply a change in occupation.

To overcome the problem of low mobility, a graduated higher education system has been developed. And immediately a problem arose: is it considered that a bachelor's degree is a complete higher education or not? After all, the study time was reduced by a year, but at the same time a master's degree was added as another step.

Differences between bachelor's and master's qualifications from a specialist and from each other

With the emergence of new names of specialties, many questions arise, first of all, about how they differ. What was the bad specialty? And the most important question: is a bachelor's degree a complete higher education or not? New things are often frightening, but progress cannot be stopped.

The main difference between a bachelor's and a master's qualifications is the level. Both that and another - a full-fledged qualification. Despite the questions from some employers that a bachelor's degree is a higher education or an incomplete higher education, the first option will be correct. However, there are significant differences:

• bachelor's degree is the first stage of education. The diploma most often has an applied character and is aimed at practical activity;
• Master's degree is the second stage of education. She may continue the direction of the undergraduate program, or may differ significantly;
• Master's degree involves a deep study of the theoretical program and subsequent scientific or management activities;
• The standard time of study for a bachelor's degree is four years, for a master's degree - two years.

A little aside in modern higher education is the specialty. The list of professions that do not involve gradual education is very small. First of all, these are all medical specialties, as well as some engineering ones. these professions have not changed.

Incomplete higher education with bachelor's degree

According to there are two stages of education - master and bachelor. Complete or incomplete higher education? It depends on the timing and availability of a supporting document.

A student who has completed more than half of his studies, but has not received a diploma of completed higher education, is considered to have incomplete higher education. With a bachelor's degree, this period is two years, subject to closing at positive ratings at least four sessions in a row.

To confirm incomplete higher education, a student can request an academic certificate from the dean's office. strict accounting. It indicates the number and results of the studied disciplines. This certificate can be presented to the employer in order to obtain a job that requires certain qualifications.

Academic certificate of incomplete higher education of the bachelor is required for transfer to another educational institution or to another faculty. This will save the student from re-studying the passed disciplines and allows to put into practice the Bologna system.

Is modern full higher education a bachelor's and a master's?

V modern world it is difficult to get a good job without education. This, though trite, but the truth pushes young people to universities. Often, admission to a particular specialty is dictated by the desire to simply get a diploma, reassure parents, and do something.

Some are lucky, and they find the work of a lifetime, while others understand that they have ended up in the wrong place. Such situations often lead to the fact that the student stops learning, loses interest in learning new things, and begins to look for other options for activity.

In the system of graduated education, this problem is solved very simply. The disciplines studied involve the formation of certain competencies, which is very easy to transfer to any related specialty. In addition, the first two courses offer extensive theoretical training at the beginning of the course. It allows you to change direction in senior courses. The modern education system assumes mobility and interchangeability within the level.

Master's degree as a stage of higher education

If you have received it, but there is an urgent need to have a different education, knowledge and a different specialty, the magistracy will come to the rescue as the second stage of education. If the question (whether a bachelor is a complete higher education or not) confuses some, then everything is clear about the second stage.

Master's degree is the second stage of higher education. The corresponding degree can be obtained only on the basis of an initial (bachelor's) or specialty. However, not all students who have completed four years in the first stage can continue their studies. The magistrate assumes a strong basic knowledge, good preparation in all subjects and a desire to engage in scientific activities.

Benefits of a Master's Degree:

• the ability to change the direction of education according to your priorities;
• the opportunity to continue education after several years;
• in-depth study of disciplines allows you to subsequently occupy leadership positions and conduct scientific activities.

Employer benefits from graduated education

Employers still question the benefits of a bachelor's degree. This is despite the fact that he currently constitutes the overwhelming majority of graduates from universities, academies and institutes.

Do not be afraid to hire a graduate with a Bachelor's degree. This is a full-fledged completed higher education. An employee with such a diploma has undergone comprehensive theoretical and practical training and is ready for work.

Preparatory Programs - Foundation Program(sometimes - Preparation Courses) are organized at large universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and European educational institutions.
Preparatory program:

• prepares the applicant for study at the university, gives the necessary basic knowledge;
• replenishes the required year of study if the applicant has a certificate or a certificate of completion of an 11-year school (in many countries of the world, a 12-step system of education in schools is adopted);
• combines intensive language practice with preparation for admission to a specific specialty.

In different Universities Foundation The program lasts from 6 months to 1.5 years. Upon completion of training, a certificate is issued, which is accepted by this educational institution, as well as partner universities. Sometimes applicants who successfully complete the preparatory program are automatically admitted to the university. In any case, an applicant with a Foundation Program certificate has an 80-100 percent chance of admission to the chosen university.

Associate degree

WITH the warmth of the associate - Associate's degree awarded in the United States, as well as some educational institutions in Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands after two years of college or university studies. Associate degrees are usually obtained at US Community Colleges, where tuition fees are much lower than at universities. Associate's degree is awarded in several areas: art, applied sciences, business, medical services, engineering, natural sciences.
Associate's degree allows:

• enroll in prestigious university those students who did not score enough points on the SAT Reasoning Test after graduation;
• save on studying at a university: after two years of study, you can transfer to a university to get a bachelor's degree;
• improve English to the level required for university studies.

After two years of study, an associate degree diploma is issued, which is accepted by universities in the United States and several other countries, if the student decides to continue his studies. In addition, this degree is sufficient to find work in some areas (junior staff).

Undergraduate

Bachelors degree - Bachelor "s degree- an academic degree, which is awarded to a student upon completion of the main program of higher professional education. Having received a bachelor's degree, a graduate can start a career in a specialty or continue his studies in a master's degree.
Bachelors degree:

• testifies to the fundamental profile and practical training of the graduate in the chosen profile;
• gives the right to work in a specialty (most graduates of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, European countries prefer to stay on a bachelor's degree and start a career);
• gives the right to receive a master's degree to those who plan to connect their lives with science.

In order to get a Bachelor "s degree, you need to study at a university for 4 to 6 years, depending on the chosen specialty, country and educational institution... As a rule, many specialties take 4 years to study. 5-6 years of undergraduate studies are provided for those receiving a medical specialty.

Master's degree

Master's degree - Master "s degree- an academic degree awarded upon completion of a master's degree (master's degree) in many countries of the world. Master's degree is the second level of higher professional education. Typically, Master's degrees are awarded to students and graduates who want to connect their lives with science and research. In order to start a career in the chosen specialty, a bachelor's degree is enough in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. There are programs for natural sciences(Master of Science, MSc), programs in humanities(Master of Arts, MA), as well as the program of business administration (Master of Business Administration, MBA).
Master's degree:

• testifies that the student, after graduating from the magistracy, received a deeper knowledge of the chosen profile;
• gives the opportunity to engage in scientific activities or enroll in doctoral studies (postgraduate studies).

Master's degree studies last 1-2 years, depending on the country. In the UK, for example, this stage takes one year of study, while in the USA it takes two years. Upon completion of the master's degree, the graduate receives a master's degree.

Doctorate

Doctor's degree - PhD- an academic degree of postgraduate education, which is awarded to experts in a particular field who have successfully completed doctoral studies. As a rule, graduates of a master's program enter doctoral studies. PhD degree ( Doctor of Philosophy - historical name, currently has no practical relation to philosophy) is awarded in various scientific fields. This degree:

• makes it possible to practice scientific work, teach at universities, start an academic career;
• testifies to deep knowledge and high qualifications in the chosen profile.

In most countries of the world, doctoral studies last from 3 to 6 years. In some countries of the world, PhD is the highest academic degree. In the USA, Australia, New Zealand, PhD holders can conduct their research in the framework of postdoctoral studies (Research fellow).