The bachelor's degree has been completed. What now? Master's programme or career start? There are ups and downs to both options. About these, what support the THWS Career Service can offer, what a company representative says, and how a former THWS student combined the two options.
Published on 30 August 2024
Once the bachelor's programme is coming to an end, the question arises: Should I complete a master's programme? Or should I enter the job market right away? Whoever is about to make a decision should consider their own desires and options. Because the choice is an individual one - and it depends on various factors: the subject area, the intended field of work, and the personal circumstances. A good starting point could be the question whether a master’s degree is expected in the intended field of work.
Is a master's degree expected in my field?
A master's is often expected in subject areas like chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, computer science, teaching, medicine, or psychology. A master's degree is also often necessary in the areas of lectureship, research, and development because a high level of knowledge and specialisation in a field are required. In other sectors such as IT, marketing, or creative professions such as design or journalism, practical experience and skills are often more important than an academic degree. In these fields, starting your career directly after completing your bachelor's might be more reasonable.
Kathrin Fiedler of the THWS Career Service advises: "It can also help to call a company directly and ask about entry requirements. That way, you also make valuable contacts at the same time." The Career Service supports students with their career start - by individual advice, workshops, or by organising career fairs, which take place regularly in Würzburg and Schweinfurt. Visiting such a fair may be a good option to get into contact with companies and meet potential employers.
If you ask a company directly, the answer might sound like this: "The career options with Rexroth are generally the same, regardless of whether the candidate holds a bachelor's or master's degree. What counts is performance: Effort and commitment." The company Bosch Rexroth AG is a producer of drive and control technology. This answer shows that in many areas practical experience and performance value more than the degree itself.
However, a master's degree may be a prerequisite for trainee programmes preparing candidates for management positions. That is why it is all the more important to check the companies' websites and consider whether you are looking for a management position or are interested in a trainee programme.
When would I like to start earning money?
A decisive factor for or against a master's programme is the time you would like to start earning money. A master's programme usually means another two to three years of studies in which students can either not work at all or only limited. Hence, the individual financial situation matters a lot.
The advantage of entering the job market directly after the bachelor's is that you will have a regular income sooner. Furthermore, you can gain job experience which in many fields matters just as much as an additional academic degree. There is also the chance of obtaining further training in the company and advancing professionally without taking the detour of further studies.
Master's students can also gain practical experience through internships or through working student jobs. Together with scholarships this can reduce the financial burden.
The practice-orientation is important regardless of the chosen path. Jan Saeger, head of Bosch Rexroth's corporate communication, emphasises: "Practice-orientation matters a lot to me. When I fill a position, I always weigh the candidate's experience against their personality instead of simply preferring the one with the master's degree."
The following is true regarding career options and the salary level: The further away you are from your studies and the more job experience you have, the less important it becomes whether you hold a bachelor's or a master's degree. In the long run, two to three years of already earning salary can offset a higher salary due to a master’s degree.
Different paths to the same destination: Combining practice and a master's
A master's programme can help in specialising in a certain area, developing the required expert knowledge, and build the networks necessary for one's career. Practical experience can also be gained during a master's, through internships and jobs as working students. In this regard, Jan Saeger from Box Rexroth says: "Master's graduates often collect more practical experience, bring more experience, and sometimes even a more developed personality."
A master's programme offers the chance to deepen interests. There is, however, also a downside: "Especially, if you complete a bachelor's and master's degree in the same field and realise in practice that this field is not for you, then you have invested a lot," says Nina Kammleiter. She studied Business Administration with a focus on marketing. By chance she became the marketing manager of the company she completed her bachelor's thesis with. There, she had worked for two years when she realised that she wanted to try something else. That is why she decided to study the master's programme Trade Journalism and Corporate Communications at THWS. Now, following her master's degree, she has almost completed her journalistic training. This journalistic training would also have been possible directly after a bachelor's degree. But back then, she did not yet know that she wanted to go in this direction.
Nevertheless, Nina Kammleiter does not regret the two years she spent working as in doing so she got insights into the company perspective and was able to save money, which made her master's studies easier. She thus advises that everyone develop practical experience first before starting a master's to specifically prepare for the later job. Another alternative is to complete an extra-occupational master's part time. "That way, many companies support continued training and qualification," Kathrin Fiedler from the Career Service says pointing out another opportunity to combine practice and studies.
Conclusion: There is not only one answer and there are many paths to the same destination
After all, the decision depends on the pursued career goals, how soon you want to start a career, and how much value is placed on a specialised education in the desired field of employment. If you want to continue studying after your bachelor's, yet you want to move closer to practice, the THWS master's programmes might be worth a look. Transitioning from university to a university of applied sciences is easy; in most cases, studies at a university of applied sciences are more practice-oriented.
Both paths come with advantages and disadvantages and offer different chances and challenges on the path into working-life. The Career Service is happy to help with your decision. THWS alumna Nina Kammleiter emphasises: "Many paths lead to one's dream job."
