Education
40 countries one degree system
The good news for graduates is that there will be a lot more choice in specialist Masters in the near future. A revolution in higher education is underway across
The changes allow thousands of graduates in mainland
But what do specialist masters programmes offer participants? How, for example, are they different from an MBA?
An MBA is aimed at experienced managers and is more strategic in focus than the specialist Masters degrees, says Dr Mary Meldrum, head of postgraduate programmes at
Tailor made
As the name suggests, this type of Masters degree offers a tightly focused approach to subject knowledge and skills, and is often associated with sector specific professional qualifications.
Students are looking for in-depth knowledge and expertise in a specific area, says Christophe Bredillet, director of postgraduate programmes at the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de
Often this is based on the knowledge developed by professional bodies and chartered institutes and may lead to professional certification.
At ESC Lille, for example, the Project Programme Management Masters is accredited by a range of internationally recognised professional bodies, including the Project Management Institute and the Advance Association for Cost Engineering. I decided to go for a specialised Masters to get the right expertise in project management, says
Guillaume Pelinski, an ESC Lille alumnus. Preparing and passing international professional certifications in project management which are recognised worldwide makes me more valuable in the labour market.
A specialised Masters provides specialised training for particular functions, such as personnel management, and marketing, for example, or sectors, such as health, fashion, or transport, says Giovanni Fattore, associate professor of public and healthcare management at SDA Bocconi School of Management in
Practical expertise
The learning experience is also highly functional. Fattore is director of the International Health Care Management Economics and Policy Masters at Bocconi. It is a one-year programme taught in English. The programme focuses on healthcare, economics and policy, ensuring that students understand the political, economic and social context of healthcare management from an international perspective and obtain the appropriate skills for managing public and private institutions.
Kymberley Hill, who took the MA Public Relations (PR) programme at
PR writer; and further understanding of the media environment.
Judging by the career paths of participants, recruiters appear to value specialist masters and the in-depth subject knowledge and skills that students are equipped with. PR is a highly competitive industry with intense competition for positions. Immediately after graduating, however, Hill joined PR agency Biss Lancaster, and soon moved to leading global PR agency, Weber Shandwick, where she works as an account executive in the consumer division.
Mid-career options
Specialist Masters are not exclusively for graduates straight out of a first degree or with little work experience. A number of business schools offer Masters targeted at people in the middle of their career who are intent on honing their professional skills in a particular subject area.
All of these programmes are aimed at functional specialists seeking to develop their knowledge and appreciation of the business and their capabilities as business leaders, says Richard McBain, director of specialist Masters at
A range of options
Whether taking a specialist Masters straight after graduation or later in their career, participants have a variety of subjects to choose from. Audencia Nantes Ecole de Management is a typical example: its Masters programmes include Management of Sports Organisations, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, and Management and International Competences. Elsewhere, you can study for an MSc in Luxury Goods and Services at the International University of Monaco, an MSc in International Wine and Spirits Trade at the Burgundy School of Business, or if you want to start your own business, an MSc in Entrepreneurship at Nottingham Business School.
While most business schools offer straight subjects like finance, they may also run niche programmes in that subject area.
Ultimately, for those graduates with a clear idea of their career path, the specialised Masters is an excellent way of boosting their subject knowledge and job prospects. I think the value of a specialist Masters is the focused programme of study, says Carmen Baylis, who is completing her MA in Global Financial Management at
About the author
Steve Coomber is a freelance business journalist who writes for The Times, CEO Magazine and Finance Director Europe among other publications. He is co-author of several books including Architects of the Business Revolution and The Career Adventurers Fieldbook.
Did You know?
The universities considered the top group of European Business Schools in 2007, according to the Financial Times, are as follows:
1 HEC Paris (France)
2 London Business School (UK)
3 Insead (France/Singapore)
4 IMD (Switzerland)
5 IE Business School (Spain)
6 Iese Business School (Spain)
7 ESCP-EAP European School of Management (France/UK/Germany/Spain/Italy)
8 RSM Erasmus University (Netherlands)
9 EM Lyon (France)
10 Esade Business School (Spain)
11 Cranfield School of Management (UK)
12 Essec Business School (France/Singapore)
For further information visit http://rankings.ft.com/european- business -school-rankings
Website-Links
International University of Monaco MSc in Luxury Goods and Services
www.monaco.edu/Programs/MScLGS/msclgs_over.php
ESC Lille Masters in Management www.esc-lille.com/site/www/en/home_page_en/specialised_masters.aspx
Manchester Metropolitan University Business School postgrad and
professional programmes www.business.mmu.ac.uk/programmes/postgraduate/index.php
SDA Bocconi MBA and Masters programmes www.sdabocconi.it/it/mba_and_master/
Cass Business School Masters programmes www.cass.city.ac.uk/masters/courses/index.html
