What is a master's degree and how does the selection process work?

You know what it is master's degree? Do you like reading, writing and want to become a teacher?

What is a master's degree?

A master's degree is an academic degree obtained through a postgraduate course. In the order of academic degrees, it is above the undergraduate degree and below the licentiate or bachelor's degree.

Therefore, it is considered a stricto sensu higher education course, lasting between 2 and 5 years.

The main focus of this course is to train researchers or masters, however, in the professional masters category, the course is more aimed at professionals who aim to improve their knowledge in a specific area.

It is the first degree of specialization after college, if you want to go even deeper, the next step after completing the master's degree would be the doctorate.

To take the next step after graduation, you need to pass the selection process of the educational institution you wish to study at.

Selection processes for master's degrees are competitive, so it is very important to prepare.

How does the selection process for a master's degree work?

The selection process for a master's degree consists of different stages. In addition to the candidate's CV, the educational institution also uses the following assessment methods:

General and specific knowledge tests;
Proficiency test in a foreign language;
Interview;
Presentation of research project.

To stand out and get a good course, perhaps even a scholarship, the future show needs to have an excellent academic record.

Furthermore, it is preferable that he/she has participated in a scientific initiation program during his/her undergraduate degree.

In short, these are the main stages of a selection process, which may vary slightly depending on each institution.

The higher the academic degree, the greater the demands and difficulty in the selection processes.

So, take a look below at some tips that will help you do well.

CONTINUE

1. Check your Lattes CV

The Lattes CV is an essential tool for those who are part of the academic world, and is even mandatory in most selection processes for master's degree.

So, be sure to review yours and see if the information is up to date, how complete it is, etc.

If you do not yet have a Lattes CV, read our content and find out how to do it and its importance for the market.

2. Make the most of the information in the notice

Master's programs are launched through a public notice, just like public competitions.

This document contains all the information about the selection process: prerequisites, subjects to be studied, etc.

Therefore, use the notice as your guide and read all the information very carefully. If you have any questions, do not keep them to yourself; contact the course secretary.

In addition to the notice, look for other ways to obtain information about the course, as the information in this document may not be sufficient.

An interesting tip is to talk to the teachers in charge to clarify any doubts that may exist.

3. Take time to learn about the program in detail.

A stricto sensu master's program is not easy to get into, and it is also quite competitive, especially if it is free or a master's degree of a highly contested institution.

Therefore, some details can make all the difference. Be familiar with the program’s details, such as projects, participating academics, lines of research, etc.

4. Create a preliminary project

It is very common for some educational institutions to request a preliminary project at the time of registration.

Therefore, it is essential to develop yours. It should contain a summary of what you intend to research during your postgraduate studies.

Generally, the abstract needs to fit into one of the research lines of the master's degree. To do this, you must check whether the chosen theme coincides with the theme presented by the program advisors.

5. Be ready for the written test

At this point in the championship, this certainly shouldn't be a problem for a future master.

However, it is important to review some rules, study writing and also update yourself on the program's area of activity.

The written tests in these selection processes are demanding and will assess different skills of the candidate.

6. Practice your English

One of the stages of the selection process for master's degree It is the language proficiency exam, normally the required language is English.

In this case, be sure to practice your English. With this exam, the educational institution assesses the candidate's ability to read books and other content in English, which will help them perform better.

This is because you will not be limited to research and content in Portuguese.

If you don't have a good command of another language, don't worry, you don't need to be fluent, however, it will make a difference.

So, train this language and reach a level where you can read and understand what was read.

7. Prepare for the interview

The interview is another important phase in the selection process for the master's degree. It is led by advisors who are part of the program's faculty.

The issues addressed are many, even your financial conditions to pay the monthly fees may be questioned.

The important thing is that you are truthful, convincing and know how to stay calm to answer everything correctly.

Additionally, you may be asked for clarifications on the pre-project, so make sure you know the essentials about it in case you have to explain a topic.

8. Be interested

You Masters programs are not as publicized as other programs, due to their limited opportunities and great competition.

So, don't wait for an opportunity to fall from the sky. Be proactive and look for programs with open enrollment.

If you want to study at a specific educational institution, always visit its website to check if there are any open applications.

9. Look for a program at the university where you graduated

Students who graduated from the institution have a greater chance of being approved in the selection process, but this is not a rule.

In any case, the ideal is that you look for opportunities at the university where you graduated. If applications are not open, look for other alternatives.

What do you study in a master's degree?

The main objective of the program is to deepen the knowledge acquired in the undergraduate course, but with theoretical analyses.

Future master's students will study renowned thinkers in the field and test the concepts they have taught in specific situations.

This way, it is possible to confirm theories or find new paths of learning.

The course lasts an average of 2 years, but there are cases where this period may be extended.

Throughout the course, students will take some mandatory and optional subjects. Many stages of the subjects are learned outside the classroom, in lectures and conferences, for example.

This program model will also require a lot of reading and writing, so it is essential to really enjoy reading and writing.

Who can do a master's degree?

This program involves more of a theoretical aspect, as it addresses academic issues and is recommended for people who plan to become university professors.

However, anyone with an undergraduate degree can study this postgraduate course and take advantage of it to expand their knowledge.

Master's program with open enrollment

Conducting a brief Google search we found some institutions with open registrations for their programs master's degree for the first half of 2023.

In this topic, we would like to highlight the program offered by the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC).

There are vacancies for the following research areas:

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine;
Science of Religion;
Accounting, Controllership and Finance;
Communication and Semiotics;
Economy;
Education: Curriculum;
Mathematics Education;
Portuguese language;
Education: Educational Psychology;
Applied Linguistics and Language Study;
Literature and Literary Criticism;
Experimental Psychology: Behavior Analysis;
Intelligence Technologies and Digital Design.

Registration is open until 4 pm on January 16, 2023. In total, there are 23 opportunities distributed in 12 places for academic master's courses, 1 for professional master's and 10 for doctorate.

Former students of the university receive an exemption from the registration fee. On the PUC portal you can find details about each program, a notice with the necessary information and also a tab to register.

In the notice you can find a link to access the coordinators' contacts and opening hours.

On the page redirected by the link you will also find other information about the course, such as, for example, monthly fee, duration, campus, curricular structure, teaching staff, information about scholarships and much more.

Conclusion

Join a master's degree It is not easy, in fact, it can be more difficult for some people than for others.

However, don't give up! Even if you don't pass the selection process the first time, keep studying and try again next year.

Put our tips into practice, take care of your mind and always stay balanced and calm.

Ask former postgraduates for guidance and work on your weaknesses, this way you will have better results.

ACCESS PUC PORTAL ➔

Nara Sampaio January 12, 2023

Career