Studying for a Master's Degree: Conditions, Time and Cost

IDP will guide you through 10 steps to prepare for a Master's course that suits your wishes.
A group of international students in graduation robes and a student shows his degree.

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  • Published: 24 February 2024
  • Updated: 30 November 2025

One of the inevitable factors that will help you easily conquer success is to possess a solid knowledge base and practical experience before entering the professional working environment. Studying abroad for a Master's degree is also a perfect option to help you improve the knowledge you have learned during your university studies in a more in-depth way.

So what are the benefits of studying abroad for a Master's degree? Which country should I choose to study abroad for a Master's degree to improve my job opportunities and stay working after graduation? Let's find out more about IDP through this article!

1. Reasons why you should study abroad for a Master's degree

Improve your professional qualifications in the field you are pursuing

Owning a prestigious Master's degree will bring you many new opportunities and a promising future. Certainly, the knowledge that you gain after studying at the Master's level will help you learn more deeply about information in your desired field, and improve your thinking or professional skills. Besides, this will help you develop a more mature perspective on the things happening around you. This is extremely important to help you improve your competitive rate before entering the labor market.

Expand relationships and networking opportunities with businesses

When studying abroad for a Master's degree, the learning environment will help you expand your relationships, and connect with like-minded friends and experts in various fields. With such quality relationships, you will not only learn more valuable things but also create more bright opportunities for yourself.

In addition, Master's courses are also regularly associated with companies and business organizations when developing research projects. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to associate and learn about the company's recruitment needs, thereby confidently showing your ability to work.

Easily advance with attractive salaries

In addition to benefits such as improving expertise, and expanding relationships, owning a Master's degree will help you have many opportunities for promotion with an extremely attractive salary. However, to achieve this, you must choose a major as well as a suitable course so that you can confidently promote your strengths as well as absorb all the advantages that the master's program brings.

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2. Requirements to study for a Master's degree

For those of you who are planning to study abroad for a Master's degree, the conditions for studying abroad for a Master's degree will be somewhat stricter. You need to meet the following conditions:

Educational requirements: This level requires you to meet the requirements for GPA, standardized tests, and foreign language proficiency set by each school. In case you still do not achieve the required score from the university, some countries still allow international students to take pre-master's courses before taking formal courses.

Work experience requirements: Extracurricular activities and practical work experience are also a common requirement of most universities for those who wish to study abroad for a master's degree abroad.

3. How long does it take to study abroad for a Master's degree?

The duration of a Master’s degree is usually 1–2 years, but this can vary depending on the subject and the country you are studying in. Some specific subjects or countries with longer training programs may take longer than 2 years, while shorter or flexible programs can be completed more quickly.

For example, in Australia, Master’s programs in Business Administration (MBA), Marketing or Finance usually take 1–2 years, while subjects such as Engineering, Computer Science or Medicine may take more than 2 years depending on internship and research project requirements.

4. Cost of Master's Study Abroad

Basically, the cost of studying for a Master's degree will always be higher than that of a Bachelor's degree at current universities. You can refer to the table below to understand the estimated cost of studying for a Master's degree in each country:

Countries

Estimated study abroad costs (year)

Australia

24.042 - 58.800 AUD

Canada

$19,000 - $32,000 CAD

USA

12.000 - 50.000 USD

UK

13.000 - 36.000 GBP

New Zealand

30.549 - 47.551 NZD


The above are the costs of studying for a master's degree in Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, and and New Zealand. However, the tuition fees for each major will be different. To know the specific cost of studying for a master's degree in each major, contact IDP for detailed advice.

5. Which country should I study abroad for a Master's Degree

5.1. Study Masters in Australia

Studying in Australia for a Master's degree attracts the attention of many international students when it comes to ensuring world-class education quality and many attractive scholarship opportunities. After completing a Master's degree in Australia, students can stay for 2–3 years under the 485 visa. If you study a priority major or study in a regional area, the time can be longer, up to about 5-6 years depending on your policy and personal conditions.

5.2. Study Masters in the UK

One of the strengths of Master's programs in the UK lies in the relatively short study time of only 1 year. In particular, you can also choose 2-year master's courses including 01 year of study and 1 year with additional options: Placement, Internship, or Study Abroad. If you want to study in an MBA program, you will have many options for specific majors such as MBA in Marketing, Finance, and Human Resources.

5.3. Study Masters in the USA

The US is a country that gathers more than 5000 prestigious universities in the world such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and Stanford University. Besides, universities in the US provide many opportunities for students to carry out research projects, participate in extracurricular activities, and develop personal skills. Cultural experience and expanding your world horizons are also highlights not to be missed when you study abroad for a master's degree in the United States.

5.4. Study Masters in Canada

Canada is not only famous for its top-notch quality education, but it is also loved by international students for its affordable cost of living and safe living environment. Upon completion of a Master's degree in Canada at a designated educational institution (DLI) and full-time study, international students can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

According to the new regulations of the Government of Canada, Master's degree graduates can be granted PGWP for up to 3 years, even if the study program is less than 2 years long. This is an open work permit, which allows you to work for any employer in Canada and gain practical experience — an important stepping stone for your future immigration journey.

6. Which master's degree should I study?

The types of Master's degrees must be mentioned such as Academic Master, Professional Master, and Master of Research, so to determine the right field of study for the Master's level, you need to have a clear understanding of your career orientation and passion. Planning a career path helps you visualize your goals and set out what you need to achieve. From there, you can choose the "right" major for yourself!

Studying abroad for a Master's degree will be a perfect choice to help you develop your knowledge and promote your capacity to meet the requirements of the labor market. Besides, you will easily find open work opportunities with more attractive salaries. To refer to schools that teach Master's courses in different countries, you can find out on the IDP website - Study Abroad Advice or contact IDP for all information.

In addition to chatting with counselors, IDP always organizes IDP study abroad seminars throughout the year, creating opportunities for students and parents to meet directly with school representatives, hunt for Master's scholarships, and review applications on the spot.

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Summary of scholarships to study abroad: 30%-100%

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