A Master of Advanced Studies or Master of Advanced Study (MAS, M.A.S., or MASt) is a postgraduate degree awarded in various countries. Master of Advanced Studies programs may be non-consecutive programs tailored for "specific groups of working professionals with well-defined needs for advanced degree work" or advanced research degrees. With the exception of the several schools in the UK, advanced studies programs tend to be interdisciplinary and tend to be focused toward meeting the needs of professionals rather than academics.
The Master of Advanced Studies is also often referred as Executive Master because it is aimed at working profesionals (see the LSE in the UK programs for example or INSEAD and HEC programs in France)
United Kingdom
The
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
began offering the Master of Advanced Study in 2010 as a one-year master's degree in Mathematics as a replacement for the "
Part III exam in Mathematics". Cambridge currently offers Master of Advanced Study degrees in four fields of study. The
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick ( ; abbreviated as ''Warw.'' in post-nominal letters) is a public research university on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands (county), West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The university was founded i ...
has approved the introduction of a Master of Advanced Study (MASt) degree in Mathematics for the 2013/2014 year.
United States
In the United States, the Master of Advanced Study or the Master of Advanced Studies degree is a
post-graduate
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree.
The organization and stru ...
professional degree
A professional degree, formerly known in the US as a first professional degree, is a degree that prepares someone to work in a particular profession, practice, or industry sector often meeting the academic requirements for licensure or accreditatio ...
issued by numerous academic institutions, but most notably by the
University of California
The University of California (UC) is a public land-grant research university system in the U.S. state of California. The system is composed of the campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, ...
. M.A.S. programs tend to "concentrate on a set of coordinated coursework with culminating projects or papers rather than emphasizing student research" and frequently are structured as interdisciplinary offerings.
France and francophone countries
An master of advanced studies in France exists. It is not to be confused to the diplôme d'étude approfondie (equivalent to Master 2 in France and Mphil in the UK) program and the French MBA and Mastère which titles are not accredited by the State in France.The Master of Advanced Studies is open to people with a 4 years undergraduate degree (Master 1) and a minimum of 4 or 5 years of experience. It is usually taken by full-time workers. It is a selective degree. It is compliant with the Bologna ECTS and provides 60 ECTS.
The majority of executive masters have full days (no more than a full week) of courses per month over a period of two to three years.
The Master of Advanced Studies is also known in France as Executive Master.
German-speaking countries
![Master of Advanced Studies MAS Konzept](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Master_of_Advanced_Studies_MAS_Konzept.jpg)
The degree of Master of Advanced Studies is awarded in Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein as a continuing education (''Weiterbildung'') degree.
In Switzerland, the degree is recognized by federal law. Generally, a university degree is required for admission, but also work experience and non-formal education can be considered in addition to formal education.
A MAS requires 60-120
ECTS. and usually consists of course work, independent study and a masters thesis.
[
In Switzerland there are three levels of continuing education qualifications: the Certificate of Advanced Studies, the Diploma of Advanced studies and the Master of Advanced Studies. The Master of Advanced Studies is the highest of these qualification]
Swissuniversity – Master of Advanced Studies
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Spain
This degree also exists in Spain under the name "Diploma de Estudios Avanzados". It confers a higher qualification credential than a Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil m ...
or Master of Studies
The Master of Studies or Master in Studies (M.St. or MSt; ) is a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, the Australian National University, University of Dublin and the University of N ...
but lower than old doctorate
A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...
prior to European Higher Education Area (EHEA
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) was launched in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Bologna Process.
As the main objective of the Bologna Process since its ince ...
), however equivalent to new (EHEA
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) was launched in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Bologna Process.
As the main objective of the Bologna Process since its ince ...
) doctoral degree. The so-called "DEA" was achieved in two years: one year of coursework, which included research methods and theoretical approaches of the discipline at stake (depending on the area of specialization) and one year of research. All the work of the first and second years was defended before a panel. The DEA was for the elaboration of the old PhD proposal and the commencement or a prerequisite of PhD research in Spain before European Higher Education Area (EHEA
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) was launched in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Bologna Process.
As the main objective of the Bologna Process since its ince ...
) and Bologna process.
European Union
Students of the College of Europe
The College of Europe (french: Collège d'Europe) is a post-graduate institute of European studies with its main campus in Bruges, Belgium and a second campus in Warsaw, Poland. The College of Europe in Bruges was founded in 1949 by leading ...
(an independent university institute of postgraduate European studies with its campuses in Bruges (Belgium) and Natolin (Poland) receive an advanced master's degree (formerly called Diploma and Certificat) following a one-year intense programme. The one-year study programme at the College of Europe leads to an accredited degree of 66 ECTS.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Master Of Advanced Studies
Advanced Studies, Master of
Academic degrees of the United States
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