Doing a Masters without a Bachelor degree

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Postgraduate study usually requires an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree as a prerequisite – but if you haven’t completed an undergraduate degree, earning a Master’s qualification isn’t out of the question.

There are a number of criteria that a university might take into consideration when evaluating an application for a Master’s degree programme. Some universities insist on a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised and accredited university. However this should not dissuade you from applying for a Master’s degree as the long term professional benefitswill stand you in good stead, and a large number of universities will take into account your professional experience and other certificates and diplomas in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree when considering your application.

Here’s how to get your Master’s without a previous undergraduate degree.

Leveraging your professional experience – The best way to learn is to do! There will be a number of concepts that you learn in your Master’s programme that you might have already executed in your professional life to great success and yet be unaware of the theories, best practice or the full practical potential of the concept. But having already executed the concept and seen it work (or fail), your knowledge of the concept will put you equal to if not steps ahead of a Bachelor’s graduate who has joined a Master’s programme directly after graduation. The knowledge you have gained through your time in employment or self-employment may prompt a university to consider you favourably for a Master’s degree in lieu of a Bachelors’ when considering your application.

Other Education/ Professional Certificates or Graduate Diploma – There are a number of reasons why a person might not have completed their Bachelor’s degree. Maybe at the time of your Bachelor’s programme you were only able to attain a graduate certificate or a diploma, or maybe you were unable to enrol for a Bachelor’s programme in the first place due to personal or financial commitments. But It is a fact that the only way to continuously and consistently grow in your professional life and have a successful career is to keep updating your knowledge and to this end you might have accumulated a number of professional certificates which testify to your knowledge and professional expertise. It is such knowledge coupled with your professional experience that a university might take into consideration when evaluating your application for a Master’s degree programme.

Robert Kennedy College with almost 14,000 students from almost every county in the world offers one of the most diverse, accredited and globally recognised online master’s degree programmes in both Business Law, Leadership and Management through exclusive partnerships with British universities. For more information download programme catalogue.

Sahil Devasia

Sahil Devasia has a bachelor’s degree in Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science with an MBA in Marketing. He has a wide gamut of professional experience, from the Merchant Marines to the Banking and Finance industries and has been associated with Robert Kennedy College since 2015.  His favourite song is Bon Jovi’s - It's My Life and his ambition in life is to be the “World’s best Dad”. 

41 Comments

  2. Maurice

    Team, am currently pursuing bachelor of international relations (semester 2). I have a diploma in journalism & mass comm after UACE( A level) high school. Can i be enrolled for master of international security?

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Kassim, Thank you for your interest and your message.

      It is my understanding that both the Bachelors and Masters degrees are mandatory to do a Ph.D. However, please check the same with the university from which you plan to do the Ph.D. for confirmation.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Isaac, Thank you for your interest. At this time we are offering only online Master’s degree programmes.

      Please click on the following link and fill the online form to receive our detailed programme catalogue: https://salford.rkc.edu/catalogue?r=masters_mt&j=fbpagemt. One of our education advisors will also get in touch with you shortly to discuss all our programmes, check on your eligibility and answer any questions you might have regarding our programme or the admission process.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Malik, Thank you for your interest and your enquiry.

      Please click on the following link and fill the online form to receive our detailed programme catalogue: https://salford.rkc.edu/catalogue?r=masters_mt&j=fbpagemt. Please reply with your phone number (with country code) and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you shortly to discuss all our programmes, check on your eligibility and answer any questions you might have regarding our programme or the admission process.

  7. Sumit

    Hello sir,
    My concern is that, Am i eligible for master degree??? if i dont have(B.sc computer science drop out) bachelor degree.

    Regards,
    Sumit

    • Vidhi Chopra

      Hi Sumit, Thank you for your interest in our Online Masters programme. Upon meeting the necessary criteria, we do enrol mature students with work experience. Please upload your CV for an eligibility evaluation and one of our Education Advisors would get in touch with you. Let us know if you would have further questions or require any assistance.

  8. Ajibola

    hi,currently am working but i want to do my masters in public health though i have a Bsc in microbiolgy,how do i go about it

  9. Don Gathers

    Interested in the on-line Masters degree program. I am 59, have worked my entire adult life and do not have a bachelors degree.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Don, thank you for your interest and your message. We will be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience, please provide me with your email address and phone number (with country code) and I will have one of our Education Advisors contact you to assist you further.

      Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

  11. Mark Joyce

    I’m interested in learning the price of your Online MBA in US dollars please. A close estimate is fine.

    Thanks,

    MKJ

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Mark, thank you for your interest and your message. Depending on the course you are interested and the university, the approximate cost of our programme is USD 12000 to 15000. Please provide me with your email address and phone number (with country code) and I will have one of our Education Advisors contact you to assist you further.

      Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

  12. Harry Dale-Thomas

    Good morning,

    I am currently working as a business developer in London.

    I would love a career change and I am very interested in Marketing.

    I do not have a bachelors, is it impossible for me to gain entry into a postgrad/masters course?

    Thanks,
    Harry

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Harry, thank you for your message and your interest. We should be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience alone, however, please provide me with your contact number and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you to check on your eligibility and answer any questions you might have.
      Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

  13. Burcu

    Hi. I am a conservator-restorer and I have 10 years experience also I m working in a museum now as an Assistant Conservator. I have an associate’s degree but I need a Master for continue to my career as a conservator. And I don’t have time for Bachelor’s and after Master. Can you give information to me what can I do for that? I need an affordable Online Master program about art, history or archeology etc. with my associate’s degree.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hello Burcu, thank you for your message and your interest. We should be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience alone, however, please provide me with your contact number and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you to check on your eligibility and answer any questions you might have.
      Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

  14. Bansi Shukla

    Hi Sahil, I wanted more information on attaining a masters degree despite not having a undergraduate. I have a lot of experience having worked in the top 5 audit firm across the globe and would love to apply on that basis. Wish to communicate more with you on the same.
    Thanking you for the support in advance.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hi Bansi, thank you for your message and your interest. We should be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience. Please provide me with your contact number (with country code) and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you to check on your eligibility and answer any questions you might have.

      Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

  15. funke

    I have an HND Upper Credit in Secretarial Studies, also took 5 course at ABE through West London colleague.

    I have over 10 years work experience as a Credit and marketing manager in a bank

    kindly advise if I can proceed for a masters programmes

    thank you

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hi Funke, thank you for your message and your interest. We should be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience and the education that you have completed. Please provide me with your contact number (with country code) and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you to check on your eligibility and answer any questions you might have.

      Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hi Manasa, thank you for your message and your interest. Please click on the following link and fill the form to received our detailed programme catalogue: https://college.ch/catalogue?j=fbpagemt.

      Please provide me with your contact number (with country code) and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you to check on your eligibility, provide you more information on the fees and payment terms and answer any other questions you might have.

  17. Omer

    I was looking to attend to the Master Program in Human Resource Management and Development. I currently have taken a little over 60 credits at an American accredited university. I also have over 20 years of working in retail businesses, with longterm supervisor/management experiences. Would I be able to proceed in admitting into the master program? Thanks!

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hi Omer, thank you for your message and your interest. We will be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience. You can start your application with us by clicking on the following link: https://salford.rkc.edu/apply

      Please provide me with your contact number (with country code) and email address and I will have one of our education advisors contact you to guide you through the application process and answer any questions you might have.

  18. Omer

    Hi Sahil,
    Thanks for your response! Okay, I’ll be sure to start the application process. However, I had one concern? It mentions on the University website that at least one week minimum residency is required? Even if I’m living in the U.S. and I plan on taking online courses, is it required of me to come and stay in the UK or Switzerland for a week? Or does that not apply to me? Thanks!

    • Sahil Devasia

      The residency week is a mandatory part of our online programme and can be done at anytime during the programme at your convenience. The residency is conducted either in the college or the university campus, dependent of the residency start date you choose, we usually have above five to six start dates in a calendar year.

  19. Goran

    Dear all greetings.

    Would like to ask do you have master’s degree program in a field of security or sport?

    Sincerely yours.

  20. Sandeep

    Hi,
    I have completed 15.5 years regular studies, highest qualifications is Polytechnic Diploma in Electronics & Communications Engineering (Don’t have a Bachelor Degree).

    Experience: 18 Years in IT Industry.

    Kindly Guide which Masters Degree I can do. Are offered Masters Degree programs recognized worldwide by appropriate authorities?

    Would it enable me to apply for Phd. after completion of Masters?

    Thanks in advance.

    BR,
    Sandeep

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hi Sandeep,
      Thank you for your interest in our programmes and for following our blog. We hope you for our blogs informative and helpful.
      We will be able to consider your application on the basis of your work experience inn addition to your diploma and you will be able to apply for any of our programmes. For more information on the programmes we offer, please visit: https://rkc.swiss/programmes?j=fbpagemt. If you are ready to apply, you can also start your application here: https://rkc.swiss/apply/?newcollege=1?j=fbpagemt.
      If you have any questions or require help with your application, you can chat with one of our education advisors on Whatsapp on this number: +41798072488
      Wishing you the very best.
      Sahil

  21. c win

    Hi, I have requested additional information but I am in the US. Is the accreditation also recognized by US employers? I have a Quality Engineer professional and got in the door via the software ware programming during Y2K. Yes, that long ago. So now that looking to advance I want to obtain a Masters.

    • Sahil Devasia

      Hi Win,

      Thank you for your interest. Our degrees are awarded by universities that are accredited and recognised by the government of the United Kingdom, and as such they are recognised worldwide. You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on all the programmes we offer, application process, and for information on discounts we might be offering at this time.

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