A master's degree in the United Kingdom (from Latin magister) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges in most cases upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.[1]
A master's degree normally requires previous study at the bachelor's level, either as a separate degree or as part of an integrated course. Within the area studied, master's graduates are expected to possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of theoretical and applied topics; high order skills in analysis, critical evaluation, or professional application; and the ability to solve complex problems and think rigorously and independently.
The Quality Assurance Agency for UK Higher Education (QAA)'s Characteristics Statement for master's degree qualifications provides an official description of the context and purposes of master's degrees and the expected attainment of a successful master's degree candidate.[2]