Whether you’re seeking a promotion, better pay or a different line of work, find out how an online master's can boost your career progression.
If you’re looking to enhance your career, then studying an online master's could be the answer you’ve been looking for. With no need to attend campus, our online programmes are designed with flexibility in mind, meaning you won’t have to sacrifice your professional or personal commitments. The result? Increasing your potential by focusing on a specialist field, thereby strengthening your experience with advanced qualifications.
Can an Online Master’s Help Secure a More Senior Role?
An online master's degree can help strengthen your chances of securing a more senior role by developing the skills and industry knowledge that employers look for in leadership positions. Postgraduate qualifications are increasingly valued in today’s various industries. When you choose to study at Sunderland, you are investing in your future development by positioning yourself with management readiness.
Studying our online programmes will help you build your career and support long-term progression. You will develop transferable skills, such as strategic thinking, leadership, communication and problem-solving.
We have a wide selection of impressive programmes to choose from, which are valuable for securing senior leadership or managerial roles. Thanks to the flexibility of online study, you can immediately apply what you’ve learnt to your current role, from decision-making to organisational strategy. This can help demonstrate initiative, strengthen workplace performance and show your employer how you are committed to professional development.
Does a Master’s Make You More Employable?
With an 87.6% employment rate post-graduation, qualifying with a master's will help your employability by gaining industry knowledge, specialist expertise and transferable workplace skills.
A master’s degree is considered valuable by employers because it demonstrates the ability to think strategically, show commitment to professional development and solve complex issues. Studying a master’s degree whilst working full-time also shows a great deal of tenacity and determination, which are valuable qualities employers look for. On top of this, your communication, research, leadership, and ability to make effective decisions will be highly sought-after skills in many industries.
At the University of Sunderland, we have an impressive selection of online master’s programmes available, each designed to support career progression in your chosen industry. Whether you are looking to explore a new career path, build on your existing one, or study a master’s to gain more qualifications, our flexible programmes are designed to support your goals.
Popular subject areas include:
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MBA degrees, including Healthcare Management, Project Management and Supply Chain Management
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Computer Science and Cyber Security
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Management, Marketing, HR and Finance
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Law and International Commercial Law
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Design specialisms, including Graphic Design and Animation
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Nursing and healthcare-focused programmes
Take a look at our full list of online master’s courses here and make an impact on your career.
Which Subjects are Most in Demand?
Subject demands have changed over time; however, certain sectors have continued to grow and thrive, especially in today’s current market.
Although studying a master’s degree is advantageous to employability, certain programmes hold value and will do so for the foreseeable future, such as Management and Business programmes, Healthcare, Cyber Security and Computer Science.
Business and Management
Leadership roles are vital to any industry, and with that comes the importance of keeping operations flowing, project management ticking and strategic planning constant.
Cyber Security and Computer Science
Technology is constantly evolving, and with that comes the increasing amount of cyber threats, AI and data growth. This is why all businesses, particularly digital-focused ones, have a real demand for tech professionals.
If you’re considering a career in Cyber Security or Computer Science, explore more at the links attached.
Healthcare and Nursing
Healthcare and nursing remain some of the most in-demand sectors in the UK. With growing healthcare needs, workforce shortages and an ageing population, there will always be a need for qualified professionals with specialist skills and knowledge.
Psychology and Mental Health
Awareness of mental health and wellbeing continues to grow within the workplace, healthcare settings and wider society. Studying one of our programmes will enable you to help those in need and pursue a rewarding career in an increasingly important field.
If you think Psychology could be a career path for you, or you want to learn more, please read further here.
If you want to know more about what possible career paths could be right for you, take a look at this useful article. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our admissions team.
Are Online Master’s Valued by Employers
Yes – online master’s are widely valued by employers, particularly when completed with an established, respected institution such as Sunderland.
Studying for an online master’s degree holds the same accreditation as studying on campus. Not only are our programmes designed with flexibility in mind for working professionals, but they also provide industry-relevant skills that can be applied immediately. Studying flexibly is relevant to the modern workplace and will be viewed as a huge advantage when applying for roles within your chosen career.
By studying one of our online programmes, you are displaying a commitment to not only your professional development, but your personal development too. Not only will this be highly rewarding for you, but your future employer will benefit from all the skills you will bring to the company.
The Benefits of Choosing a Respected University Like Sunderland
When you choose to study at a respected university like Sunderland, you’re choosing a university that has been ranked 5 Stars for teaching, inclusiveness, employability and facilities according to the QS World University Ranking Guide 2023. Not only this, but Sunderland was ranked in the top 10 universities in Europe and 2nd in the UK for International Student Diversity as per the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024.
You will be among 1500 students studying online from across the world, and you will benefit from studying flexibly around your personal and professional commitments. Above all, you will learn skills that can be immediately applied to real-world settings, and you will be able to network with peers the same way you would if you were studying on campus.
Studying at the University of Sunderland will provide you with the opportunity to apply the skills you’ve learnt into your chosen career path with confidence, knowledge and professional credibility.
How Your New Skills Can Benefit Your Current Role
Studying whilst working will be highly advantageous as you will be able to practice the skills you have learnt in real-time.
In studying one of our online programmes, you will benefit from:
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Developing a strategic thinking mindset and applying this to complex work situations
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Building confidence in your professional performance, be it speaking to a room of colleagues or compiling data analysis
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Displaying your leadership skills and being able to problem-solve on your feet
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Managing projects end-to-end successfully and with ease
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Improving your visibility with your company by using all of the above
You don’t have to wait until graduation to be able to benefit from what you’ve learnt on our programmes. You can study and apply what you have learnt to see its effectiveness in workplace settings.
Why an Online Master’s Expands Your Business Network
There is a stigma with learning from home that it can be quite isolating, but this is certainly not the case. You can still make professional connections whilst working from the comfort of your own home.
Although you will be learning from home, many students, both current and past, are well established within their chosen industries. Take Student X for example; they are currently studying a master’s in X, and they explain how studying this programme has helped them get their foot through the door in their dream job:
Despite learning remotely, this doesn’t equal limitation. Students will be able to have online discussions, collaborate and communicate effectively on projects and gain industry insight from professionals.
Studying with students all around the world will help you gain a broader knowledge of business, leadership and differing workplace culture, therefore providing differing viewpoints you’ve never considered before.
Other Career Opportunities That Can Come from an Online Masters
Studying a master’s can open opportunities beyond the traditional progression route. Yes, you can apply what you have learned to your current role, and some students may already have their job lined up post-graduation, but other paths are possible.
Many people choose to go down the consultancy route; another great place to start if you want to move into more of an entrepreneurial direction. Having the freedom to select what companies or projects you would like to work on can be extremely rewarding.
You may decide you want to change industries completely. You may want to go into teaching or training. Either way, the study doesn’t have to end when your master’s degree ends. You can look at furthering your qualifications and future-proofing your career even further.
Why Now Could Be the Right Time to Study
If all of the above resonates with you, and you are looking to build on your existing skills and leverage your position in your chosen career, studying an online master’s degree at The University of Sunderland could be the right step forward.
You will benefit from studying with like-minded peers, at a pace that suits you, in the comfort of your own home, without having to sacrifice your personal or professional life.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via telephone on +44(0)191 300 4580 or email at enrolments@online.sunderland.ac.uk.