Is It “Master’s Degree” or “Masters Degree”?

Taking care of small details in academics makes a massive difference in the accuracy and credibility of your work. Making sure your work is precise not only helps in creating high-quality content but also improves your writing skills for the future. Given the importance of precision in writing, students often face confusion in understanding the difference in commonly used terms – 'thesis' vs 'dissertation', 'honour' vs 'honour', and 'e-mail' vs 'email. Another dilemma faced by students: is it a masters or master’s degree? This Locus Assignment blog will clear the confusion behind using masters degree or master's degree'

What is a Master’s Degree?

A master’s degree is a postgraduate academic qualification that typically follows the completion of a bachelor’s degree. It usually involves one to three years of study after the completion of your bachelor’s degree and combines coursework, research projects, and a thesis project. These degrees tend to enhance a person’s expertise in the chosen specialisation, improve their career prospects, and are useful in many professions and further studies. Some examples of master’s degrees include Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Laws (LLM), and Master of Education (MEd). Now that we have understood what a master’s degree is, let's learn the grammar, rules, usage of writing the term correctly, and why it matters, especially when students ask, 'Is it master's or masters in academic writing?

Master’s degree or masters degree: The Grammar Involved

The word masters is a plural noun, whereas  “master’s” uses an apostrophe rather than a plural form. The apostrophe implies possession, which changes the meaning of the word. So, a master’s degree directly means a degree belonging to a master, which is the correct usage of the word. The same is applicable for similar academic terms like bachelor’s.

This is why writing “master's degree” or “masters degree” without an apostrophe is grammatically incorrect. Many students incorrectly write master degree or masters degree, which changes the grammatical structure of the phrase.

• Correct: He earned his master’s degree in 2024

• Incorrect: He earned his masters degree in 2024.

   

 

Singular vs. Plural Forms: When you want to use the plural form, you only need to pluralise the ‘degree’ to ‘degrees’.

• Correct: He has earned two master’s degrees, one in Physics and another in Biology.

• Incorrect: He has earned two masters degrees.

Capitalisation Rules: “Master’s” should be written in lowercase when used in general reference.

Example: I am pursuing my master’s degree in engineering.

However, when referring to the official full title of the qualifications, capitalise the formal name and remove the apostrophe.

Correct formal title:

1. Master of Science in Chemistry

2. Master of Business Administration

In general descriptive writing, phrases such as master’s degree in chemistry are completely correct. However, when mentioning the official name of the qualification, use the formal title without the apostrophe.

For example:

1. He completed a master’s degree in chemistry

2. He completed a Master of Science in Chemistry

Abbreviations: Degrees like Master of Arts and Master of Science are often abbreviated, and the rules on how to do it vary from one university and style guide to another. It is more of a choice rather than a difference in meaning. Modern usage trends lean toward dropping periods in abbreviations. Moreover, these do not require any apostrophes.

When looking for the correct masters abbreviation, students should refer to the official title of the qualification.

Example: Master of Arts can be abbreviated as MA or M.A.

1. MA in History or M.S. in Mathematics

Full Titles: When referring to the complete degree, capitalise master’s, the degree and the specialisation and make sure to remove the apostrophe.

1. Master of Business Administration (MBA)

2. Master of Science (MSc) in Chemistry

3. He has a Master of Science in Computer Science

While ‘master’s’ can be used on its own in informal writing, always use ‘master’s degree’ in formal or official contexts to ensure clarity and professionalism. By applying these rules on grammar, capitalisation, and abbreviations consistently, you can confidently refer to master’s degrees and other academic qualifications, such as bachelor’s degrees.

Students seeking additional guidance on writing academic papers can turn to Locus Assignments for expert assignment help and tips.

When to Use Each Form in Different Contexts

Understanding context is essential.

On a CV:

1. Master’s degree in Finance

2. Master of Science in Data Analytics

On LinkedIn:

1. MSc in Marketing

2. Master’s degree, University of Manchester

In Academic Writing:

Always use “master’s degree” in formal references.

In Informal Speech:

Saying “I’m doing my master’s” is acceptable conversationally, but avoid this in formal writing.

Beyond the Grammar: Why These Rules Matter

Students are often asked not to overlook these tiny details since they matter a lot in validating their hard work. Let’s see why following these rules matters:

Professionalism: Little errors and overlooked details can lower your credibility on CVs, academic work, and professional profiles.

Consistency: Universities pay attention to consistency in grammar, styling and formatting. Misuse and neglect can reflect on your grades and scores.

Visibility: When mentioning your academic degrees on professional platforms like LinkedIn, the correct form ensures clarity, authority and better searchability. 

Linguistic Clarity: Understanding these rules helps you maintain linguistic discipline and helps you perform better in papers, presentations and other academic environments.

Errors to Avoid 

Make sure you avoid these commonly made mistakes:

Incorrect Usage of Apostrophe: Make sure you use an apostrophe in terms like master’s and bachelor’s. Appropriating its usage according to the context.

Capitalisation Errors: Adhere to all capitalisation rules- for formal titles, full forms and general usage

Abbreviation: Correct the usage of abbreviations according to the requirement

When to Use Each Form in Contexts: Understanding which form to use might be different in different areas like essays, CVs, publications and emails. 

Preposition usage: Writing “Masters in Business Administration” instead of “Master of Business Administration”. This is a subtle error often made by students, but it makes an important grammatical shift in the sentence.

Formal Usage: Always make sure to use “master’s degree” as a whole and not only “master’s”. The latter is a casual way of usage and should only be used informally.

Conclusion

Understanding the correct usage of commonly used phrases, particularly in the professional and academic arenas like if it’s masters or master’s degree, is critically important in maintaining credibility, clarity, and consistency in writing. Good grammar, use of capital letters, and correct abbreviation forms generally serve to enhance essays and CVs, in addition to being a clear reflection of attention to detail. For students seeking expert support and guidance in mastering these inclinations, assignment helper UK presents reliable, professional assistance and essay writing services to ensure both accuracy and timeliness in submission.

Contact Locus Assignments for further information now! is it masters or master's

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it Master’s or Masters on a resume?

Write “master’s degree” with an apostrophe. “Masters” without the apostrophe is incorrect in academic usage.

2. What is the correct way to write Master’s?

Write “master’s” with an apostrophe when referring to the qualification. Capitalise only when it is part of the full official title, such as Master of Science.

3. Why is there an apostrophe in a master's degree?

The apostrophe shows possession. It means the degree belongs to a master, following the same rule as a bachelor's degree.

4. Does a master's degree have an apostrophe in the UK?

Yes. In UK English, it is also written as “master’s degree” with an apostrophe, just like in US English.

About Author

Dr Oliver Bennett is a senior academic writing consultant and English studies tutor with over 8 years of experience supporting students across UK higher education institutions. He specialises in academic communication, grammar accuracy, and structured essay writing for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. His expertise includes guiding students on correct academic terminology, degree formatting, and maintaining clarity and professionalism in formal writing.