Professional degrees vs academic degrees
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Study abroad : Subject Guides

Professional degrees vs academic degrees

During the course of your study abroad research you've probably come across qualifications defined as professional or academic degrees. What's the difference you ask? We explore the details of what sets these two degree types apart.

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A long-standing debate among international students is about which qualification is better, a professional degree or an academic degree. There can be some confusion about the exact definition, whether an academic university degree is a professional qualification and what the highest-paying professional degrees are. We’re here to help as we explore the differences between the options and judge a showdown between the two. It’s time to find out who wins in the battle of professional degrees vs academic degrees.

 

What is a professional degree?

A professional degree has a focused and specific curriculum that aims to develop your skills in a distinct area of specialisation. A professional degree ensures you are work-ready for a career in a given field and have received the necessary training. Much of your time is dedicated to practical and real-world training.

 

Professional degrees bridge the gap between the academic world and industry. This includes mandatory industry internships and work placements as part of your curriculum. The practical application of knowledge and theory is essential.  Completing the degree is often mandatory should you want to work in particular fields and be licensed or accredited. Some examples of professional degrees include:

 

 

You can discover more about professional degrees by reading our guide to professional degrees.

 

 

What is an academic degree?

An academic university degree encourages critical thinking and focuses on research-oriented tasks in various subjects or academic disciplines. Academic degrees are not necessarily designed with any particular career orientation, often leading to them being described as “generalist degrees”.  However, the qualifications help you develop a broad skill set applicable across fields.

 

This is not to say that areas of specialisation do not form part of academic degrees. With an academic degree, you can focus on areas of interest or specialisation at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  This can even be with a particular industry in mind.  Some examples of academic degrees include:

 

 

What are the major differences between professional and academic degrees?

Firstly, there are a few critical points to remember when evaluating professional and academic degrees:

 

  • Professional degrees are academic qualifications.
  • Professional degrees are required for entry to certain professions.
  • Academic degrees are not oriented to specialised professional careers or roles and can be used in various fields and career settings.
  • Professional degrees generally take longer to complete than academic degrees.
  • Professional degrees may have additional qualification criteria such as bar exams, licensing tests and trainee programmes attached.
  • A professional bachelor’s degree is not identical to a bachelor’s degree.

 

One way of thinking about the difference between professional and academic degrees is that the former is heavily weighted towards developing professional practice, while the latter nurtures academic discipline and a theoretical approach to subjects.  Professional degrees will equip you with a clearly defined set of skills, while academic degrees will add a broad transferable set of skills to your arsenal.

 

 

What are the benefits of a professional degree?

The primary benefit of a professional degree is that it provides a clear career path and trajectory. If you are a student with a good idea of what you would like to pursue professionally, then this degree would be a good bet. You must evaluate your academic abilities, skills and career objectives thoroughly before making your choice. 

 

Other benefits of pursuing a professional degree are the graduate outcomes. Although the degrees are designed for particular careers, you gain transferable skills applicable to other fields. This may give you an advantage. You will be competitive in the job market and have good employment prospects. In several cases, your starting salary will be higher than in the case of an academic degree.  

 

Using the UK as an example, you will be able to see that the employment rate for graduates of professional degrees remains strong:

 

  • Medicine - 94 per cent of graduates are employed or in full-time study. 
  • Subjects related to medicine - 89 per cent of graduates are employed or in full-time study. 
  • Psychology - 84 per cent of graduates are employed or in full-time study. 
  • Veterinary sciences - 93 per cent of graduates are employed or in full-time study. 
  • Engineering and technology - 88 per cent of graduates are employed or in full-time study. 

 

*HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey

 

Competition for places in professional degrees is high. Ensure you meet the entry requirements and apply as early as possible.

Don’t miss out on our subject guides on medicine, engineering, veterinary medicine and pharmacology. 

 

What are the benefits of an academic degree?

Studying for an academic university degree has several plus points. The first is a good academic foundation with exposure to a wide range of subjects and knowledge, with the potential to specialise. You’ll gain key skills, including communication, research, critical thinking and collaboration. An academic degree can also be a pathway to a professional qualification if you are unsure of your academic or career path.

 

Academic degrees will also open the doors to several career options and fields. The qualification is often critical in helping students to discover their interests and direction. You’ll be encouraged to harness your imagination and creativity during an academic degree, which will stand you in good stead on whatever path you take. Some of the careers that you might end up in after studying for an academic degree include:

 

 

While you here you should definitely have a look at our guides to degrees in the humanities, computer science, social sciences, and economics.   

 

Which type of degree should I choose?

Choosing between a professional degree and an academic degree will depend on a number of key factors including:

 

 

Primarily, the decision relates to whether you have a clear idea of what profession you want to enter and the professional career progression you would like to achieve. It also depends on whether you are more practically oriented or enjoy pursuing research and interrogating theory.

 

You may need time to find your feet or discover a subject area or specialisation that interests you, and in this case, an academic degree would be best. However, if you’re committed to a particular career path and know it’s what you want, then a professional degree is for you.

 

Don’t forget that if you’re looking for advice on making decisions about your academic future, you can read our take on an MA vs MSc and some of the top postgraduate degree choices for international students. 

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