Is graduate school mainly for students who want to become researchers?
No. Graduate school is not only for students who want to become researchers. Some students enter master’s or doctoral programs to develop an academic research career, while others pursue deeper subject knowledge or practical expertise, qualification-related or professional goals, or a change in career direction. The balance between research and coursework, as well as completion requirements, varies by degree, field, and program.
Key points
- Some students enter graduate school to deepen their research and pursue academic careers.
- Others attend to build advanced knowledge or practical expertise, obtain qualifications, pursue professional goals, or change career direction.
- The learning structure and completion requirements differ between master’s and doctoral programs and across fields and programs.
Things to check
- Prospective students should check each graduate school’s official information to see whether its specific program matches their goals.