Is there a 'right' time to pursue a master's degree?

 

Is there a 'right' time to pursue a master's degree?

According to UNESCO’s World Education Statistics 2025 report, out of every 100 people in Bangladesh, only around four hold a postgraduate degree, including master’s degrees. If anything, this statistic shows the rarity of master’s education in Bangladesh.

Yet, many still want to pursue postgraduate degrees, particularly master's, whether to advance their careers or fulfil academic ambitions. However, a common question among these aspiring students is whether there is a “right” time to pursue one.

In Bangladesh, the script is almost always the same: finish your undergraduate degree, then enrol immediately in a master's – ideally in the same field. In fact, your family probably expects you to follow this exact route. But increasingly, this well-worn path is being questioned. Many now see the immediate master's route as an outdated academic culture.

“Back when I completed my bachelor’s degree, which was over a decade ago, it was natural for graduates to immediately enrol in a master’s programme,” says Didar Hossain, an HR manager at a knit and garments company. “In fact, many of my batchmates had done the same. I, however, delayed it for a few years.”

“Today, the scenario is vastly different,” Didar continues. “You’ll find many graduates delaying the pursuit of advanced degrees for even longer. In most cases, this is because they are able to land jobs without needing a master’s degree and thus are unwilling to return to the classroom immediately.”

Landing a stable job straight out of university, however, is a luxury for most graduates these days. For these individuals, enrolling in a master's programme is less about ambition and more about avoiding an awkward question. "So, what are you doing now?" is hard to answer as a university graduate when you have no job title, no company name to offer. A master's degree becomes a socially acceptable placeholder for "I don't know yet”.

“Right out of university, I struggled to land a job for more than a year, after which I decided to start my master’s,” says Sifat Ahmed, currently an accounting professional. “No one pressured me to do so. I was just tired of constantly being asked what I was doing now that I had gotten my degree.”

Time, it turns out, rarely factors into the decision to pursue a master’s degree. But Didar points to a few exceptions where it does.

“Personally, I think that time is definitely a factor for many,” Didar notes. “You have soon-to-be graduates who want to pursue higher studies abroad, and with time, this is becoming more difficult given how popular destinations like the US and Australia are showing less eagerness to offer student visas to Bangladeshi students. Hence, many who want to pursue their master’s degree abroad feel like time is running out with each passing year. They don’t want to waste time and let the student visa situation become more complicated.”

“There are also many who want to pursue PhD studies abroad so that they can secure better funding,” Didar continues. “These aspiring students will pursue their master’s education in Bangladesh at their earliest convenience so that they can apply for PhD programmes abroad without wasting time.”

Didar further adds that for many working professionals, especially those in the banking or corporate sector, a master’s degree — preferably a Master of Business Administration (MBA) — is vital to secure promotions and secure leadership roles at various organisations.

“When a master’s degree becomes integral to your professional growth, it’s best to pursue and complete that part of your academic life as early as possible,” says Didar. “The way I see it, if you’re a working professional who has ambitious professional goals, you would want to get that advanced degree as early as you can. Over time, as you gain more experience and have more responsibilities at work, pursuing postgraduate education becomes more challenging.”

Sifat agrees with Didar, noting that the master’s degree he had secured just a year after completing his undergraduate studies helped him in his professional life later on: “I entered the job sector only after completing my master’s, and I am glad that I had done so. Work-life balance is an incredibly difficult thing to maintain, and pursuing another degree while you work can feel exhausting. Besides, as I have already completed my master’s degree, I know that I can apply for more senior roles in other organisations.  I am also eligible to secure similar roles at my current one.”

                                                                       

One’s age and timing can become factors for those who are looking to pursue a second master’s degree at some point in their life.

Globally, most students complete their master's degrees in their late 20s to mid-30s. In contrast, most people who earn their late or second degrees typically do so later in their careers, and some around or even after the time of retirement.

                                                       

A common point of contention that may plague aspiring students who are no longer in their 20s is whether they would feel like the odd one out. They are concerned about whether their age will hinder their experiences with peers. Rowshan Jahan Rumana had been one such individual. She was well into her late 30s when she earned her second Master of Arts degree in literature – a topic she had long been interested in. She shares how her preconceived notions were pleasantly dismantled after she took a leap of faith and returned to university life nearly 12 years later.

“The thing about a master’s classroom is that you have so many people from so many walks of life,” says Rumana. “There were people younger than me, and then those who were older than me, and none of it was a defining factor as we were all different in many other ways.”

Rumana explains how, initially, she struggled with the guilt of her absence at home for her classes, which were mostly held during weekends. Rumana felt that she had to be home with her children and spouse.

“For a little over a year, every single weekend morning, I was attending classes at the university,” she says. “The thought distracts you while you are in class. As I left in the mornings, I would feel bad about not being there to sit down and have weekend breakfast together with my kids and husband. Although my family had been supportive, it still felt like a sacrifice for that period of time. Often, I would rush back home immediately after class without staying back to talk to my fellow classmates.”

                                                   

For many in similar positions, the dilemma acts as a source of guilt that lingers with them along with the rest of their academic obligations. Particularly for parents, perhaps the mounting scrutiny of such a decision always exists, often from themselves.

That said, there is something worth noting about the timing itself. A master's degree pursued later in life can potentially be more fulfilling and academically enriching. In many cases, a lot of people who already have years of experience in a field under their belt come with more insight and practical knowledge of real-life cases compared to their younger peers.

                                                             

Although this alone may not outweigh any of the other hurdles surrounding personal commitments, it helps view the unconventionality of such a decision on a more positive note. This isn’t to say that it is guaranteed to be a pleasant experience every time, but it certainly leaves one with a renewed sense of confidence and direction, whether in one's personal or professional life.

Many feel the importance of pursuing a degree that complements their previous one, which is intended to add a new dimension to their existing skill set. Moakhirul Mahmood has had a long, fulfilling career. After securing a Master of Science (MSc), an MBA, and several other professional credentials, he decided to go back once again to pursue a third university degree in techno-anthropology in Denmark.

“Our old degrees soon become rubber stamps,” says Moakhirul. “To keep up with rapidly emerging concepts, one must embrace lifelong education. I was driven partly by curiosity and partly by a need for personal development, by doing something that was both interesting and relevant to the current state of people in a technologically driven world.”

Moakhirul also emphasises that the pursuit of such degrees, including multiple ones, should never be solely for career advancement. Rather, continuous learning is a vital, lifelong pursuit that should extend well into retirement.

Didar, from his perspective as an HR professional, says, “While employers don't usually care about when you’re pursuing your master's degree, I have seen many seasoned professionals burn out trying to earn one late in their careers. I, myself, went back for my master's years into my career, and adjusting to student life again was a bit jarring.”

Didar also notes how many have to sacrifice their weekends just so they can complete their master’s studies while working full-time jobs, something that Rumana knows all too well.

Sifat, however, argues that the earlier you complete the degree, the better. He says, “Delaying your master's degree often decreases your motivation to pursue it, a trend I have observed among several friends.”

The takeaway from these varied perspectives is simple: timing doesn't matter. What matters is why. Your motivation and your end goal are what actually drive the decision of when to pursue that master's degree, not some arbitrary timeline. Once those are clear, the "when" answers itself.