Africa is a very large continent with vast landscapes, people, and cultural heritage. It is home to about 54 countries and is known as the second-largest continent after Asia. As Africa continues to rise in all aspects of its developments and is getting more attention from the world, its educational system is also closely monitored. Gone are the days when Africa was seen as a land of the less educated people but right now, it is home to many international students from all around the world who come to study.
Getting a bachelor’s degree is not always easy as we are made to understand but generally, some courses are more tasking and challenging than the rest, also acquiring a master’s degree is seen as a great educational achievement. Africa’s educational system is well equipped with educational professionals who is intellectually and culturally grounded in teaching and imparting knowledge with the use of modern technology.
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There are some courses that are always in high demand in the labor market that obtaining a bachelor’s degree has already secured a spot for you and then getting a master’s degree in these fields is seen as a very great advantage to becoming successful. All courses and fields of study have their own challenges and rewards; it’s just that some courses are ranked according to various statistics to be more challenging and also more rewarding than others. These most rewarding master’s degrees are what we have termed the hardest masters degree in Africa in this post, and we hope to help you make good career decisions for the future as you read along.
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Top 10 Hardest Master’s Degrees in Africa
Before choosing a course it is quite important to choose one which is suitable and fit for you and is also in high demand in the job market, that is, if you are willing to make a profession out of your chosen course. There are a lot of masters degree courses in Africa to study with some categorized as been not too important or in demand depending on the individual scale of preference. In this article, we have outlined below the top 10 hardest and in high-demand master degree programs in Africa, hoping it helps you make a perfect choice.
- Engineering: this is ranked as number one in the hardest masters degree majors. It involves a lot of calculations, science and the course work is very rigorous. There are six main branches of engineering with lots of career options some of which are Chemical, Petroleum, Metallurgical, Electrical, Biomedical, Aeronautics and space, Software engineering and technology, Civil, Mechanical engineering amongst others. The engineering major is very broad as it covers almost all areas of science, technology, and mathematics. It is a very proud professional and also very rewarding.
- Finance studies: a master’s degree in finance is always in high demand in any company, organization, or public sector where money flows. Most workplace and finance institutions are always in want of these finance professionals to help in handling their money issues. As a master’s degree holder in finance, you can work as a financial advisor, auditor, management analyst, banker, and so on. It is a great degree that will require you to be good at analyzing data, solving calculations, formulating strategies, and also you will need to acquire good communication skills because as a finance analyst you will use more communication.
- Accounting: just like for the mathematics and finance master’s degree major, accounting also involves a lot of calculations and equations. Accounting is a noble profession and it is always in demand in every organization or finance institution where money transactions are being made. You will deal with a lot of ledgers and account books. As an accountant, you can work long hours sometimes but the pay is really good. While in the learning institution, you have to understand how money flows in the economy and also how to account for every penny spent.
- Mathematics and statistics: it’s of no surprise that mathematics is one of the hardest masters degree majors in Africa because is filled with a lot of calculations and you are required to be creative and think critically and logically as a mathematician. Statistics are also ranked together with mathematics because they both deal with calculations and algebra. Career options include; finance analyst, economist, cybersecurity, mathematician, operation research analyst, market research analyst amongst others.
- Computer science: this is one of the major courses in high demand these days as the world continues to go globally and make use of the internet more. Acquiring a master’s degree in computer science puts you on a good career path as a; information and technology specialist, hardware engineer, software developer, graphics designer, and so on. You will need to put in a lot of time because most things and ways of operation are going obsolete, therefore you would have to keep studying and updating yourself with new technology and the modern way of how things work. It is a tasking profession but with good pay.
- Chemistry: this chemistry master’s degree major is somewhat like biology but with a difference. As the biology degree focuses on living things, the chemistry major focuses on the study of the reactions and structures of these living things. It is considered a tough master’s degree major because it is very broad and you will spend a lot of time in making researches, conducting experiments, and working in the laboratory. It is a good major with a career path in; medicine, pharmaceutical field, education, biochemist, environmental scientist, science laboratory technician and so many other career fields.
- Public administration: a master’s degree in public administration equips its graduates with the needed skills, experience, and perspectives needed to function in either a public or private sector. Career path includes; public administrator, budget analyst, human resources manager, legal counselor, marketing manager, and so on. Public administration degree is very versatile and as such allows you to explore different areas of the labor market. It is a very rewarding career with job security and stability because you can switch from one career path to another effortlessly.
- Bioscience: is the study of living things and how they react to their environment. The coursework focuses on the scientific aspect of living things and how organisms and other living things think, live, and develop. Obtaining a master’s degree in bioscience puts you on the path to a variety of careers such as; medical technologist, botanist, biophysicist, zoologist, microbiologist, aquatic scientist, toxicologist, health educator, pharmacologist, and the list goes on. Bioscience or biology as it is known is a rewarding profession but you would have to spend the most time in a laboratory conducting researches and formulating vaccines for diseases. This researches generally will take a lot of time from you but it gives a very good reward.
- Educational studies: education is very important and it is the key to the development of any society or country, therefore, there is a constant want for professionals in the educational institutions to help train and educate young adults in the various institutions of learning. Education in Africa is taking a great step into being recognized in the world and as such obtaining a master’s degree in education is considered great. Educationist has the following career options; education consultant, education administrator, early years teacher, University lecturer, social worker, child life specialist, parent educator, school counselor, and the list continues. Obtaining a master’s degree in Educational studies gives you a greater edge in making a good profession out of it.
- Architecture: earning a master’s degree in architecture is so much hard work as such is categorized as one of the hardest master’s degrees majors. It involves nothing less than four to five years of aggressive study to be able to obtain a master’s degree in this field. Career path includes; architect, building surveyor, city planner, and real estate agent. Architecture graduates are equipped with the knowledge of how to design and work out the arrangement of buildings and other structures.
Entry Requirements for Studying a Master’s Degree
Studying for a master’s degree means you have completed a bachelor’s degree and may want to further your studies in the same course as your bachelor degree or want to study a related field. The requirements for studying masters in Africa vary depending on the country and university where you wish to undertake your masters program. Some institutions required fewer documents while other asks for more details. Before you register for a master’s degree program in any institution, it is necessary to go through the requirements of your preferred course of study. It is also of importance to note that countries in Africa have requirements which are peculiar to them. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana require your West Africa Examination Council certificate amongst other requirements.
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Below are outlined some of the master’s degree entry requirements.
- Accredited Bachelor degree certificate
- Higher National Diploma holders with certificate
- English proficiency
- Updated resume
- Official letter of recommendation
- Personal Statement (written by applicant)
- Copy of passport or ID card as it is specified
Generally, it is safe to say no degree is truly the easiest, all of these master’s degrees come with their own challenges and difficulties it is then based on the strength of the student undertaking the course. Even acquiring an undergraduate degree is no easier, but masters’ degrees are more tasking and the amount of time spent in researches and study is more than when studying for an undergraduate degree. Above all, as a student you have to like your course before you apply for it only by doing so would you be able to truly grasp what is been taught and make it ‘easier’ for you.
