| There are many circumstances in which foreign | | | | earn a master's degree in marketing [or the name of |
| student have to talk about their intentions to study for | | | | some other field]." |
| advanced degrees. Statements of purpose written to | | | | - The degree is what we get as a result of studying, |
| accompany applications for university admission are | | | | not what we study. So, when we talk about studying, |
| the most obvious case, but the same situation comes | | | | we normally say, "I plan to study economics [or some |
| up in interviews with recruiters, IELTS Speaking Tasks, | | | | other field]." It's not incorrect to say, "I plan to learn |
| and verbal interactions of all kinds with the officials at | | | | marketing," but "I plan to study marketing" is more |
| the universities you will be attending. | | | | normal, idiomatic English. |
| Unfortunately, it's the time many foreign students say | | | | - The certificate that confirms that we have |
| things that sound the least "English." As a result, these | | | | successfully completed a course of study and earned |
| unavoidable statements can often suggest that your | | | | an advanced degree (not necessarily a master's |
| command of English is weak. Even though all the | | | | degree) is called a "diploma." You can say, "I plan to |
| native English speakers who regularly hear foreign | | | | earn a diploma in marketing," or, if you have completed |
| students make these statements have long gotten | | | | the degree, "I have a diploma in economics." But if you |
| used to hearing them spoken incorrectly, the mistake | | | | do, realize that a native English speaker will not |
| always registers with them at some level, however | | | | necessarily understand which graduate degree you |
| unconsciously. | | | | have earned. |
| To make the best impression on university | | | | - The most appropriate verbs to use with "master's |
| administrators and IELTS examiners, use the right | | | | degree," prior to receiving the degree, are "study for," |
| language to talk about your degree and your | | | | "earn," or "pursue." So, you should say, "I plan to study |
| academic sentences. | | | | for a master's degree in communications," or "I plan to |
| The following are the most common mistakes: | | | | earn a master's degree in marketing," or "I plan to |
| "I'm going to learn a master's degree." | | | | pursue a master's degree in engineering." |
| "I'm going to study a master's degree." | | | | This may seem like a minor matter in terms of |
| "I plan to learn a master degree." | | | | language. However, making the most common |
| Don't make these unnecessary but common mistakes. | | | | mistakes can lead a university official or IELTS |
| All that is necessary for you not to make them is to | | | | examiner to think less of your English language skills or, |
| understand clearly what the appropriate words are | | | | in the worst case, your intelligence. |
| and mean. | | | | So, practice writing and saying these simple but |
| - A "master's degree" is a noun. When written, it | | | | important sentences correctly. |
| always has an apostrophe, that is, "master's degree," | | | | Incorrect: I'm going to study a master degree. |
| not "masters degree" or, worse, "master degree." | | | | Correct: I'm going to study for a master's degree. |
| - A master's degree is not, however, a field of study. | | | | Incorrect: I will study a master's degree of marketing. |
| We don't study a master's degree, we study a field in | | | | Correct: I will study for a master's degree in marketing. |
| which we earn (or, more colloquially, "get") a maser's | | | | Incorrect: I will learn a masters degree in economics. |
| degree. Therefore, in English, we say that we plan "to | | | | Correct: I plan to earn a master's degree in economics. |