Master’s Degree or Masters Degree? The Simple Grammar Rule You Need

If you are unsure whether to write “master’s degree” or “masters degree,” you are not alone.

This small apostrophe causes confusion because English uses both master’s and masters in different situations.

Quick Answer

The correct form is usually “master’s degree” with an apostrophe. It means a degree earned after completing a master’s level program, such as a Master of Arts or Master of Science.

Example:

• She has a master’s degree in English.

“Masters degree” is normally incorrect when you mean the academic qualification.

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What Does “Master’s Degree” Mean?

A master’s degree is a university degree that students usually earn after completing a bachelor’s degree and then studying at a higher level.

The apostrophe in master’s shows possession. In simple terms, the degree is associated with a master or master level study.

Here are some common examples:

• master’s degree in English
• master’s degree in education
• master’s degree in computer science
• master’s degree in business administration
• master’s degree in psychology

The word degree is singular, so master’s degree is the standard phrase.

You may also see the full name of a degree written without the apostrophe:

• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master of Education
• Master of Business Administration

For example:

She earned a Master of Science in Biology.

But when you use the general term, write:

She earned a master’s degree in Biology.

The two forms are both correct because they serve slightly different purposes.

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Why Is There an Apostrophe in “Master’s”?

The apostrophe is there because master’s is a possessive form.

Think of these familiar phrases:

• bachelor’s degree
• master’s degree
• doctor’s degree

In each phrase, the apostrophe helps show a relationship between the person or level and the degree.

That gives us the common pattern:

Correct phrase	Meaning
bachelor’s degree	A degree at the bachelor’s level
master’s degree	A degree at the master’s level
doctoral degree	A degree at the doctoral level

Notice that bachelor’s and master’s use apostrophes.

So if you are writing:

I want to get my masters degree.

Change it to:

I want to get my master’s degree.

This is one of those small grammar details that can make your writing look much more polished.

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“Master’s Degree” vs. “Masters Degree”

The difference is simple:

Master’s degree = correct when referring to the academic degree.

Masters degree = usually incorrect in standard English.

The word masters without an apostrophe is normally the plural of master. 

For example:

The restaurant has several masters of traditional cooking.

Here, masters means more than one master. It does not describe an academic degree.

There is also another word, masters, that can appear as a verb:

She masters difficult subjects quickly.

Again, this has nothing to do with a university degree.

So when you mean the qualification, use master’s degree.

A simple comparison

• ❌ He has a masters degree in history.
• ✅ He has a master’s degree in history.
• ❌ I am studying for my masters degree.
• ✅ I am studying for my master’s degree.
• ❌ She completed her masters degree last year.
• ✅ She completed her master’s degree last year.

The apostrophe matters.

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Is “Master’s Degree” Singular or Plural?

Master’s degree is singular.

For more than one degree, you can write master’s degrees.

Examples:

He has a master’s degree in economics.

The university offers several master’s degrees.

Do not write masters degrees when you mean several academic degrees. The standard form is:

           master’s degrees

The apostrophe stays because master’s still describes the type or level of degree.

However, if you are talking about more than one person who has a master’s degree, you could write:

The graduates have master’s degrees in different subjects.

This distinction is useful:

• One degree → master’s degree
• More than one degree → master’s degrees

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Master’s Degree or Masters Degree in a Sentence

Here are natural examples showing how the phrase works in everyday and professional writing.

Formal writing

1. She earned a master’s degree in English literature from a respected university.
2. Applicants must have a master’s degree or equivalent qualification.
3. He plans to pursue a master’s degree after completing his bachelor’s degree.
4. A master’s degree may be required for some senior positions.

Informal writing

5. I’m thinking about getting a master’s degree next year.
6. My sister just finished her master’s degree.
7. Did you get your master’s degree in psychology?
8. He wants to do a master’s degree before looking for a full time job.

Academic writing

9. The study was completed as part of the requirements for a master’s degree in education.
10. Students pursuing a master’s degree must complete the required coursework.
11. Her master’s degree research focused on language development.
12. The program prepares students for further study after completing a master’s degree.

These examples show why master’s degree is the safe choice in most writing.

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Master’s Degree or Master Degree?

Learners sometimes leave out the apostrophe and the final s, writing “master degree.”

In general English, this is not the usual form.

Use:

master’s degree

For example:

• ❌ I have a master degree in finance.
• ✅ I have a master’s degree in finance.

However, you may see Master used without degree as part of an official degree title, such as:

Master of Arts

Master of Science

Master of Education

These are official names and should not be changed to master’s of arts or master’s of science.

A useful rule is:

General qualification: master’s degree
Official degree title: Master of Arts, Master of Science, etc.

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British English vs. American English

Both British and American English commonly use master’s degree with an apostrophe.

There can be differences in how people talk about studying for the degree.

For example:

 British English often uses do a master’s:

I’m doing a master’s in history.

American English may commonly use:

I’m getting a master’s degree in history.

You may also see master’s program in American English and master’s programme in British English.

The important point is that the possessive form remains master’s.

Common forms

Meaning	Common form
The qualification	master’s degree
A program	master’s program / master’s programme
Studying at this level	doing a master’s
Official title	Master of Science
More than one degree	master’s degrees

So regional differences do not normally change the apostrophe in master’s degree.

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Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is simply forgetting the apostrophe.

Mistake 1:

 “Masters degree”

❌ She has a masters degree in education.

✅ She has a master’s degree in education.

Why?

 Because master’s degree is the standard possessive form used for the qualification.

Mistake 2:

 “Master degree”

❌ He wants to earn a master degree.

✅ He wants to earn a master’s degree.

The standard expression includes master’s.

Mistake 3: 

“Master’s Degrees” as a singular phrase

❌ I am applying for a master’s degrees.

✅ I am applying for a master’s degree.

Use degree for one degree and degrees for more than one.

Mistake 4:

 Confusing “Master of Science” with “master’s degree”

❌ She earned a Master’s of Science.

✅ She earned a Master of Science.

But:

✅ She earned a master’s degree in science.

The official title is Master of Science, while the general description is master’s degree.

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Master’s, Masters, and Master: What’s the Difference?

These three forms can look similar, but they have different uses.

Master’s

Master’s is the form you need in phrases such as:

• master’s degree
• master’s program
• master’s thesis
• master’s student

Example:

She is a master’s student in economics.

Masters

Masters is normally the plural of master or a verb form.

Example:

He masters new skills quickly.

It is not the normal spelling for the academic degree.

Master

Master can be part of an official degree name:

• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master of Education
• Master of Fine Arts

It can also refer to a person who has great skill or authority in a particular area.

So remember:

master’s degree = general academic qualification
Master of Science = official degree title
masters = usually not the correct form for the degree

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Do You Capitalize “Master’s Degree”?

Usually, no.

When you are using the phrase as a general description, write:

She has a master’s degree in mathematics.

Do not normally capitalize it as:

She has a Master’s Degree in mathematics.

However, capitalization can be appropriate when a university or organization uses the words as part of a formal title or heading.

Official degree names are normally capitalized:

Master of Arts

Master of Science

A simple rule is:

General term → lowercase
Official degree name → capitalize

For example:

He has a master’s degree in chemistry.

He has a Master of Science in Chemistry.

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Modern Usage: “Master’s” Without “Degree”

In everyday English, people often shorten master’s degree to simply master’s when the meaning is clear.

For example:

I’m doing a master’s.

She plans to start her master’s next year.

He completed his master’s in 2025.

This is natural, especially in conversation and informal writing.

The apostrophe is still important:

master’s

not:

masters

You may also see phrases such as master’s student, master’s program, and master’s thesis.

These all use the possessive form.

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Quick Tips to Remember

Here are a few easy ways to remember the correct spelling.

Tip 1: Think “bachelor’s degree.”
If you know that bachelor’s degree uses an apostrophe, remember that master’s degree follows the same pattern.

Tip 2: “Masters” means more than one master.
When you see masters, think of a plural noun or a verb not an academic degree.

Tip 3: Use “Master of…” for official titles.
Write Master of Science, not master’s of science.

Tip 4: Keep the apostrophe when you shorten the phrase.
Write:

I’m doing a master’s.

Not:

I’m doing a masters.

Tip 5: Check whether you mean one degree or several.

• One → master’s degree
• Several → master’s degrees

The apostrophe remains in both.

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FAQ

Is “masters degree” correct?

No. When referring to the academic qualification, the standard form is master’s degree with an apostrophe.

Should I write “master’s degree” or “Master’s degree”?

Use master’s degree in normal sentences because it is a general term. Capitalization may change if it appears in a formal title or heading.

Is “master degree” grammatically correct?

It is not the standard form in general English. Master’s degree is the usual expression.

What is the plural of “master’s degree”?

The plural is master’s degrees.

Example:

The university offers several master’s degrees.

Is “master’s” correct without “degree”?

Yes. When the context is clear, master’s is a common shortened form.

Example:

She is doing a master’s in history.

Is “Master of Science” the same as “master’s degree”?

A Master of Science (MS/MSc) is a specific type of master’s degree. So every Master of Science is a master’s degree, but not every master’s degree is a Master of Science.

Should I write “master’s degree in” or “master degree in”?

Use master’s degree in.

Example:

He has a master’s degree in computer science.

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Conclusion

When you are choosing between “master’s degree” and “masters degree,” the answer is straightforward:

Use master’s degree when you mean the academic qualification.

The apostrophe in master’s is an important part of the standard spelling. For more than one degree, write master’s degrees. When referring to a specific official qualification, use its proper name, such as Master of Science or Master of Arts.

The easiest memory trick is to connect it with bachelor’s degree:

 Both use an apostrophe.

So, if you are writing a CV, university application, essay, email, or academic document, you can safely write:

I have a master’s degree in English.

That is the standard form learners should remember.