Any type of Masters degree for a pay increase?

[Magnifyer]

HI everybody,

I hope you are all doing well and COVID is not ruining your next or current placement plans too much.

I have quite an unusual question that I was wondering you could help me with.

I started off teaching in British IS, but have since moved to IB schools on the Search database. Many of them mention that with a Masters, there is a significant pay rise.

As I have 60 Masters credits from my PGCE (Uk teaching qualification) I am able to transfer it, thus reducing the price and time needed to do the Masters. But I've had my credit transfer rejected for a 'Masters of Education' at a reputable university as the time I did my PGCE was over six years ago. They have instead recommend me to apply for a credit transfer for an 'Open Masters,' (which has a ten year window) which will lead to an MA or MSc depending on which route I will take. Naturally I will choose the education option (out of another three options).

So my question is, do international schools give you a pay rise if you have 'any' type of masters, or is it only specifically a 'Masters of Education?'

Thanks so much for your thoughts.

[PsyGuy]

In very general (and broad terms), for most ISs any masters will qualify you for the salary band increase. There are a minority (but growing) number of ISs however that will require the Masters either be in education or related to the teaching subject (IE. a social studies IT with a degree in history, etc.). There are also a small number of regions where a similar degree applicability is needed to qualify for a specific visa/work permit.

You dont say what you teach, but inquiring if there is an open Masters available in your teaching field would be an option at the Uni your PGCE was awarded from. Another option is to look at a more flexible Uni with a generous transfer policy. You may wish to look at UPe (University of the People) which will accept half the credits (19) towards their M.Ed (which would cost you the remaining fees of USD$1360).

Status in terms of the marketability of Uni reputation only really matters for Global Ivys such as OxBridge (and maybe LSE), beyond that a Masters is a Masters is a Masters.

[Magnifyer]

Thanks PsyGuy, that's really helpful. I teach elementary, which is quite broad anyway. This 'open' masters allows me to specialise in education anyway, so I would effectively be doing a Masters in Ed. Hopefully these 'small but growing schools' would accept that.

I will certainly look at your recommendation too.

Thanks again.

[sid]

I have a slightly different perspective. In my experience, most schools want masters to be in relevant areas, something that helps you teach better. In Primary, that means probably something related to education. It's hard to argue that a Literature degree improves your teaching of phonics, or that a masters in Chemistry will give your children an advantage as you teach them the concept of a fair test.
It won't matter in all schools, but it will in many. Best to stick to areas that are directly impactful of your teaching, if you're looking for a pay bump.

[buffalofan]

Totally depends on the school and its policies.

I have worked at schools that will give you nothing extra (even for a doctorate in your field), I have worked at a school that gave a trivial amount. The best I've experienced was a school that gave out a bump of over $10k USD per year for an MA. Find a school like that and stay for a few years, the increase can really add up. As long the MA is in an area loosely connected to your role, it should be fine.

[Heliotrope]

I know schools like the ones Sid describes.
If you're just (or mostly) doing it for the pay rise, get a MA in your field or one in Education, even if your current school will accept any MA for a pay increase, as your future schools might not and you will lose out on a lot of money.

[PsyGuy]

@Magnifyer

It will be fine, if your degree scroll is inscribed in some form of edu.

I disagree with @Sid, a Masters should do more than just put you in the same classroom you are already in. A new subject that allow you to move out of the HRT role, or a specialized field that qualifies you for new roles such as leadership, library, Ed.Tech, etc. is far more worthy of your resources and of greater utility. It may very we be worth an extra year (in lost credits/units) to pursue a Masters in Ed.Ld.
The number of ISs where the degree needs to be related to the teaching field or in edu are small.

I concur with @buffalofan, while youve identified a series of ISs with substantial coin increase in salary for an advance degree, there is a lot of variation. There is not an insubstantial number of ISs that pay nothing or only a trivial amount for an advance degree.

[Illiane_Blues]

You state it's about the pay rise, so just pick one that will accepted by all schools, such as a 'Masters of Education', a MA in your field or a Leadership MA.
The UoP MA isn't regionally accredited yet, so some international schools might not accept it. Could be wrong, but this is what I read.

[Smoko]

Illiane_Blues wrote:
> You state it's about the pay rise, so just pick one that will accepted by
> all schools, such as a 'Masters of Education', a MA in your field or a
> Leadership MA.
> The UoP MA isn't regionally accredited yet, so some international schools
> might not accept it. Could be wrong, but this is what I read.

This is right. University of the People is only nationally accredited for now, but has started the process towards getting regional accreditation.

[FromTheRooftops]

A lot of great points above. I'll add two things.

As much as this can be about a bit of a pay rise now, whether it's trivial or not, a MA can help set you up for your next position, with hopefully better benefits. A lot of schools like advertising the percentage of their teachers with graduate level qualifications, and this puts you into that category.

And as for the degree itself, as long as you can explain how the impact it has had, the degree shouldn't make much difference. Again, at a glance of your CV it puts you into the category of "continuing learner" who takes initiative to improve what they do.

[PsyGuy]

There isnt a degree that will be accepted by all ISs. The LW could get a M.Ed and the IS says it needs to be in a subject content area, etc.

UPe was approved to apply for accreditation, they havent committed to completing that process.

UPe is only nationally accredited (as compare to regional accreditation in the US) but whats more an issue is the online nature of the course delivery which is an issue for regionally accredited Unis as well.