Is It Master’S Degree Or Masters Degree? | Write It Right

You’ll see all three versions in the wild: master’s degree, masters degree, and even Masters Degree. If you’re writing a résumé, a scholarship essay, a university email, or a thesis, this tiny apostrophe can change the tone of your sentence. It’s one of those details that readers notice, even if they don’t mention it.

Here’s the clean rule: the general phrase is possessive—master’s degree—because it means “a degree of a master.” The no-apostrophe form usually shows up as a typo, or as a shortcut in informal contexts like search queries, file names, and menu labels.

What The Correct Form Means

English uses apostrophes for possession and for missing letters. In master’s degree, the apostrophe shows possession. The phrase points to a degree associated with a “master” level of study.

That’s also why the spelling matches other degree phrases in everyday writing: bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. Many editorial styles treat them the same way.

Why “Masters Degree” Feels Common

People type what they hear. “Masters” often sounds like a plural, and lots of schools label pages with phrases like “Masters Programs.” That can seep into your own writing.

There’s another reason: titles and labels often drop punctuation for simplicity. A file name like “Masters_Degree_Requirements.pdf” is easier to scan than “Master’s_Degree_Requirements.pdf.” That doesn’t make it the right choice in a sentence you’re submitting to a real reader.

When “Master” Has No Apostrophe

You’ll often see Master of Science, Master of Arts, or Master of Public Health. Those are formal degree titles, written without an apostrophe because they aren’t possessive phrases. They’re names.

So the apostrophe question usually comes up with the general wording (master’s degree), not the full title (Master of Science).

Master’s Degree Vs. Masters Degree In Real Sentences

If you want a fast self-check, swap the phrase with “the degree of a master.” If the sentence still makes sense, you want the apostrophe.

Examples You Can Copy

• Correct: She’s applying for a master’s degree in data science.
• Correct: A master’s degree can be a requirement for some roles.
• Correct: He earned two master’s degrees over five years.
• Wrong In Formal Writing: She’s applying for a masters degree in data science.

Notice the plural: master’s degrees keeps the apostrophe because each degree is still a “master’s” degree. If you’re talking about more than one program, the word that turns plural is degree, not master’s.

Plural Possessive Cases (The Tricky Bit)

Writers sometimes wonder about masters’ degrees (apostrophe after the s). In edited prose, many style references keep the singular possessive—master’s degrees—because the phrase behaves like other occupation-style compounds (think “driver’s license”). Chicago’s Q&A keeps the apostrophe in its entry on the plural of “master’s degree”.

If your school or employer has a house style that prefers masters’ degrees, follow that house style. In most student writing, admissions materials, and general web writing, master’s degrees will read more natural to most editors.

Where Each Version Fits (And Where It Doesn’t)

You can use this section as a checklist before you hit submit. The goal is simple: match the form to the context and audience.

Use “Master’s Degree” For General Writing

Use master’s degree when you mean the category of degree, not a named credential. It’s the standard form in edited English, and it reads cleanly in sentences.

Use “Master’s” As A Modifier

When master’s sits before another noun, keep the apostrophe. This is common in admissions and coursework writing.

• master’s program
• master’s student
• master’s thesis
• master’s level course

Use “Master Of …” For The Official Degree Name

Write the formal title when you’re naming the credential. Capitalize it like a proper name.

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

On a résumé, you can combine both styles: “Master of Science (MS),” then in a later bullet refer to “my master’s degree” when you mean the category.

Reserve “Masters” Without An Apostrophe For Labels

“Masters” can be fine as a label, like “Masters Programs” on a menu, or “Masters Scholarships” in a spreadsheet column. In a sentence meant to be graded or published, it tends to look off.

Common Mistakes That Trigger Red Flags

Most errors with master’s degree come from mixing up three different ideas: the general term, the official title, and the plural. Here are the slip-ups that show up most.

Dropping The Apostrophe In A Sentence

“I’m pursuing a masters degree” looks like a typo in formal writing. Fix it by adding the apostrophe, or by switching to the named degree title.

Using Title Case Everywhere

Capitalize formal titles, not generic phrases. “Master’s Degree” in the middle of a sentence can look like a heading. Use lowercase unless it starts a sentence or appears in a title.

Mixing The Two Styles In One Line

A line like “Master’s of Science” is a mash-up. It should be “Master of Science” or “master’s degree,” depending on what you mean.

Forgetting The Dictionary Form

If you want a fast authority check while writing, a dictionary entry is often enough. Merriam-Webster lists master’s degree with the apostrophe as the headword, which matches standard edited usage.

Decision Table For Degree Wording

Use this table when you’re drafting applications, captions, bios, and course descriptions. It’s built to stop last-minute second-guessing.

Situation	Best Wording	Notes
General reference in a sentence	master’s degree	Standard possessive phrase.
Multiple credentials	master’s degrees	Pluralize “degrees,” keep apostrophe.
Program description	master’s program	Modifier form keeps apostrophe.
Student status	master’s student	Common in university writing.
Official credential name	Master of Science (MS)	No apostrophe in the title.
Resume header line	Education: Master of Arts	Title case is fine in headings.
Informal label or folder name	Masters Program	Works as a label; avoid in graded prose.
Scholarship eligibility text	must hold a master’s degree	Keeps wording consistent.
Bio line on a website	has a master’s degree in …	Lowercase, apostrophe included.

How To Choose The Right Form In Your Writing

When you’re writing for a class or an admissions office, you don’t need a grammar lecture. You need a repeatable method that works every time. Use these steps.

Step 1: Ask “Am I Naming The Degree?”

If you’re naming it, write Master of … plus the field. If you’re referring to the level, write master’s degree.

Step 2: Check What Follows The Word

If master’s comes right before another noun, it’s acting like an adjective. Keep the apostrophe: master’s thesis, master’s program, master’s admission requirement.

Step 3: Decide If You Need A Plural

Plural means more than one degree. Write master’s degrees. It can look odd at first, then it becomes normal once you’ve seen it a few times.

Step 4: Match Your Capitalization To The Line

In running text, lowercase is the default: “She earned a master’s degree.” Save capitalization for headings, titles, and the formal degree name.

Step 5: Keep Abbreviations Consistent

If you use abbreviations like MA, MS, MSc, or MBA, define them once, then stick with one style. On a résumé, a clean pattern is “Degree Title, University, Year,” then the initials in parentheses.

Also watch the difference between the degree and the field. “She has a master’s degree in economics” describes the level. “She has a Master of Science in Economics” names the credential. Both can be right, as long as you mean what you wrote.

Second Table For Resume And Essay Formatting

This second table shows common lines you’ll write, plus the punctuation that keeps them tidy.

Place In Writing	Preferred Line	Punctuation Note
Résumé education entry	Master of Science (MS), Biology	No apostrophe in “Master of …” titles.
Résumé summary sentence	Holds a master’s degree in biology	Apostrophe stays in the general phrase.
Admissions essay	I’m pursuing a master’s degree in …	Lowercase in running text.
LinkedIn headline	Master’s student, University Name	Use apostrophe in the modifier form.
Bio paragraph	Earned a master’s degree, then taught …	Comma joins two past-tense actions.
Multiple degrees	Two master’s degrees in related fields	Pluralize “degrees,” not “master’s.”
Course catalog note	Master’s level prerequisite required	Hyphen optional; clarity comes first.

Apostrophe And Typography Checks

One more thing trips people up: the apostrophe character itself. On many sites you’ll see the curly apostrophe (’), while plain text fields may show the straight one (‘). Either is fine for meaning, though the curly mark looks cleaner in published text.

Also watch autocorrect. Some editors remove punctuation in headings, then paste that heading into a sentence. If your draft came from a slide deck or a file name, scan for missing apostrophes before you submit. A quick search for “masters degree” in your document can catch the stray no-apostrophe version in seconds.

Mini Style Guide You Can Paste Into Notes

These lines cover most student and career writing. Save them, then stop losing time to the apostrophe every semester.

Standard Forms

• master’s degree
• master’s degrees
• master’s program
• master’s student
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MS)

Forms To Avoid In Formal Writing

• masters degree
• Masters degree
• Master’s of Arts
• Master’s of Science

Why This Detail Matters More Than People Think

In academic and career writing, small mechanics signal care. Admissions teams and hiring managers read piles of documents. When your degree wording is clean, it removes a tiny point of friction. That keeps attention on your argument, your results, and your fit.

It also helps your own consistency. If you write “masters degree” in one paragraph and “master’s degree” in the next, a reader can wonder which one you meant. Standardizing your phrasing keeps your message steady.

Is It Master’S Degree Or Masters Degree?

Use master’s degree in normal sentences, and use Master of … only when you’re naming the credential. If you stick to that split, your writing will look polished across résumés, essays, and research work.