UAE: Master degree still valuable? Employers say no in survey
A recent global survey seems to suggest that there is a declining value around the Master’s degree, particularly in the Gulf region and as hiring trends indicate employers are increasingly favoring abundant hands-on experience and applicable skills.
Masters degrees were once perceived as a ‘golden ticket’, but now experts believe that they have become one of many instruments for a candidate’s toolkit.
Survey results from Resume Genius show that over half of the 1,000 hiring managers surveyed, 52 percent in the United States claimed that employees with Master’s degrees perform no better than those with a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience.
There is a gap between the market outlook and economic reality. In fact, 10 percent said performance was worse. In actuality, the survey showed that many still prefer to offer higher pay to candidates with advanced degrees, highlighting a strange tension between perceived value and compensation expectations.
Adaptable skill sets preferred
This trend is observable in the employment landscape in the United Arab Emirates. Local educators and recruitment professionals are noting a marked change in attitude from employers who now prefer to hire candidates with practical experience and relevant skills as opposed to academic qualifications.
"Over the past decade, the value perception around a Master’s degree seeing a sharp decline relative to the needs of the economy, emergence of new technologies, and social sentiments,” shared Canadian University Dubai’s Provost, Dr Adam Fenech.
Dr. Fenech explains that traditional graduate programs still hold merit in fostering integrative and ethical intelligence. However, he argues that there is a greater emphasis on flexibility and applicability to the real world, rendering these programs devoid of educational value.
In the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi, regionally high-growth technology, healthcare, and engineering sectors are fueling demand for higher education institutions to shift towards a skills-first model.
“Employers are no longer valuing academic titles as much as skills and competencies,” noted Abdul Razzak, Manager of Career Services at BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus.
He remarked that a 2023 LinkedIn report showed that 75 percent of hiring managers now give precedence to skills over formal degrees. The World Economic Forum states that in three years, over 50 percent of the global workforce would require some form of reskilling.
Razzak elaborated, “At our institute, the Practice School program allows students to gain relevant industry experience through internships, fostering practical skills and preparedness. In parallel, the Career Services Department offers micro-credentials for certification in AI, data analytics, PMP, Six Sigma, and even cybersecurity—fields in high demand and where industry requirements are constantly changing. Combined, these efforts provide students with a thorough academic understanding coupled with the practical skills needed in today’s ever-evolving job market.”
UAE-based professionals noted that the country’s vibrant and multicultural workforce had equally impacted the approach taken to postgraduate studies.
Degree not for prestige
Consultants believe that today, students pursue a Master's degree not merely to satisfy an employer's requirement, but rather to strategically shift their careers in alignment with current market requirements and establish critical industrial connections.
“For example, an individual with an engineering background may now switch to a Master's in data analytics or business strategy,” shared Varun Jain, CEO of UniHawk. “This is known as career pivoting.”
“Likewise, some professionals in finance may enroll in an MBA after accumulating a few years of work experience—not solely for scholarly advancement, but for the social connections, case studies, and practical knowledge these programs provide.”
Recruiters from the private sector are witnessing how employers adjust their recruitment drives.
“Based on my recruitment experience and what we observe across sectors, employers place far greater value on a candidate’s relevant experience compared to their academic credentials,” commented Aws Ismail, General Manager at Marc Ellis, Dubai.
“In my view, they are trying to fill a gap with readily available people. A Master’s might open some doors, but on its own does little to accentuate a candidate's profile. What’s most important are practical skills, attitude, and a candidate’s operational mastery of technology.”
Wilson noted that very few clients are looking for candidates with Master’s degrees, expressing agreement with that statement.
“Most of our clients do not even require a bachelor’s degree, much less a Master’s, with the exception of some tech startups or VC-backed companies who sometimes ask for an MBA from a well-known institution,” she said.
“Somebody in my opinion thinks that a Master’s degree should only be pursued later in life… Most of the time, work experience surpasses formal education,” she added.
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