Master’s Degree in Russia: A Springboard into the Labour Market

This article is the second part of the research examining the trajectories of recent Master’s degree holders in Russia, with a focus on their labour market outcomes. It addresses the topic of study and work, and examines the professional and sectoral structure of employment one and four years after graduation. Using regression analysis and a Heckman model, the paper estimates the wage premium associated with a Master’s degree one and four years after graduation. The results indicate that, in general, a Master’s degree implies a positive wage premium for both full- and part-time graduates, which increases significantly with career progression and work experience. In the first year after graduation, the salary premium is 5–8% for full-time graduates and 8–13% for part-time graduates. By the fourth year, this premium rises to 6–10% for full-time graduates and 4–6% for part-time graduates. On average, the premium for a Master’s degree is higher for women than for men. The key fields of study that offer a stable premium in both full-time and part-time education are economics and management, whereas humanities and arts do not offer any significant returns. The results suggest that the Russian labour market can distinguish between a Master’s and a Bachelor’s qualification and highly values the former, especially when combined with other characteristics of human capital.