Taught VS Research Master

I know some of you might want to consider to further Master's degree, but still not sure which one you would want to choose.

Taught > well said, people will relate this word with classroom 

Research > make own research, do thesis..

Below is a brief explanation that might help you to choose between Taught and Research Master..

Taken off of: http://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk

Masters by Research

Masters by research are generally MRes programmes, but you will also find other specifically research related masters, for example MSc by Research. These types of courses include both research methods training in the relevant discipline and generally a substantial research project. They are valuable, and sometimes necessary if you are planning to progress to a PhD: in some disciplines, particularly in arts, humanities and social sciences, it is expected or required that you will complete a master's level programme with a substantial research element before a PhD, and you may find it difficult or impossible to find funding for a PhD without doing so. 

This type of course is also useful if you are considering a career in the commercial world where research is a key focus but a PhD is not specifically required. Additionally, if you are unsure whether a PhD is right for you, a Masters by Research can give you useful experience of what studying for a doctorate might be like, whilst at the same time allowing you to earn a valuable masters level qualification.

Taught Masters

There is a wide variety of masters level qualifications and courses, but the most common are MA and MSc, and increasingly MRes and other types of Masters by Research. An MA (Master of Arts) is usually studied in disciplines relating to the arts, humanities and some social sciences, and an MSc (Master of Science) is usually studied in disciplines relating to the sciences. MSc courses are also common in some management and social science related disciplines. If you find a single department is offering both MA and MSc courses in subjects that appear to be similar, it is important to clarify where the differences lie and decide which is most appropriate for you.

Other possible qualifications at master's level often relate to a specific discipline or specialism, for example MBA (Masters in Business Administration), LLM (Master of Laws), Mmus (Master of Music), or Morth (Master of Orthodontics). 

The structure of a taught master's programme varies from course to course, and from institution to institution, so that apparently similar courses with similar titles can have very different structures and content, as well as different teaching and assessment methods. Teaching can be delivered through seminars, classes, tutorials and supervised laboratory work. Assessment can range from examinations, vivas, assessed projects, group work or course work, and the weighting of different elements will vary between courses. Some courses, particularly but not exclusively arts and social science related programmes, require active participation from students in seminars and discussions: if you are shy, prefer to take a listening role, or if your spoken English is not as good as your written English, you may prefer a course which places less emphasis on this kind of group discussion. Many taught courses include some form of research project or dissertation, and are therefore not entirely 'taught'. Some offer a choice of some modules or courses but others have a 'set menu' that all students have to follow. 

All Higher Education Institutions in the UK offering master's programmes should make clear in their promotional material (prospectuses, websites etc) who the course is aimed at, as well as the prerequisites for applying to the course. Often, they will tell you what students completing the course have gone on to do. You may be looking for a specialist course to enhance your knowledge in a specific area, or an interdisciplinary course where the range of experience of the student body is almost as important as the course content, or a conversion course, or the first step in a research career. It is particularly important to clarify who and what the course is intended for if you have specific plans for your future, to make sure the course will help equip you to realise them. In particular, if you are thinking about progressing to a PhD, it is important to make sure that your master's course includes an appropriate level of research training as well as specialist knowledge, and provides suitable grounding for doctoral study.

Master's courses in the UK are usually studied for one year full time or two years part time, but some courses are only offered as full time or part-time options, and occasionally courses may be longer, particularly if they are offered as part time courses or by distance learning.

As well as all the other factors you will need to take into account, there is also the question of cost and there is almost as much variety in the cost of masters courses as there is in style and content. Course fees can range from just over £3,000 to £10,000 or even higher for some management and highly specialised courses. Higher fees tend to be charged on specialist courses or on courses from Universities with a particularly good reputation: if you are deciding between different courses with different fees, think about what you are actually paying for and whether it is worth paying extra for a specialist course, or for the name of the University on your CV. 

Thinkpostgrad: a master's course is a major investment, academically, personally, professionally and financially, so make sure you know what you want to get out of a course, decide on your priorities, research a variety of different options and ask questions before applying. Although it may be tempting to choose a course simply because it has funding available, if it's not the right course for you, you may end up saving money but wasting time.