Motives for Admission to Master’s Programs at a Regional University: a Sociological Analysis

The article is devoted to studying the factors influencing the admission of applicants to master’s degree programs implemented at a regional university. The relevance of the research topic is determined, on the one hand, by the successful development of the master’s degree institute in the Russian system of higher education, its demand by individuals and society. On the other hand, by expected educational reforms that will fundamentally change this level of education. The purpose of the research is to analyze the main motives that prompt applicants to enroll in master’s programs at a regional university. The objectives are to characterize awareness of master’s education as a special level of higher education, to identify the preferences of prospective students when choosing master’s programs, and to reveal perceptions of master’s studies and its impact on professional career. The sociological research was conducted at Tver State Technical University. The features of applicants’ perception of master’s education are identified, and the expectations of enrolled students regarding master’s degree programs are studied. The results of the research can be used to improve the quality of master's education in regional universities.