To receive a degree or certificate from a higher education institution, students must take courses from the program’s curriculum. The curriculum is developed by the institution to cover a variety of topics that are relevant to the program’s topic.

A master's degree is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

Part-time learning allows one to obtain a degree or qualification even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at one's own pace, gradually accumulating credits that count towards a final qualification.