In professional, academic, and corporate settings, how you state your educational qualifications matters almost as much as the qualification itself. Simply saying “I have a bachelor’s degree” or “I have a master’s degree” is correct—but often repetitive, basic, or lacking polish when used in resumes, emails, LinkedIn profiles, academic bios, or formal correspondence.
Knowing multiple refined ways to say you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree allows you to tailor your language to the context, audience, and tone. Whether you’re writing a CV, applying for a job, corresponding with clients, or presenting academic credentials, the right phrasing enhances credibility, professionalism, and clarity. This guide provides formal, semi-formal, neutral, and casual alternatives, complete with examples, tone guidance, industry-specific usage, and email templates—so you always sound confident and appropriate.
⚡ Quick List: Ways to Say You Have a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in…
- Earned a bachelor’s degree in…
- Completed a bachelor’s program in…
- Obtained a bachelor’s qualification in…
- Bachelor’s degree holder in…
- Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in…
- Possess a master’s degree in…
- Earned a master’s degree in…
- Completed postgraduate studies in…
- Hold a postgraduate degree in…
- Master’s-qualified in…
- Achieved a master’s qualification in…
- Successfully completed a master’s program in…
- Academically trained at the graduate level in…
- Attained an advanced degree in…
- Formally educated in…
- University-educated in…
- Holds an undergraduate degree in…
- Holds a graduate-level qualification in…
- Postgraduate-certified in…
- Degree-qualified professional
- Master’s-level education in…
- Bachelor’s-level education in…
🏛️ Formal Alternatives (Professional & Academic)
1. Hold a bachelor’s degree in
- Meaning: Indicates possession of an undergraduate qualification
- Explanation: Highly formal and widely accepted
- Example: “I hold a bachelor’s degree in Economics.”
- Best Use: CVs, academic bios, job applications
- Worst Use: Casual conversation
- Tone: Very formal
2. Hold a master’s degree in
- Meaning: Confirms completion of postgraduate education
- Explanation: Precise and authoritative
- Example: “She holds a master’s degree in Data Science.”
- Best Use: Corporate profiles, research papers
- Worst Use: Informal emails
- Tone: Formal
3. Earned a bachelor’s degree in
- Meaning: Emphasizes achievement
- Explanation: Highlights effort and completion
- Example: “He earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering.”
- Best Use: Professional summaries
- Worst Use: Legal documents
- Tone: Formal
4. Earned a master’s degree in
- Meaning: Shows advanced academic accomplishment
- Explanation: Outcome-focused and strong
- Example: “She earned a master’s degree in Public Policy.”
- Best Use: Academic CVs
- Worst Use: Casual bios
- Tone: Formal
5. Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in
- Meaning: States degree completion
- Explanation: Chronological and factual
- Example: “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance.”
- Best Use: Resumes
- Worst Use: Short email signatures
- Tone: Neutral-formal
6. Graduated with a master’s degree in
- Meaning: Indicates completion of postgraduate study
- Explanation: Widely accepted in academia
- Example: “He graduated with a master’s degree in Psychology.”
- Best Use: Academic introductions
- Worst Use: Informal speech
- Tone: Formal
7. Completed a bachelor’s program in
- Meaning: Focuses on academic process
- Explanation: Slightly softer than “earned”
- Example: “She completed a bachelor’s program in Marketing.”
- Best Use: HR documents
- Worst Use: Legal filings
- Tone: Formal
8. Completed postgraduate studies in
- Meaning: Indicates master’s-level education
- Explanation: Broad and scholarly
- Example: “He completed postgraduate studies in Law.”
- Best Use: Academic settings
- Worst Use: Sales communication
- Tone: Academic
9. Possess a master’s degree in
- Meaning: Confirms ownership of qualification
- Explanation: Highly formal wording
- Example: “I possess a master’s degree in Statistics.”
- Best Use: Legal or official records
- Worst Use: Friendly emails
- Tone: Very formal
10. Bachelor’s degree holder in
- Meaning: Identity-based phrasing
- Explanation: Compact and professional
- Example: “Bachelor’s degree holder in Computer Science.”
- Best Use: CV bullet points
- Worst Use: Academic writing
- Tone: Formal
⚖️ Semi-Formal & Neutral Alternatives
1. University-educated in
- Meaning: Indicates formal education
- Example: “University-educated in Business Administration.”
- Best Use: LinkedIn profiles
- Worst Use: Academic papers
- Tone: Neutral
2. Formally educated in
- Meaning: Suggests structured academic training
- Example: “Formally educated in Economics.”
- Best Use: Professional bios
- Worst Use: Legal contexts
- Tone: Neutral
3. Master’s-qualified in
- Meaning: Emphasizes expertise
- Example: “Master’s-qualified in Project Management.”
- Best Use: Job profiles
- Worst Use: Academic writing
- Tone: Professional-neutral
4. Academically trained in
- Meaning: Highlights education-based skills
- Example: “Academically trained in Data Analytics.”
- Best Use: Consulting profiles
- Worst Use: Casual chats
- Tone: Neutral
5. Holds an undergraduate degree in
- Meaning: Formal bachelor’s reference
- Example: “She holds an undergraduate degree in Biology.”
- Best Use: HR documentation
- Worst Use: Informal contexts
- Tone: Neutral-formal
6. Holds a graduate-level qualification in
- Meaning: Refers to master’s degree
- Example: “He holds a graduate-level qualification in Finance.”
- Best Use: Corporate bios
- Worst Use: Casual speech
- Tone: Professional
7. Bachelor’s-level education in
- Meaning: Describes scope of education
- Example: “Bachelor’s-level education in Sociology.”
- Best Use: Skill summaries
- Worst Use: Academic publications
- Tone: Neutral
8. Master’s-level education in
- Meaning: Indicates advanced study
- Example: “Master’s-level education in Cybersecurity.”
- Best Use: Technical resumes
- Worst Use: Informal email
- Tone: Neutral
😊 Informal or Casual Alternatives
- I studied ___ at university
- I majored in ___
- I did my bachelor’s in ___
- I did my master’s in ___
- I have a degree in ___
- I went to university for ___
🏢 Industry-Specific Variations
💼 Business
- “Bachelor’s-qualified business professional”
- “MBA-educated manager”
🏛️ Corporate
- “Holds a graduate-level qualification in Strategy”
- “University-educated professional”
🎓 Academic
- “Completed postgraduate studies in…”
- “Earned a master’s degree in…”
☎️ Customer Service
- “Formally educated in Communications”
- “University-trained customer relations specialist”
⚖️ Legal
- “Holds a bachelor’s degree in Law”
- “Completed postgraduate legal studies”
📧 Email Communication
- “I hold a bachelor’s degree in…”
- “I have completed my master’s studies in…”
📩 Email Examples (Very Important)
1. Formal Job Application
Subject: Application for Business Analyst Role
Hi Ms. Carter,
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics and have five years of industry experience.
Kind regards,
Alex
2. Academic Inquiry
Subject: Research Collaboration Inquiry
Dear Professor Lee,
I have earned a master’s degree in Environmental Science and would welcome the opportunity to collaborate.
Sincerely,
Nina
3. Corporate Introduction
Subject: Introduction – Project Lead
Hello Team,
I am master’s-qualified in Project Management and will be leading this initiative.
Best regards,
Daniel
4. Client Email
Subject: Consultant Background
Dear Mr. Adams,
I am university-educated in Finance and specialize in risk assessment.
Kind regards,
Sophia
5. LinkedIn Outreach
Subject: Professional Introduction
Hi Mark,
I completed postgraduate studies in Data Science and work in AI research.
Best,
Liam
🗣️ Short Dialogue Examples
- A: “What’s your academic background?”
B: “I earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.” - A: “Do you have formal training?”
B: “Yes, I’m master’s-qualified in Marketing.” - A: “Are you university-educated?”
B: “Yes, I completed postgraduate studies in Finance.” - A: “What did you study?”
B: “I majored in Computer Science.” - A: “What’s your highest qualification?”
B: “I hold a master’s degree in Psychology.”
📊 Comparison Table
| Phrase | Tone | Best Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hold a bachelor’s degree in | Formal | CVs, resumes | “I hold a bachelor’s degree in IT.” |
| Earned a master’s degree in | Formal | Academic contexts | “She earned a master’s degree in Law.” |
| University-educated in | Neutral | LinkedIn bios | “University-educated in Finance.” |
| Master’s-qualified in | Professional | Corporate roles | “Master’s-qualified in Strategy.” |
| I majored in | Casual | Conversation | “I majored in Biology.” |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using casual phrases in formal documents
- Overusing the same phrase repeatedly
- Being vague about the field of study
- Mixing informal and formal tones
- Using slang in resumes
- Omitting degree level
- Using abbreviations without explanation
🚫 When NOT to Use These Phrases
- In casual conversations where detail isn’t needed
- When credentials are irrelevant
- In marketing copy aimed at general audiences
- When repetition reduces clarity
- In highly sensitive legal documents without exact wording
❓ FAQs
1. What is the most formal way to say you have a bachelor’s degree?
“Hold a bachelor’s degree in…”
2. How do I say I have a master’s degree professionally?
Use “earned a master’s degree in” or “hold a master’s degree in.”
3. Is “I majored in” professional?
It’s acceptable in semi-formal or casual contexts.
4. Can I say “master’s-qualified”?
Yes, especially in corporate or consulting environments.
5. Should I mention my degree in every email?
Only when relevant to the context or credibility.
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