Portuguese Phrase
Estou fazendo um mestrado agora.
Meaning
Literally, “I am doing a master’s degree now.” It tells the listener that you are currently enrolled in a postgraduate program and actively working on it.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to explain your present academic status, especially in conversations about studies, career plans, or when someone asks what you are currently doing.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estoufazendoummestradoagora
Estar + gerúndio
The verb estar followed by a gerund (fazendo) forms the progressive tense, indicating an action happening right now.
Gerúndio de fazer
Fazendo is the gerund form of fazer, meaning “to do” or “to make”.
Artigo indefinido
Um is the indefinite article used before a singular masculine noun (mestrado).
Advérbio de tempo
Agora means “now” and reinforces the immediacy of the action.
🗨In Conversation
O que você está estudando?
What are you studying?
Estou fazendo um mestrado agora.
I am doing a master’s degree now.
✕Common Mistakes
Sou fazendo um mestrado agora.
Use estar, not ser, for ongoing actions.
Estou fazer um mestrado agora.
The gerund must be used after estar; the infinitive ‘fazer’ is incorrect here.
Estou fazendo mestrado agora.
The indefinite article ‘um’ is required before ‘mestrado’ in this construction.
↔Alternatives
Estou cursando um mestrado agora.
I am taking a master’s degree now.
Estou fazendo mestrado neste momento.
I am doing a master’s degree at this moment.
Estou a fazer um mestrado agora.
I am doing a master’s degree now. (European Portuguese)
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the word mestrado refers to a two‑year postgraduate program that follows a graduation (bacharelado). It is common to say ‘fazer’ or ‘cursar’ a mestrado. The phrase is neutral‑formal; avoid overly casual slang when speaking with professors or in professional settings.