Getting a PhD can lead you to rewarding and exciting career opportunities in various fields. It specifically prepares students for a career in teaching and research. But can you do a PhD without a masters? Yes, it is possible to earn your PhD without masters being completed. This direct entry from the bachelor’s programme to the PhD option helps the students to save time and reduce the cost required to complete their education.
Getting A PhD Without A Masters Degree
Yes, students can do PhD without a masters nowadays. The traditional route to earning a PhD is to earn a Bachelor’s degree, then a Masters degree, and finally a PhD. Some students, however, opt to bypass a masters degree and enrol directly into a doctoral programme after completing their undergraduate studies.
To do a PhD without masters, a student is expected to complete a bachelor’s degree. A relevant Bachelors degree in a 3-year undergraduate course is usually required for students interested in STEM PhDs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). However, applicants to non-STEM PhD programmes are optional to meet this requirement. Doctoral programmes in humanities and arts usually require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree from a four-year programme. Students who want to earn a PhD without a masters must have an excellent academic performance in their undergraduate degree.
To earn the PhD without masters, the process will be first to register yourself as a student of MPhil. The thesis will need to be prepared and submitted within a year after that. The thesis you write will detail the research you conducted during that year and your plans for continuing it with a PhD programme. There are three major outcomes of the review of the MPhil thesis:
- If you fail, you will not be rewarded anything.
- The supervisor believes you have yet to show strong research skills even though you pass the test. An MPhil is awarded, but your course is not upgraded to a PhD.
- If the students pass and the supervisor thinks you are a strong and capable researcher, the course will be upgraded to a PhD programme.
Requirement of A Masters Degree For PhD In The UK
If you have a 2:2 aka Honours Bachelor’s of Science degree in the UK, you might be eligible to apply for a PhD programme. Some reputed educational institutes, including the University of Liverpool, allow students to enrol in a PhD without pursuing a masters degree.
Requirement of A Masters Degree For PhD In Germany
You can also pursue a PhD fast-track programme in Germany. This means you can begin studying for your doctorate immediately after you graduate with your Bachelor’s.
Requirement of A Masters Degree For PhD In Canada
PhD degrees in Canada require a masters degree, just like in Europe. However, their fast-track programme allows you to obtain a PhD after just one year of Masters, provided that the masters degree is an MSc type.
Requirement of A Masters Degree For PhD In Australia
In many ways, Australia is similar to the United Kingdom. A masters degree is generally required to apply for a doctoral programme, and you may still be considered for a PhD if you graduated with Honours or a double degree.
Requirement of A Masters Degree For PhD In USA
However, the USA is an exception. A masters degree before a PhD is very uncommon, and the reason for this is because American universities do not require this. Furthermore, in contrast to the EU, doctoral studies in the US often last between 3-4 years, while they can last up to 8 years in the US.
Advantages
- The main motivation for pursuing a PhD immediately after an undergraduate course is to save time and money. The reason for this is that you will eliminate one year of study.
- Project availability is another benefit of enrolling immediately in a doctorate programme. It’s unlikely that a project you find of genuine interest will still be available a year from now. It is, therefore, more likely for you to secure the research project before it becomes unavailable if you bypass a Masters and enrol directly in a PhD.
Disadvantages
Students can do PhD without masters, but there are many disadvantages to applying for a PhD degree with a masters. Some important reasons for the same have been listed below:
- A Master Degree Helps To Know Whether A Student Is Prepared For A PhD Or Not
A bachelor’s degree typically involves a combination of general and specialised study, with the final thesis or final project specialising only slightly in the subject.
No matter how much you may be intrigued by a particular study field or career path, you cannot tell if it is for you until you delve deeper into it. It is about six years of commitment to earn a PhD without masters, so wouldn’t it make sense to ensure you are going in the right direction?
The specialised and research-oriented nature of a masters degree ensures you’ll face what you’ll be fighting for a long time in PhD.
A masters degree will introduce you to a more complex graduate study process than an undergraduate degree. Study routines, motivation, and even time management skills will be the most relevant indicators of whether you are ready to pursue a PhD after your masters.
A masters degree, however, may be overwhelming and not as exciting and appealing as you hoped, so perhaps a PhD is not the best choice.
- Better Chances Of Admission For A PhD Degree
Can I get a PhD without a masters degree? Maybe not, but can you gain admission into a doctorate programme with a masters degree? Without a doubt.
You can draw on much more experience in your doctoral project if you have a masters degree rather than a BA. In situations where a masters is not an absolute requirement, graduate schools prefer candidates with a masters.
A masters degree is also beneficial if your academic record is below average. A masters degree will turn the tide in your favour if you have lower grades in your Bachelor’s programme.
Furthermore, doing a masters at the same university where you intend to pursue a PhD is wise. In addition to showing loyalty to the university, you get to know the right teachers.
- Masters Degree Helps To Finish Doctorate Programmes Faster
Masters degrees aren’t always synonymous with two years of extra education in some departments, graduate schools, and faculties. You can buy yourself more time by doing so. Especially in the USA and Canada, you might be able to transfer some of your masters credits to a PhD. As a result, you can significantly reduce the time it takes to earn your PhD.
Even though credits cannot be transferred, starting with a masters degree instead of a PhD will reduce the time you will take to earn your doctorate. While earning your masters degree, you have two years in which you will be able to select your research topic and collect a lot of information. Compared to fellow doctoral students who jumped straight from Bachelor’s to PhD, you will be one to two years ahead with your research when you start your PhD.
Conclusion
So, can you do PhD without masters? You can earn a PhD with just your bachelor’s degree. Taking this route has several advantages and disadvantages. Although you can save your efforts and money by jumping straight into the PhD degree, you should ensure that you have the required research skills and try to find the research project you are passionate about.
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1 thought on “Top PGDM Courses In Canada: Universities, Specialisations & Eligibility”
I have done Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts from India and completed my graduation in the year 2022 .I am 22 years old. After graduation, I have done 1 year paid internship from USA .Now, I would like to take occupational experience and learn culinary skills and also do masters in Culinary arts.How can I find the college n best course / country where I can persue studying further