Not every job requires a PhD to be successful. In fact, many do not. If you do not intend to stay in academia for the long term, a PhD may not add any value to you. Imagine the type of job you would like to have when you graduate; Our how-to article lists some options.
A PhD can give you an advantage over other applicants and help you get a job, even if a particular job doesn’t require a PhD. However, it could also work against you, making you appear overqualified and less likely to land the job.
Career prospects
Master’s degrees usually prepare people for a career outside academia, while doctorates are intended to lead to a career in research.
There are two types of masters: terminal and intensive research. Career prospects are different.
Definitions: Masters vs PhD
Both Masters and PhDs are defined as postgraduate degrees but require different learning styles and commitments.
For almost all master’s courses, a bachelor’s degree is required for registration. They all usually have the same requirement to complete a dissertation or thesis.
Which degree is more effective: masters or doctorate?
On paper, the answer should be clear: a doctorate is the highest degree one can get, and therefore has more influence than a master’s, which has more influence than a degree bachelor.
The reality is that the amount of impact (if any) really depends on the specialty and the career you choose (where the amount of impact is how your career prospects improve to positive).
How long does the course last?
A PhD usually lasts three years (four years for a New Way PhD – see below), or any available funding is usually sufficient for that period. Students may take more time to complete their thesis, but this will usually be at their own expense. For part-time self-funded students, it can take up to seven years.
A doctorate usually ends with a thesis of around 80,000 to 100,000 words, based on research carried out during their studies. Research must be original and aim to create new knowledge or theories in its field or build on existing knowledge or theories. Many departments admit students initially on an MPhil basis and then upgrade them to doctoral status after the first or second year, subject to satisfactory progress. Students deemed unsuitable for the thesis level can submit a shorter thesis and be awarded an MPhil.