If you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree, getting a master’s might be a prerequisite for pursuing a PhD. That’s what you must have commonly heard, right? Well, it is not always true. There are several countries and degrees where undergraduates can directly apply for a PhD degree without having to go through a master’s degree first.
But when it comes to UK universities, which path should you choose? Well, making a choice would require you to first check the requirements of your course and your own academic interests. However, if you need an objective comparison of these two academic degrees, let’s explore what these degrees hold for you.
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Comparing Master’s and PhD: Which Postgraduate Degree Should You Pursue in the UK?
Comparing master’s and PhD requires you to understand the basic differences and eligibility criteria for both degrees. So, let’s explore the details of each degree and understand which one suits your needs better.
Duration
Starting off easy, master’s degrees are generally two years in length across the board for most disciplines. The duration of a master’s degree can also differ if you’re opting for a part-time or distance learning course. For full-time students, it is generally two years.
For PhD, the duration generally ranges between three to four years. For part-time students, this can extend further. A PhD degree is also more demanding, with students required to follow the mentorship of a PhD supervisor, which is crucial for completing their research.
In terms of duration, a master’s degree is shorter in length and can still provide valuable opportunities for your career. However, if you want to go into research, a PhD may be worth the extra years you put in.
Education Cost
The cost of education in UK universities can differ based on a number of factors, ranging from scholarships to grants and stipends. However, just off the top, PhDs are more expensive compared to Master’s degrees since they’re longer.
However, PhD students are often eligible for scholarships and stipends during their course of study, which allows them to reduce the burden of tuition fees slightly. However, students still need to qualify for scholarships, and the benefits are only available to students who are eligible and can get the scholarships.
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Specialisation
Master’s degrees are, to put it simply, advanced undergraduate degrees. So, you’ll have to go through classes and coursework accordingly to learn more and specialise in your subject. At the end of the course, there will be some research opportunities to put your research skills and course education to the test. So, master’s degrees are structured and can help students master the subject of their choosing, which can be a great opportunity for some disciplines and careers.
PhDs are less structured compared to master’s degrees. The focus of a PhD degree is to help students work on their independent and original research, which finally becomes a thesis that’s published. The process can take beyond four years, too, for some students. Students can choose any topic they want to work on and perform original research on it to complete their thesis. However, sometimes being spoilt for choice can make it difficult to focus on one thing, which leads to delays in completing the PhD.
So, based on your career choices and your interest in pursuing original research or mastering a subject, you can choose the degree that suits you better.
Career Prospects
Both these degrees have interesting career prospects that can be rewarding for students. Master’s degrees are great for students who want to enter the workforce as a professional with more than an undergraduate degree. If you want to go into management, this is one of the best ways to do so as completing a master’s degree and having relevant work experience can allow you to join your dream job in management positions.
PhD students can go into research based fields and it helps them improve their chances of finding fellowship opportunities at universities or tenured positions. PhD also helps position students as true professionals and allows them become a part of the academia relating to their subject, which helps future work and research opportunities.
Conclusion
Now that you have a detailed comparison of these two degrees be sure to understand your requirements well before choosing. And if you’re in need of any academic writing services, feel free to check out Digi Assignment Help. From helping you complete your assignments on time to helping you write inspiring dissertations that fetch the grade you want. We can help you balance the stressful and demanding coursework of UK universities with our services.
