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Studying a PhD in The USA - The Complete Guide

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The USA is a favourable postgraduate study destination for international students due to the high standard of academic study and the wide variety of subjects. By undertaking a PhD in the USA, you will find yourself becoming an internationally recognised expert in your chosen field.

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the USA is considered the highest awarded degree in many US universities and institutes for most fields of study. For many international students, it's a dream course that offers an exciting new life chapter.

Attending Grad School for a PhD in the USA is not the same as undertaking a PhD in Europe or the UK , it can often be a different experience. However, studying abroad will improve your global cultural understanding in addition to your network of contacts for your future career. A PhD degree is often required when you apply for high-level management jobs, government expert positions, and careers like a university professor, researcher, or scientist in many fields.

There are a multitude of reasons why the United States is a fantastic choice for your PhD studies. Here’s everything you need to know about studying a PhD in the USA.

1. PhD course length

The total length of a PhD in the USA is between 4-8 years for full-time students and 8-10 years for part-time students, depending on your field of study. PhDs can be completed in 4-5 years for students with a masters degree in an appropriate subject. Students typically dedicate 1-4 years on coursework, followed by 2-4 years of dissertation work. In the USA, the academic year is divided into two teaching semesters: August to December and January to May.

Having a longer duration for your PhD allows for greater opportunities to adjust to your course and find your footing. This enables you to concentrate on developing a more comprehensive understanding of your chosen subject at a more relaxed pace.

2. World-class universities

The US repeatedly tops the charts of worldwide ranking universities , so what better place to do your PhD studies? Although rankings shouldn’t be the main deciding factor when making your PhD choice, they're a great indicator of educational expertise.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the location for your PhD. Does the university have a high employability rate after graduation? Are you wanting to go public or private university? What kind of research facilities do they have?

Be sure to do some research before making a decision on your perfect place of study.

3. International community

The United States is a popular choice for international students from all over the world – making it an inspirational and cosmopolitan choice for your PhD studies. No matter what your choice of academic study is, you are guaranteed to find a diverse community that welcomes students from all backgrounds.

4. Affordable tuition fees

There are various tuition fee options available for PhD students regardless of your budget. The American higher education system is often associated with high fees and substantial student debt, but in fact, studying at an American university isn't always expensive, and many institutions offer affordable courses. For instance, PhD costs range from $28,000 to $55,000 annually, which shows that finding a PhD course that’s more affordable is possible.

5. Student experience

American universities typically have vibrant campus communities with a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs and organisations. As a student, you will have the opportunity to engage in various social, cultural and recreational activities alongside your academic studies.

6. Student support

American universities typically provide comprehensive support services to assist you on your PhD journey. These services may include academic advising, counselling, career services, libraries, writing centres and various student organisations aimed at fostering your personal and professional development.

7. Land of opportunity

It's fair to say that student life in the USA offers something for everyone, regardless of what you're looking for from a PhD. With 50 states, six time zones, and thousands of higher-education providers, there's an opportunity waiting for every individual across the globe.

So let’s take a look at some of the key factors to consider when studying for a PhD in the USA.

Studying a PhD in the USA: top tips

Who is eligible for a phd in the usa.

To be eligible for PhD in the USA, generally students should have completed a graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, provide proof of English language proficiency, GRE scores and other supporting documents. The eligibility criteria for a PhD in the USA can vary depending on the specific university and program.

Can I get a PhD without a masters degree?

Yes, you can pursue a PhD without having a masters. Universities in the USA do not require a masters for you to apply. Because of the graduate programs in the US, you will receive your masters degree once you have completed your coursework stage. This practice combines the masters and PhD into one.

The eligibility criteria and requirements for direct entry PhD programs vary among institutions and fields of study, so it is advisable to check the entry requirements of the specific university or course you are interested in.

How to apply for a PhD in the USA

When applying for your chosen subject in the USA, you should expect to provide relevant information and statements to the university. This will include:

Completed application form – provided by your preferred university.

A personal statement – on why you want to study the subject, your research interests and career goals. Be sure to include any extracurricular activities and achievements within the body of your statement.

References – universities will expect that your referees will recommend you for the chosen course.

Test scores and grades – you will generally need to submit scores from standardised tests like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

English language proficiency – international applicants whose native language is not English usually need to provide proof of English language proficiency through tests like the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It varies from institution to institution, but international students in the USA are required to have a TOEFL score of about 90.

Samples of work – it is recommended that you provide some work you have done that is relevant to your chosen subject. You may even be asked to complete a small task during the application process.

The application fee.

Method of study

Compared to the UK and Europe , studying a PhD in the USA involves several key differences. Students in the USA are usually in direct contact with their professor, compared with those in the UK where students might find that their PhD program is headed by a professor who gives them a little less flexibility to change their research and study areas. There can be several cultural differences between UK, Europe, and USA university lifestyles. US students are expected to undertake a great deal of teaching and marking, as opposed to PhD students in Europe.

As a result, you may have less free time outside of the university when pursuing a PhD in the USA.

Application for PhD In USA

When applying for your chosen subject, you should expect to provide relevant information and statements to the university. This might include:

A personal statement on why you want to study the subject. Be sure to include any extra-curricular activities and achievements within the body of your statement.

References. Universities will expect that your referees will recommend you for the chosen course.

Test scores and grades. It is important that you provide a list of your awarded grades from previous courses you have studied.

Samples of work. It is recommended that you provide some work you have done that is relevant to your chosen subject. You may even be asked to complete a small task during the application process.

UK and Europe students decide on their PhD thesis subject area before they apply . While taking classes at a graduate level, prospective PhD students in the USA spend up to a year or two deciding on their specific research subject. It is normal to apply for up to six institutions for a PhD in the USA, and students apply to each institution separately as there is no central organisation.

Students in the UK and Europe are expected to apply with an understanding of the subject already, usually in the form of a masters degree, and be ready to start studying at the PhD level straight away. In the USA it is expected that students do not have an in-depth understanding of their subject as they usually only have an undergraduate degree when they apply.

When should I start applying for a PhD in the USA?

Deadlines for applications to PhD programs in the USA tend to be between December and February, and institutions should let you know about your application by April. Most US institutions recommend that you apply as far in advance as you possibly can to give them, and you, plenty of time to make arrangements.

Universities in the USA do not require a masters for you to apply as well. Because of the graduate programs in the US, you will receive your masters degree once you have completed your coursework stage. This practice combines the masters and PhD into one.

It varies from institution to institution, but international students in the USA are required to have a TOEFL score of about 90.

Funding your PhD in USA

PhD students are very likely to receive financial support in the form of PhD scholarships ; some USA PhD students also receive PhD studentships .

Making your PhD application in plenty of time allows you more time to apply for and arrange your PhD funding. Many students find that funding can cover much, or all, of the cost of their PhD studies in the USA, which ranges between $28,000 and $40,000. Deadlines for funding applications can be as early as December before starting your studies in the Autumn/Fall.

There are two types of PhD funding: fully funded, which pays for the student's graduate school tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses, or partially funded, which pays for the student's tuition only partially or fully.

Can a PhD be fully funded?

Yes, many top universities in the USA offer fully funded PhD programs for eligible students. This funding pays for the student's graduate school tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses. Partially funded PhDs only cover the student's tuition in part or in full.

Some PhD students will receive a stipend from their institution with an assistantship position, but this varies between institutions and between departments within institutions. Other students can find funding from both their own and the American government, and there are plenty of American government schemes like The Fulbright Program that offer funds.

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How long does it take to study a PhD in the USA?

For part-time students in the USA, a PhD can take eight to ten years, but it usually takes five to six years for full-time students. PhDs can be completed in four to five years rather than five or six for students with a masters degree in an appropriate subject.

Top 10 ranked American universities

Based on 2024 Times Higher Education's World University Rankings data, the following table shows which US universities rank the highest.

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Mohammad Abdollahi is a 35-year-old Iranian student studying a PhD in Operational Research at the University of Essex. He was delighted when he found out he’d been awarded a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary. As an international student coming to the UK with his wife and two children, it has proved to be an invaluable funding resource as he explains. “It was good news and exciting – I was overwhelmed with joy!”

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8 big differences between the US and UK PhD experience

And one important similarity.

Helen Robertson

Credit: Malte Mueller/Getty

And one important similarity.

11 March 2020

Malte Mueller/Getty

In 2019, I took a risk by moving halfway around the world as a postdoctoral researcher in molecular evolution.

Since then, I’ve been struck by how different the grad school experience is here at the University of Chicago in the US, compared with my time at the University College London in the UK, where I completed my PhD in 2017.

Here’s what I’ve noticed:

1. UK grad school interviews are shorter and more lab-specific

In the UK, you’re likely to apply directly to a lab for an advertised project or one that you develop with your supervisor.

In the US, the application process is more centralized. You usually apply to a school instead of a lab. Some programs even require you to take a standardized Graduate Entry Program test, though this seems to be on the decline .

Grad school interviews in the US tend to be longer. They can involve a series of interviews, tours, and faculty events over a number of days.

2. In the US, a work-life balance is harder to achieve

I’ve been surprised by how all-encompassing a US doctorate can be. Even after the first year of teaching, the number of seminars, journal clubs, and university-related activities make the US PhD experience very grad school-centric.

I was fortunate during my UK-based PhD to approach it more like a full-time job than a continuation of my masters year. There were intense periods that required late nights in the lab, but I had time to pursue other interests , which provided some balance and made me more productive at work.

Of course, it’s difficult to generalize about working patterns. Demanding schedules are not wholly dictated by the country you’re studying in. A recent study found that 76% of surveyed grad students spent more than 41 hours a week on their project.

3. It takes longer to complete a PhD in the US

Probably the best-known difference is the time it takes to complete a PhD.

UK PhD programs tend towards three years in length, although it’s increasingly getting closer to four years – a trend that might soon be reflected in funding arrangements .

It’s a different story in the US, where, according to the Survey of Earned Doctorates , students take an average of 5.7 years to graduate.

4. UK PhD fees tend to be lower

Fees err on the more expensive side in the US, as they do for undergraduate degrees – although this isn’t always true for international students.

US PhD fees, coupled with the longer study time, means that the costs associated with grad school are generally higher than in the UK, even before living costs are considered.

If you have a funding body attached to your project, it will likely pay your tuition fees as part of its finance package. But this flags a major difference between the two countries: funding and scholarships.

5. Many US students need to apply for their own funding

From my understanding, most advertised science-based PhD projects in the UK are attached to funding, which covers tuition fees, bench costs, and living expenses. The tax-free PhD stipend set by all UK Research Councils is £15,285 (approximately US$20,000), although other funding bodies pay more.

In the US, there is no national funding level – your level of financial support will be dictated by your school or lab. This means there is generally much more encouragement for US PhD students to apply for their own funding than there is in the UK.

This is good experience for a future scientific career, but if you have to work additional hours to supplement scholarships, you’ll ultimately end up with less time for your project.

6. US PhD programs are more structured

This is particularly true in the first year for US PhDs, which includes lectures, exams, and lab rotations. Only at the end of the first year, after passing your qualifying exam, do you have the opportunity to pick the lab you’re going to pursue your PhD research in.

In the UK, I started in the lab that I spent the duration of my studies in. This meant no structured classes or rotations in my first year, and I began my own research right away.

PhDs that are run through a Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) – centres that manage the Research Council-funded PhD degrees – are increasingly popular in the UK, and include classes and rotations during the first year, but often without the frequent exams and coursework that characterize grad school in the US.

7. There is more focus on defending your thesis in the UK

Writing my thesis was the final hurdle of my UK PhD experience. It gave me the opportunity to document my ideas, successes (and failures), and the context of my project. I defended my thesis in a closed session with two examiners: one internal to my institution, and one external.

From what I’ve seen, finishing a doctorate in the US is less focused on a thesis. Instead, your committee determines that you have completed sufficient work and skill attainment to warrant your defense. Only then can you write your thesis, and defend it in a public session.

In the UK, it’s unlikely you’ll know your examiners well, but a US PhD defense is assessed by the same thesis committee that have known you for the duration of your studies.

8. Teaching is an added bonus in the UK

My UK PhD funding set no teaching requirements: instead, I was free to teach labs and mark coursework at the discretion of my supervisor. And I was paid for any teaching hours I did.

Teaching requirements in the US vary from school to school. For some students, working as a teaching assistant is necessary to pay fees and living expenses – particularly if you don’t have comprehensive funding.

There might also be minimum teaching requirements for the duration of your PhD in the US. In this respect, the time commitment and financial compensation of teaching is very institution-specific.

One important similarity: The lab you join will determine your experience

Despite the differences in structure and requirements between UK and US PhDs, one thing that is common to them all is that, ultimately, your PhD is going to be shaped by the lab you decide to join.

If have a positive working environment and appropriate guidance and support from your supervisor, and you’re interested in and motivated by your thesis topic, then your grad school experience will likely be rewarding.

And that’s true regardless of the country you’re studying in.

Insider's guide: PhD requirements in USA for international students

Pursuing a PhD in the United States can be a life-changing experience for international students looking to enhance their academic qualifications, advance their careers, and expand their horizons. However, before embarking on this journey, it's important to understand the requirements and expectations of the US doctoral education system.

In this article, we'll delve into the essential PhD requirements in the USA for international students, covering academic qualifications, English language proficiency, standardised tests, funding, and visa procedures.

Academic qualifications, english language proficiency, standardised tests, visa procedures, frequently asked questions.

Academic qualifications are an important requirement for international students seeking to pursue a PhD in the USA. Students are typically required to hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a recognised university, with a strong academic record and relevant coursework.

The specific academic qualifications required for admission to PhD programs can vary depending on the university and program. Some programs may require a bachelor's degree in a specific field, while others may accept students with a bachelor's degree in a related field. Some programs may also require a master's degree, while others may allow students to earn a master's degree as part of the PhD program.

In addition to the degree requirements, international students may be required to provide official transcripts and diplomas from all institutions attended, as well as a course-by-course evaluation of their academic credentials from a recognised credential evaluation service.

It is also important for international students to have relevant coursework and research experience in their field of study. PhD programs in the USA typically require students to conduct independent research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field. Therefore, having a strong academic background and relevant research experience can increase a student's chances of being admitted to a PhD program.

International students should carefully review the academic qualifications required for each program they are interested in and ensure that they meet the requirements. If their qualifications do not meet the requirements, they may need to take additional coursework or earn a higher degree before applying to PhD programs.

Studying in the USA at postgraduate (graduate) level

The US is a fantastic place to undertake a master's or PhD programme, or a graduate certificate. World class research universities with rigorous yet practical programmes, and potentially generous funding options mean that thousands of British students take up graduate level studies in the USA.

Our guides will help you to learn more about being successful in the application process:, choosing a us graduate programme and university, funding your graduate studies in the usa, applying for a graduate programme in the usa, getting a visa and preparing to study in the usa.

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Postgraduate Study in the USA

Students choose the states for many diverse reasons..

The types of postgraduate course offered by US graduate schools are similar to the UK, i.e. masters and doctoral (PhD) degree courses.

Masters degrees may be academic or professional and typically last two years.

PhDs commonly take at between five and seven years to complete.

US courses in law and US courses in medicine result in USA-specific professional qualifications that are not automatically recognised internationally.

US Universities and Courses on Offer

Choosing to study in the USA opens up a huge number of choices and decisions to make.

There are two main types of university in the US:

Public (state) universities are funded by the government. Public universities are usually large institutions and often have a high proportion of in-state residents. Tuition fees can be less than those at private universities, and the large numbers of taught courses can open up more opportunities to fund study through teaching. Examples include Penn State, UCLA and the University of North Carolina.
Private universities are funded through private donations, tuition fees and grants. Private universities are usually smaller and more expensive to attend than public universities. However, they may have better facilities and a greater number of scholarships on offer. Examples are Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

“Ivy league” refers to a group of eight of the oldest private institutions with a perception of prestige. While many of them do feature highly in rankings note that there are many other equally well-respected universities in the USA.

Differences between courses in the US and UK

Course flexibility – US courses are often flexible with elective modules that allow you to tailor your study to suit your academic interests.
PhDs take longer in the US – US doctoral programmes follow taught courses for one to two years, followed by research leading to a dissertation. Exemptions from taught courses may be possible. PhDs are difficult to finish in less than five to six years.
Special Student Status at Harvard University offers one year’s study without the award of a degree. Funding is available only through scholarships or self-funding.

Choosing Where to Study

First decide on a subject and level of study that interests you. Our advice on why study further may be helpful. For professional courses, such as law or medicine, check with the relevant professional body that a US qualification is valid internationally unless you plan to remain in the US.

Generate a list of institutions that offer your chosen subject using online university search engines such as Petersons , or Hotcourses Abroad . The US education experts, the Fulbright Commission, suggest considering the following to refine your list to a manageable shortlist:

Suitability of the course Consider faculty expertise, the course structure on offer, the size, and the atmosphere. Identify good courses or research groups by talking to academics who are active in your subject area. Start with your tutor and other members of your department and ask for their recommendations. Contact US departments directly to talk to academics about the nature of the course, likelihood of funding, and career prospects afterwards. Building a relationship with potential supervisors is particularly important for those wanting to apply for a PhD.
Location and campus setting/size Would you prefer the East Coast with its cultural and social similarity to the UK, the laidback, lower cost of living in the South and Midwest, or the more liberal lifestyle of the West Coast? Climate and natural surroundings are diverse. Campus settings can be urban, suburban or rural and as an international student you could be one of many, or a rarity depending on your choice of institution.
Competitiveness of admission, reputation and accreditation Consider the reputation of the institution – possibly by consulting published rankings – but remember, the US doesn’t have a system of published ‘league tables’. Rankings are usually published by companies with commercial interests (i.e. selling magazines), and may have more ‘brand-name’ cachet than substance. Not all fields/programmes will have rankings. The Carnegie Classifications are used by higher education researchers, and might provide some data to help in your decision. Consider a well-rounded shortlist of institutions – perhaps one to two highly competitive universities and three to four universities where your academic credentials are towards the upper end of typical entrants. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation hosts a database of accredited universities and colleges.
Costs and funding For many the availability of funding will be a deciding factor. Explore funding possibilities early.

Application Process

There is no central clearing-house for applications to US universities. Each university has different requirements, which you should check carefully.

There is no limit to the number of courses you can apply to, but applications are time-consuming and costly, so aim for a final shortlist of 3-5.

A typical application consists of:

Statement of Purpose (or an Admissions Essay) – Often a 500 to 1,000-word essay on why you want to study that subject at that university. These take time to perfect, expect to go through many drafts and ask for feedback from relevant academics, peers and from a careers adviser. Consider attending the information session on Writing Applications for Graduate School held at the Careers Service each Michaelmas Term. There are many books and websites available offering advice on writing admissions essays – see the resources listed below for details, and see our further information on personal statements .
Standardised Test Results (e.g. GRE, GMAT, LSAT) – Most US (and many Canadian) universities ask for results of tests that you can arrange to sit in the UK. You need to register in advance, and pay a fee for each test you take.
Recommendations – References carry great weight in your application, and are worth discussing carefully with your chosen referees. Universities usually ask for written comments from three referees. These could all be Oxford tutors who know your academic abilities well.
Official Transcripts of your university exam results. For Oxford students these are available from the e-Document service .
Application fee – A non-refundable fee of $50-$125 for each institution you apply to.

Degree class conversion to GPA

We are often asked by students how their UK degree classification compares to the US Grade Point Average (GPA) system.

Many American universities are familiar with the UK grading system. However, a few could ask for your degree score expressed as equivalent GPA. You might also find this useful in understanding the typical entry standards for each course.

Translation to GPA is not exact. You will find that different organisations give slightly different guidelines on comparative scores.

As a very rough guide a UK first class degree is broadly equivalent to a GPA of 3.7-4.0; a 2.1 roughly 3.3-3.6; and a 2.2 roughly 2.7-3.2.

Foreign Credits have a free GPA calculator which allows you to enter your exam results to get an estimate of your equivalent GPA score. In the unlikely event that you need an officially endorsed comparison try UK ENIC .

Applications timeline

Summer preceding application: Find out about and choose courses. Explore funding; research application deadlines for funding opportunities. Take a GRE practice test to help you to determine how much test preparation you will need to do.
Late summer, early Michaelmas Term: Finalise choice of universities; start putting together application materials (including ordering transcripts). Register for tests if you haven’t already done so, and sit them.
Late Michaelmas Term, Christmas vacation: Submit applications (including funding applications if applicable).
Hilary Term: Attend interviews if applicable and make choices. Submit and follow-up any outstanding applications for funding.
Trinity Term : Apply for visas to study in the US and finalise practical arrangements.

Standardised Tests

Results from standardised tests often form part of the admissions criteria for US universities. For some courses these are a compulsory part of the application process, for others they may be optional or not required. Where a test is optional consider carefully whether it is likely to significantly add value to your application and worth the considerable investment of time and money that sitting the tests will require. Talk things through with a Careers Adviser if you are unsure.

The most commonly required test is the general GRE. There are also specialist tests such as the GMAT (for many MBA applications), LSAT (Law), MCAT (Medicine) and TOEFL/IELTS (English language proficiency). If you are applying for courses in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology or English Literature then you may need to take a subject test as well as the general GRE.

A word of warning about subject tests…

Check test date availability well in advance as subject tests are only offered on handful of dates a year in some locations. Don’t sit a test unless your chosen institution specifically asks for it. You need to check the admissions requirements of your chosen course to determine which tests you need to take.

The GRE General Test is a computer-based 3hr45min test on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. These can be taken at a test centre or at home.

A new shorter, cheaper GRE test is also available from late September 2022. Check carefully which GRE your chosen institutions require.

Most students sit the test over the summer or early in the Michaelmas term prior to submitting applications for winter deadlines.
Tests are administered by ETS. You will need to register with ETS for the GRE test (and choose your test date).
The cost of the test ($220 in 2023) includes sending scores to up to 4 institutions. Scores can be sent to others for a fee.
Scores take 10-15 days after the test date to reach each institution.
Retakes are allowed only once every 21 days.
Scores are reportable for five years following your test date.

Preparation for the GRE

Download a practice GRE test for free from test provider ETS.
Many organisations offer GRE information and advice online. The GoGrad's GRE Guide is particularly comprehensive.It includes an overview of the test, preparation tips and links to practice tests and other resources.
Many books are available.

A vast industry has grown up around test preparation offering courses online and in person, private tuition, access to test papers and feedback, examples include Princeton Review and ETS (the official administrator of the GRE).

Funding Your Study in the USA

Study at US universities can be expensive. You need to ensure that you will have the money available to take up an offer of a place. As well as your tuition and living expenses, you will need to also factor in transport to and from the USA and private health insurance.

Other than self-funding, there are two main sources of funding for US postgraduate study: financial aid from universities, usually in the form of teaching or research assistantships, and scholarships from grant-awarding bodies such as trusts or charities.

Application and visa expenses Admissions tests – most people will need to sit the GRE, costing up to $220. Some may also need to sit a subject test at $150. Application fee – payable to each university you apply for, $50 - $125. Visa costs – typically $200.
Tuition fees Vary enormously according to the type of institution, and the course. Private universities are generally more expensive than public ones, and professional courses such as MBAs or JDs are much more expensive than academic programmes. Range typically $6k - $45k.
Living costs and other expenses Factor in room/board, books, transport, insurance, flights home, spending money etc. Most institutions give an example of a typical budget for graduate students to consider on their financial aid webpages.

Funding Sources

Graduate assistantships.

Around a third of international graduate students at universities in the USA take on teaching, research, administrative or other responsibilities for up to 20 hours a week on campus, in return for a stipend and tuition fee waiver.

The allocation of assistantships usually occurs annually, so for a course lasting more than a year it is unusual to have guaranteed funding for the whole period of your study. Your success in obtaining funding in this way will depend on your academic performance or on a competition. Note that at some institutions the application deadline for financial assistance is earlier than the application deadline for the course.

To find out more about the availability of paid work within the university, contact university departments directly: the departmental selection committee is mainly responsible for identifying which students will receive assistance. This is another reason to make sure you make contact and network with academics in your intended department.

Scholarships and other awards

Many organisations offer financial support to graduates of UK universities wanting to undertake postgraduate study in the US. These may be charities, trust funds or organisations whose purpose is to promote international exchange and understanding.

Each awarding body sets its own eligibility criteria, which may be based on your nationality (e.g. Saint Andrew’s Society Awards), subject of study (e.g. Fulbright Awards) or US university (e.g. Kennedy Scholarships).

Applications for scholarships are usually separate from applications to universities, and many have earlier closing dates. The process typically consists of an application form (including a personal statement and study/research objective) followed by a panel interview. When writing applications it is important to keep in mind the ethos and objectives of the scholarship provider. Many expect you to become effective ambassadors for the programme and actively seek the qualities that they wish to promote.

A list of the major awards follows, but many more exist. Look at the funding pages of your chosen institution in the first instance, and the search engines - listed below under External Resources - to find others.

Major scholarships for study in the US

This information is given as a general guide; it is your responsibility to check deadlines and relevant information for each scholarship.

Fulbright Postgraduate Awards : All-discipline awards covering tuition fees and a living stipend offered for the first year of postgraduate or doctoral study, or for 'special student research' at any accredited US institution. Also subject-specific awards for journalism, medical studies, public policy, public administration, international law and human rights, risk analysis, biology, chemistry, physics, anthropology and more. Fulbright also offer a number of awards for study at specific universities. Note, these may have different closing dates. Fulbright Commissions can be found in a number of countries and may each run award programmes for citizens of that country. The deadline for awards for UK students going to the USA is currently end of May (i.e. May 2024 for 2025-26 entry).
Thouron Awards : up to 10 awards of $31,500 per year, for up to two years, for any graduate subject at the University of Pennsylvania for UK citizens who have graduated (or will graduate) from a UK university. Deadline usually the beginning of November.
Kennedy Scholarships : 12 awards to cover tuition fees plus a means-tested bursary of up to $26,000 for any graduate programme, visiting fellowship for a PhD student or special status (non-degree programme) study at Harvard or MIT . Those applying must be UK citizens who are ordinarily resident in the UK and wholly or mainly educated in the UK. Deadline usually in October.
Frank Knox Fellowships : 6 awards to cover tuition fees and living expenses for up to two years of graduate study (including special status) at Harvard for students from the UK, Australia, Canada or New Zealand. Deadline usually in October.
Knight-Hennessey Scholarships : Scholarships providing full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford University and develop leadership and communication that will "empower you to work across disciplines and to scale creative solutions for complex challenges". Deadline usually very early in October.
St Andrew’s Society Scholarships : 2 awards of $30,000 for graduate study at a US university in any subject for candidates who are Scottish by birth or descent and who have current knowledge of Scotland and Scottish current affairs and traditions in order to be good ambassadors for Scotland. Open to applicants who have just, or will, graduate from their first degree at Oxford, Cambridge or any Scottish university. Deadline usually February.
AAUW (Association of American University Women) Fellowships : Awards of $18,000 - $30,000 for graduate study in any subject and any university in the USA, for women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls. Deadline usually mid-November.
Henry Fellowships : Awards of $34 000 plus tuition fees to support study as a Special Student at Harvard or Yale. Deadline usually early-February.
Proctor Fellowships : Awards of $28 333 plus tuition fees to support study at Princeton University. Deadline usually early-February.

Got a place but no funding?

There are other options left, even if you have missed the deadlines for the sources of financial aid mentioned above. In the first instance contact the department that has offered you a place, to see if there are any untapped sources of funding. Alternatively, if no funding is forthcoming, you may want to consider deferring your entry for a year or carefully consider the pros and cons of taking out a loan such as a Career Development Loan. Some loan schemes are specifically aimed at international students studying in the USA (see, for example, Sallie Mae , Global Student Loan Corporation ).

The Fulbright Commission guide to funding your studies in the USA has an excellent section on US postgraduate funding.

You are also always encouraged to come and talk over your plans with a Careers Adviser .

Note that, before travelling to the US to undertake your study, you are likely to need to provide proof of funding for at least your first year of study, in order to obtain the necessary visas. The Careers Service does not provide visa advice. All necessary information can be obtained from the US Embassy or your US study institution.

Our Resources

Relevant events.

Check for dates on CareerConnect .

Postgraduate Study in North America , general session on applying to graduate courses in the USA and Canada, usually runs in Trinity Term.
Writing Applications for US Postgraduate Study , advice on writing effective application essays and personal statements, running in early Michaelmas Term.
Insight into Academia: a programme of lunchtime seminars on accessing graduate study and careers in academia.

External Resources

The Fulbright Commission – set up to advise UK citizens about education in the USA. They often run seminars which are well worth attending. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date news, events and reminders. Recordings of webinars are available on the US-UK Fulbright YouTube channel .
Petersons – one of the best-known postgraduate directories; this site includes a searchable database of postgraduate degree courses, allowing search by degree level, subject area and/or location.
Gradschool – an easy-to-navigate site, which allows you to search for courses by subject area and region of the US, with contact details and links to university websites.
Carnegie Foundation: Classifications – a research source used by academics containing empirical data on US higher education institutions.
The Grad Cafe – discussion forums and blogs covering the admissions process.
International Student guide to study in the USA.

Applications & tests

ETS: GRE – webpages for the GRE tests, the most commonly requested, including information on subject tests.
MBA – GMAT tests, for management and business courses.
LSAC – LSAT tests, for law courses.
AAMC: MCAT – webpages for the MCAT tests, for courses in medicine.
ETS: TOEFL – webpages for the TOEFL tests, for non-native English speakers to test proficiency at English – check with your intended institution whether you need to do this; a degree from a UK university should provide exemption.
US university career services often provide useful advice on writing graduate school admissions essays. See for example: MIT , UC Berkeley , UNC , and Yale .
Fulbright Commission Study in the USA – excellent overview of the various funding sources, and detailed information on the full range of Fulbright scholarships.
Institute of International Education Funding for US Study Online is an extensive database of scholarships, fellowships and grants.
I nternational Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search – covers scholarships and a section on loans.
EduPass – guide to financial aid for international students.
International scholarships

Examples of specific scholarships

Fulbright Awards – for any subject at any accredited US institution .
Thouron Awards – for study at the University of Pennsylvania .
Kennedy Scholarships – for study at Harvard or MIT.
Frank Knox Fellowships – for study at Harvard .
St Andrew’s Society Scholarships – for Scottish candidates.
AAUW (Association of American University Women) Fellowships
Henry Fellowships – for Special Student status at Harvard or Yale.
Proctor Fellowships – to support study at Princeton University.
BEST (BUNAC Educational Scholarship Trust) scholarships
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Study in the USA

Known as 'the land of opportunity' the USA is the number one destination for international students and is regarded as one of the finest education providers in the world. If you're looking to study abroad, consider heading across the pond

USA at a glance

The country is the world's most popular study destination for international students
The USA has one of the largest education systems globally
Four of the country's institutions make up the top ten universities in the world, according to QS World University Rankings 2024
Popular student cities include Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC
Studying in the USA is expensive but funding is available.

According to Statista, there were 948,519 international students studying in America in the 2021/22 academic year - 10,000 of those were from the UK. The USA is globally renowned for its standard of education and degrees earned in the country have an excellent international reputation, so it's not hard to see why almost a million foreign students choose to study in America.

You'll have the pick of thousands of institutions and degrees, as well as the opportunity to broaden your cultural horizons by experiencing American campus life. You can also give your CV a boost by getting involved in the huge variety of clubs and organisations on offer, including sports.

We all know that the USA has 50 states but did you know that it also spans six time zones? Just like the country, it's fair to say that your study options are vast and in your spare time there'll be lots to explore. If you'd like to study in America but have your sights set on a less obvious destination, then consider:

Atlanta, Georgia
Austin, Texas
Baltimore, Maryland
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Portland, Oregon
Seattle, Washington.

American universities

The country has one of the largest education systems in the world with an estimated 4,000 institutions.

While English is the main language in the USA, you'll have to get used to the differing academic terminology. Universities are generally known as colleges, of which there are two main types:

Public colleges - large, state-funded institutions that have lower tuition fees but more students. International students pay higher fees.
Private colleges - smaller universities funded by private donations, tuition fees and grants. The opposite of public colleges, they have higher fees but fewer students. Overseas students pay the same fees as state residents.

Eight institutions make up the American Ivy League, a group of prestigious colleges:

Brown University (Rhode Island)
Columbia University (New York)
Cornell University (New York)
Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
Harvard University (Massachusetts)
University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)
Princeton University (New Jersey)
Yale University (Connecticut).

Four of the top ten universities in the world are USA institutions according to the QS World University Rankings 2024 . These include:

1st - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
4th - Harvard University
5th - Stanford University
10th - University of California, Berkeley (UCB).

The University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University rank 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.

The academic calendar in the USA is split into two semesters; fall (autumn) runs from mid-August to December, and spring runs from January to May.

Degree courses in the USA

There are two types of undergraduate degree on offer in the USA:

Associate degrees - take two years to complete and are usually studied at technical, community or junior colleges. Students can study for an associate qualification in a range of subjects and then transfer to a Bachelors programme to complete an additional two years of study to gain a full Bachelors degree.
Bachelors degrees - take four years to complete. They differ from UK undergraduate degrees in that students study a variety of subjects before deciding on which to focus on in the final two years, known as a 'major'. Students may also gain a 'minor' qualification by completing classes in an additional subject alongside their 'major'.

For entry onto a Bachelors degree you'll need at least five GCSE passes and two A-levels. To ensure that your chosen university recognises your qualifications you'll need to contact the admissions office.

Be aware that some subjects, such as medicine and law are not available at undergraduate level in the USA. You can study pre-med and pre-law courses but these are preparatory qualifications. To qualify and practice as a doctor or lawyer you'll need to study these subjects at graduate level.

You can search for US undergraduate degrees by field of study and location at International Student School Search .

Masters degrees

Known as 'graduate degrees' in the USA, around 1,000 colleges offer programmes in a variety of subjects.

There are two types of graduate degree, most courses take two or three years to complete although one-year options are available in some instances:

Academic/research - academic graduate degrees generally lead to a career in academia or research.
Professional - these are designed to prepare students for particular professions.

The most common types of Masters are Masters of Arts (M.A) and Masters of Science (M.S). Study at this level is self-directed and culminates in the submission of a thesis.

Unlike in the UK, there are no pure research graduate programmes on offer. Instead, students learn through a combination of taught and research components. Students are also assessed on a more regular basis in the USA. Instead of undertaking a small number of large assessments you'll face more frequent, smaller assessments.

However, applying for an American Masters degree follows a similar process to the UK. You will need a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree from a recognised institution. It is worth remembering that there is no official conversion rate between UK A-level/degree results and US grades. Most institutions will have their own policy so it's vital to get in touch before you apply.

You can search for US Masters degrees by field of study and location at International Student School Search .

A Doctoral degree is the highest qualification a student can achieve in the USA. They typically take four to six years to complete.

To be awarded with a PhD you'll need to pass comprehensive examinations and produce original research, usually in the form of a dissertation.

Commonly studied subjects include anthropology, biology, education, engineering, psychology and sociology.

Student exchanges

UK students and graduates can apply for a range of exchange opportunities with the Fulbright Commission . You can complete an undergraduate exchange programme, attend a US institution to pursue a postgraduate degree or lecture and conduct research in the USA.

Many UK universities are partnered with a US counterpart. For example, the University of Nottingham has exchange partnerships with the University of Arizona, Oregon State University and the University of South Florida. While Kings College London has partnerships with the University of California, University of Chicago, Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania, to name a few.

A number of UK institutions are also members of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) . For example, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is an ISEP member and has partners in the USA and other countries.

Contact your institution's international or exchanges and placements office to find out if you could spend time studying in America.

Course fees

Make no mistake, studying in the USA is expensive, so any decision to study here should not be taken lightly.

Per year, undergraduate tuition fees can range from $5,000 to $50,000 - around £3,820 and £38,204 respectively, per year (don't forget that Bachelors courses typically last four years in the USA). You'll then need to take into account living costs. At top tier universities it's estimated that fees and living costs combined cost undergraduate students around $60,000 (£45,845) per year, however it's possible to study in America and pay lower fees.

Public universities cost less than private institutions and fees vary depending on what and where you study. Public universities charge two sets of fees: a lower rate applies to in-state students, while a higher rate is charged for all out-of-state students (this applies to international students too).

Private institutions don't differentiate between out-of-state and domestic students and charge the same rate for all, although fees are higher than at public universities.

Fees for graduate programmes vary widely depending on your chosen subject and institution. For example, course fees and living costs at a top ranked institution could cost as much as $70,000 (£53,486) but financial help is available depending on your circumstances. To find out exactly how much your postgraduate course costs, contact your university.

While tuition fees are pricey the annual cost of living is generally much lower than in other countries such as the UK. If you're looking to cut costs as much as possible it might be helpful to know that the Midwest region generally has lower living costs than places in the East and Northeast of the country.

Funding to study in the USA

The vast majority of students studying at American universities receive financial aid of some kind and each year international students receive a significant amount of financial support.

Funding for overseas students does exist and generally differs between institutions. Some provide scholarships covering the entire cost of study, while others contribute towards the overall cost. Common sources of funding include:

Needs-based financial aid - if your family income falls below a certain amount then many institutions can assist with tuition fees and accommodation.
Merit scholarships - for those with outstanding talent or excellent grades in a specific subject.
Sports scholarships - for talented sportsmen and women. You need the required grades as well as sporting excellence.

The Fulbright Commission offer a number of postgraduate scholarships to UK students looking to pursue a postgraduate degree each year, known as 'Fulbright Awards'. Awards vary from the 'All Disciplines Award', which can be applied to any Masters or Doctoral degree at any accredited US university, to specific awards such as those focused on journalism or medicine. There's also the Fulbright Opportunity Fund, which aims to increase the participation of underrepresented groups. To find out more, see Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarships to the USA .

A number of institutions also set aside a significant sum to assist international undergraduates. To find out what help you can receive, check with your chosen institution.

Student visas

Any foreign national looking to enter the USA will need a visa.

The F-1 non-immigrant visa is the most common type for those wishing to study in the USA at an accredited college or university. You'll need to have been accepted and approved on your course before applying for one. You will then register with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and there is a $350 (£267) fee for this.

You will also need to make an appointment for a visa interview with the US embassy in your country. You'll need to bring the following:

your passport
your visa application form
financial documents.

The earlier you start this process the better - F-1 visas can be issued 120 days before your course start date. However, you won't be allowed to enter the US more than 30 days before your course start date.

US visa requirements can be complicated so for a complete guide visit the US Department of State - Student Visas .

Due to the changeable nature of immigration laws, nationals of predominantly Muslim countries will need to keep a close eye on any rules or restrictions that may affect them entering the USA.

How to apply

It can take longer to apply to a US institution due to the various stages you must negotiate. It's advised that you apply 12 to 18 months in advance. There's no limit on the number of universities you can apply to, but the Fulbright Commission recommends that you apply to no more than six institutions. This will allow you enough time to focus on each application while giving you an increased chance of success.

There is no central organisation that facilitates applications to American universities. To study in the USA, all students must apply directly to their chosen institution and sit a multiple choice admission exam. Most universities require students to sit SAT or ACT exams. They can be taken in test centres around the UK and cost roughly £50 each. Kaplan provides free SAT practice tools as well as SAT and ACT test preparation courses.

Additionally, you'll need to provide:

an application form
a personal statement
transcripts of academic records
two or three recommendation letters
admission exam scores.

For graduate programmes you may have to provide a research statement and CV and also attend an interview.

All students must pay an application fee to each university, usually $50 to $100 (£38.15 and £76.30 respectively).

Application deadlines for postgraduate study vary but most fall between November and February.

Language requirements

Courses in the USA are taught in English. If English is not your first language then you will be required to sit an English language proficiency test. The TOEFL and IELTS tests are widely accepted.

Comparison to UK qualifications

As mentioned, there is no direct comparison of UK and USA grades and qualifications. The good news is that qualifications gained at American institutions are widely respected and recognised around the globe.

Check with your chosen university to be sure that your degree is recognised in your home country.

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11 Secrets of a PhD in Europe vs USA that Matter

A PHD in Europe or USA?

They’re VERY different!

If you are trying to decide between pursuing a PhD in the USA vs a PhD in the UK, you should think more about which fits you best. There are 11 major differences between the two systems and you need to choose the one that fits you best:

Masters Degree

Typically, in Europe, you would join a PhD program after completing your Master’s degree. In the US, you would spend a few years taking courses (alongside research) to get your Master’s degree.

If you already have a Master’s degree, you may get a course waiver, which could reduce the time needed to complete your PhD.

Most of the US universities ask for GRE and TOEFL in your application for PhD program. But this not mandatory for PhD in europe, including UK and German universities. Though TOEFL, preferably above 90, is highly recommended for international students.

Choose your project before starting your PhD

For PhD in the UK (and Europe) , you need to choose a project before starting your PhD program.

This is different from the US , where you typically apply to a department for your PhD first and your thesis and research evolves in a year or two.

There are no class requirements for a PhD in the UK . You begin your research right away. The assumption is PhD students know their research areas. After all, you start by applying to a professor / lecturer with a research area in mind.

Now, that might be true for some students. Others may want to get exposed to new ideas and potential research topics. In addition, they may also want to have a wider peer group that gets formed in classes.

PhD in US vs Europe: Time to completion

PhD programs in the UK (and rest of Europe) take around 3 to 4 years to complete .

After a PhD in the UK, students generally go on to their postdoctoral research.

In the US , a PhD may take up to 5 or 6 years.

After a PhD in the US , students tend to go directly from graduation to academia or research jobs without a postdoc.

In many UK (and European) universities, there are firm guidelines on just how long a PhD takes and those are more important than individual decisions by a student’s advisers. In comparison, in the US, some students can fly through their PhD in 3 years with tremendous amounts of research, while others can take as long as 8 to 10 years to complete their PhD.

There are different systems within Europe.

In Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, a PhD takes 4 to 5 years and includes additional teaching duties. Students in these schools are considered as employees. They receive monthly salaries which are comparable to the salaries earned by graduate students working in various industries and are taxable as well. A PhD student is allowed to either present or attend at least one conference anywhere in the world, expenses for which are taken care of by the research group.

In Germany, a 4-year PhD is considered too long and funding might not be available after the first three years of the PhD program.

Work-life balance

This point is less about the PhD in question, and more about the cultural difference between the UK (and Europe) and the US, but this could be a factor in your decision making if you are particular about the type of culture around you and the kind of lifestyle you wish to have.

The PhD lifestyle is much more relaxed in the UK (and in Europe). You will have more time for yourself as well as your friends and family in the UK, while pursuing your PhD.

In the US, PhD students are often overworked with more teaching and grading responsibilities. They also have a lot of class work.

PhD in UK vs US: Hierarchical Structure

In the US, PhD students report to and directly interact with their professors, but some of the PhD programs in the UK are headed by the Professor but there is also a Reader and a Lecturer. Students sometimes feel this hampers their flexibility to work, while restricting their exposure to the lab as well as the head of the lab.

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Future opportunities.

Some students feel that the US offers more opportunities to PhD students in academia as well as jobs. This can be true as the US has many universities offering teaching positions as well as companies offering jobs to PhD students.

However, irrespective of whether you earn your PhD from Europe or the US, some experts say you may have to hustle to find a great job after your PhD.

Different Stipend (salary)

For most PhD in the UK (and Europe), stipend (or salary) comes centrally from the universities or from Government research organizations. These stipends (or salaries) may be limited to only 3 years.

In the US , stipend (or salary) comes directly from your supervisor without any limitation on the duration of the PhD. Unlike in big US universities, there are fewer TA responsibilities for PhD students in UK universities.

In many cases, you don’t need to pay tax on your income as a graduate student in the UK (and Europe).

In Germany , international PhD students are funded for 3 years by the German government.

Less Publications

In the UK , you have less chances of getting published . Your time is more focused on your thesis document.

Less Chance of Faculty Position Afterwards

In the US , students opt for faculty positions after receiving their PhD .

This isn’t necessarily the case with PhD students in the UK , who opt for postdoc positions to remain in academia.

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More Similarity Than Differences

The UK (and European) universities are being influenced by the US system. Many UK universities’ Computer Science schools have Doctoral Training Programs which are essentially 4-year PhD programs, with the first year focused on teaching. These programs offer more flexibility about what you end up doing and who you end up working with. Also, these programs often are sponsored by industries, which means these have higher stipends and you may get an adviser in industry.

So, which one to choose – UK (or Europe) PhD vs US PhD?

Apart from the factors mentioned above, you should focus on the quality of the research group and reputation of the professor. You should look at the top conferences about your topic of interest and note where the papers come from. That’s your best clue as to which university / school you should choose.

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What happens if you apply for PhD in US after a Master's degree from UK?

By saifur2k March 29, 2010 in PhD in Economics

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I'm 99.9% sure that you start the program right from the beginning whether you do a one year or two year masters degree. That's what I intend on doing and I don't mind spending a little more time in school. If you are at the top of your class at schools like Oxford, LSE, or UCL, I would imagine that your chances of getting into a top 10 US PhD program are fair.

well, that sucks, and is kind of unfair too! they don't even waive or transfer some of the classes?!!?

LazyStudent

I think at most schools you can try to take the 1st year exams (micro, macro, econometrics) just before you start the program, and then you are exempted from the relevant courses. I know for sure that this is the case at in Harvard and in Northwestern.

It is possible to skip classes but how would you propose to develop relationships with faculty?

yea i guess you are right but 6 years (1 Uk + 5 US) altogether for a PhD seems like a very very longgg time...!!!!

Regarding tm_guru's question, I would say that being in a micro course is definitely not the best way to develop good relationship with faculty (although it might be a good way to get to know students). I bet that a much better way would be either in field courses, seminars, or just by making an appointment and talking with them.

And considering time to PhD, you should bare in mind that this is not a race, or at least not entirely. You are probably trying to become the best researcher you can be, so that you'll be in the best position to get a job as an academic researcher later. If you think 6 years are more than enough, then most institutions will allow you to graduate early, I believe.

HopefulFutureEcon

If you feel 6 years is too long, do your PhD in 4 years. This can be done at nearly every single PhD program, if you are willing to work. Also, Krugman did his in 3 at MIT, so that's a possibility as well (though I am sure he tested out of some classes).

Regardless, 6 years is a drop in the bucket compared to an entire lifetime. You will spend 6 years learning how to be an economist, a job you will hold for 30-50 years. Seems like a fair trade.

Regarding tm_guru's question, I would say that being in a micro course is definitely not the best way to develop good relationship with faculty (although it might be a good way to get to know students). I bet that a much better way would be either in field courses, seminars, or just by making an appointment and talking with them. And considering time to PhD, you should bare in mind that this is not a race, or at least not entirely. You are probably trying to become the best researcher you can be, so that you'll be in the best position to get a job as an academic researcher later. If you think 6 years are more than enough, then most institutions will allow you to graduate early, I believe.

Sorry, my point didn't come out correctly, I am certainly not suggesting that 2 hrs of micro instruction is crucial to getting an advisor. I meant just that first year is when you can begin to prove yourself, to begin finding faculty you want to work with... it's difficult to skip first year and jump right into that stage...

Also, Krugman did his in 3 at MIT, so that's a possibility as well (though I am sure he tested out of some classes).

Mankiw did his in two , I expect this chafes Krugman. :)

Oh, I did misunderstand you. Well, during a flyout some students suggested that I should perhaps take the micro test, and then come to the class but without the pressure of the final exams and the problem sets. Maybe that's a reasonable compromise. Other than that, I would say that attending field courses during first year might be an almost perfect substitute for the first year courses experience.

If you feel 6 years is too long, do your PhD in 4 years. This can be done at nearly every single PhD program, if you are willing to work. Also, Krugman did his in 3 at MIT, so that's a possibility as well (though I am sure he tested out of some classes). Regardless, 6 years is a drop in the bucket compared to an entire lifetime. You will spend 6 years learning how to be an economist, a job you will hold for 30-50 years. Seems like a fair trade.

yea u r right, thanx for the advice..!!

oh ok, thanks a bunch!

well, if you do your Masters in US and they apply for Phd in a different school, is it still the same case?!? I mean do you have to start the program all over again (5 more years) ?!!?

Many universities will insist on you starting from scratch. A low ranked school may however allow you to transfer some credit. But remember, the program is set up as a program, it builds from day one onwards, and jumping into an advanced stage may not even help you that much. If you are an advanced student and test out of 1st year courses, you may still take 4 or more years, compare this to being an advanced student, pursuing the program as normal but using your better preparation to give you time to get started on research earlier in the program and get done in 4-4.5 years without actually skipping any stage.

Generally speaking that is true but only if you come from another PhD program.Holding a master degree you do not meet the requirements.Applying for academic petition but with extremely low probability of being accepted is still possible though.Note also that if English is not your native language or you have attained a course degree at an institution in an English speaking country for less than year you will not be waived form submitting TOEFL scores.Some schools will accept to waive you the TOEFL requirement with just one year master degree if that degree was completed at an institution in an English speaking country.I recommend you to check each school individual requirement

Generally speaking that is true but only if you come from another PhD program.Holding a master degree you do not meet the requirements.

Not true. Schools that allow incoming students to attempt the prelims and pass out of first year core classes do NOT limit the attempt to students coming form other PhD programs. It's more common that students enter a PhD program from a master's program than another PhD student, and therefore more common that master's degree holders attempt the prelims. It might be true that students who have come from another PhD program are more successful at passing prelims without taking first year classes at their new school, but I don't have any information about that.

As for the OP's question -- master's degree holders are not automatically waived out of first year classes. American PhD programs are structured differently than most European programs. Coursework and research are part of the same package. And when the school grants you a PhD, it is certifying that you have demonstrated competency in all of the things that a well-trained economist needs to know. It's not just saying that your research is up to par; it is also saying that you know the fundamental micro, macro, and econometric theory. Schools have a legitimate interest in preserving their reputations by maintaining standards with their own exams, rather than relying on transcripts from other universities.

If you have learned the material to the standards required by the PhD program in which you are enrolled, then you can pass out of the classes by taking the exams. If not, then being required to take the classes despite your master's degree is not unfair -- it's a way of making sure you meet the same standards as all of your other classmates.

As for whether or not it's a good idea, I am torn. I think it probably is. It would be very unusual for a student to test out of all the first year classes. It would be more common to pass one of the exams, and take the other classes. Students I know who have passed one of the prelims usually take one field class in first year. This is a great way to get started with the part of the PhD program most students find more rewarding, but it's important that your background in all of the first year material, not just the class you test out of, is up to par so that you can get the most possible out of the field class. Starting field classes in first year gives you a leg up on getting to know faculty in your field and may help you find research opportunities summer after your first year and during your second year.

Since a Master's degree, especially a one-year program, doesn't typically replace the first year requirements for an American PhD program, people who plan to get PhDs at American universities should carefully weigh the costs and benefits of doing an MA first. Master's degrees are great for people who don't have the background to be admitted to or succeed in a PhD program directly from their undergraduate programs or work experience, but the extra time added to ultimate PhD completion means they aren't for everyone.

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Doing a PhD in Europe vs. the US

Are you thinking of doing a PhD abroad? There are some considerable differences between European and American PhD programs that you should know about before applying. Read on to determine which program is right for you.

Qualifications

It is often not possible to do a PhD in Europe without first earning a Master’s degree. In the US, many PhD programs accept applicants who only have a Bachelor's degree. Students usually earn a Master’s as part of the PhD program after they have completed a few years of coursework and passed certain exams. This doesn't mean that all doctoral candidates in American PhD programs have entered the program straight from undergrad. Several still choose to do a Master’s first before applying for a PhD. In some programs students who already have a Master's might not be required to take as many courses as students with just a Bachelor’s, but this isn't always the case.

Time to Degree

European PhD programs are shorter than those in the US. For example, it takes three years to complete a PhD in France, Norway, the UK, and Germany. Across Europe, a three to four year PhD in common. In comparison, six years is the average time to degree in the US with many PhDs in the humanities taking seven or eight years to earn their degree.

Thesis Topic

PhD candidates in Europe must choose their thesis topic and supervisor during the application process. Students apply for specific vacant doctoral projects that are usually tied to a professor’s research. As part of their application, they must create a research proposal for this project. It is also possible (in the UK for example) to apply to a department rather than a specific position, but applicants must still include a research proposal and are advised to contact potential supervisors before applying. In the US, candidates apply to a department’s PhD program, rather than a specific PhD project. While they have to discuss their research interests and identify potential supervisors in their applications, students do not decide on their thesis topic until their second or third year. In fact, many science and engineering programs have students rotate between different labs in their first year before deciding on their supervisor and dissertation project.

Teaching Requirement

PhD candidates occasionally have the opportunity to teach in Europe, although teaching is not a requirement in many countries. In the US, PhD candidates are often required to teach undergraduates, often as teaching assistants for a large lecture class. A teaching assistant leads smaller tutorials for 20-30 students and grades their exams and papers. Most PhD students will TA one class each semester for two to three years. Several American PhD programs also have mandatory pedagogy courses for graduate students.

Many European PhD programs require students to do little to no coursework. Candidates start working on their dissertation projects right away. American PhD programs, regardless of the field, require students to take two to three years of courses and seminars about topics across the discipline before they being working on their dissertation.

Funding and Salary

In several European countries, PhD students are seen as employees and have work contracts. As employees, PhD students pay into health insurance, pension, and unemployment insurance. In countries where PhD students are not employees (such as the UK and Italy) students apply for university scholarships, external fellowships, or research grants for funding. Tuition fees are drastically lower in many European countries compared to the United States. Funding at American universities varies widely, as do tuition fees. Private universities have higher tuition than public state schools (though international students usually higher tuition at state schools). The top schools offer five-year funding packages which cover tuition and fees and provide a monthly stipend. They also often include health insurance and conference travel. At other schools, students must compete for fellowships at the university, state, or national level to fund their PhDs. In some departmnets students will be paid and receive partial tuition credit for take teaching assistantship or research assistantship positions.

Comprehensive Exams

Most European PhD programs do not require students to pass qualifying exams to progress through their PhDs. There are some notable exceptions, like Sweden, where PhD candidates do an oral and written exam at the halfway point of their PhD. In the US, students usually have to pass a series of comprehensive exams before they can start working on their dissertation. The exams test the student’s knowledge of the major fields within their discipline. While every university will have a slightly different exam structure, there is usually an oral and a written component. Sometimes students also have to orally defend their dissertation proposal. After the candidate has completed their coursework and passed all the required exams they are considered ABD (all but dissertation).

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Integrated Masters with PhD – Explained
Types of Doctorates

An Integrated Masters with a PhD (iPhD) is a four-year postgraduate level programme that combines a one-year Masters course with a three-year PhD course. They allow students to familiarise themselves with their chosen topic, research methods and academic writing techniques before embarking on their own independent research project. An Integrated Masters with a PhD is particularly popular with international students and students who initially lack specialised knowledge or research skills.

Introduction

An Integrated Masters with PhD, also commonly referred to as either just an Integrated Masters degree or an Integrated PhD, offers a relatively new way to undertake postgraduate training. They maintain the depth and focus of a conventional PhD but offer a more comprehensive doctoral training experience.

Due to their growing popularity, both the number of universities offering these newer forms of PhD and the number of students applying to them has steadily increased.

This page describes what Integrated Masters with PhDs are, who they are for, their advantages and disadvantages, how they differ from conventional PhDs and how they are structured in terms of programme, eligibility and costs. This page is for you if you are considering applying for an integrated course, or simply want to know more about them.

What is an Integrated PhD?

An Integrated PhD is a four-year postgraduate programme. They involve undertaking a one-year Masters degree (MRes or MSc) in your first year, followed by a three-year PhD programme in your second to fourth year. Although the courses run back-to-back, a student can only progress to the second year if they show satisfactory performance in their first year. The one-year Masters and the three-year PhD are considered separately in terms of qualifications; therefore, a student who completes an Integrated PhD will receive both a Masters degree (MRes or MSc) and a PhD as opposed to a single postgraduate qualification.

The aim of an Integrated PhD is to provide a structured approach to doctoral studies, combining advanced PhD research with formal teaching in relevant subjects, research methods and communication skills.

As Integrated PhDs are relatively new compared to more regular doctoral pathways such as stand-alone or MPhil-upgraded PhDs, some professors informally refer to them as ‘New Route PhDs’.

Difference Between Integrated PhD and Regular PhD

The most significant difference between an Integrated PhD and a regular PhD is the addition of the one-year Masters degree at the beginning of the programme. This results in an Integrated PhD typically lasting four years, as opposed to the three years as with regular PhDs.

Integrated PhDs are structured in such a way that they provide students with a broader range of foundational skills than a regular PhD. The first year introduces you to a combination of taught elements, practical experience and advanced research skills. In a regular PhD this mode of teaching is missing as it is assumed you already have this level of knowledge.

The last significant difference between the two types of doctoral programmes is the ‘group’ aspect associated with the Integrated version. Since the Masters programme also includes other students enrolled in Integrated PhDs, you will have a small cohort with whom you will work closely alongside during your studies.

Who are Integrated PhDs suitable for?

Integrated PhDs can be an effective pathway for any student, but they stand out in two situations:

Scenario 1: International Students

The Higher Education system differs across countries , although not by a large amount, enough to where an unfamiliar student may struggle, especially when working independently. An Integrated PhD allows you to adapt to the UK education system by offering a more guided and hands-on approach to your learning and research process before you embark on your three-year research project.

It also has visa benefits. If an international student seeking a Masters degree in the UK already knows they want to follow it up with a PhD, enrolling in an Integrated PhD will save them from having to leave the country and re-apply for a visa after completing their initial postgraduate degree.

Scenario 2: Lack of undergraduate research experience or a relevant Masters degree

An Integrated PhD is useful for students who have academic abilities but lack the necessary background to be considered for a standard-route PhD. This usually occurs under one of three scenarios:

The applicant is currently an undergraduate student or only holds a Bachelor’s degree,
The student has a Masters degree, but in a subject only loosely related to the discipline they wish to pursue at doctoral level,
The student has a relevant Masters degree, but the programme lacked a research focus, leaving the student with underdeveloped research skills.

Advantages and Disadvantages of an Integrated PhD

The advantages of an Integrated PhD are strongly linked to the international and inexperienced students they cater for. They offer students an effective means of gaining more confidence, knowledge and research skills in their field before starting a doctorate, and also provide visa benefits to international students who will be undertaking prior postgraduate study.

Integrated PhDs also enable students the possibility of receiving funding for the Masters phase of their programme, as will be explained in more detail in the ‘Funding Opportunities’ section.

Integrated doctorates have no obvious disadvantages, but are generally not suitable for those who already have a Masters degree or well-developed research skills in their chosen field. For these students, the additional costs and duration of an Integrated PhD can be avoided by opting for a traditional PhD for which they will already be suited for.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

The programme of study is naturally divided into two parts, the first for your Masters studies and the second for your PhD studies.

Your Masters studies will usually be divided into 180 module credits, half of which will focus on taught components and the other half on research components.

The modules will be tailored to your course, but they will include a variation of:

Taught modules:

Subject-specific module – You choose one or two modules from a predefined list of topics within your subject area. Your selection should reflect the research area you want your PhD to focus on.
English and Communication – Academic language and communication skills will be taught to prepare you for the ‘writing-up’ phase of your doctorate. A common misconception is that this module is similar to the English language requirement tests required to apply to a iPhD. In reality, the module will focus on learning how to critically evaluate research sources, write abstracts, literature reviews and conclusions, communicate in lab-based environments and present to audiences.
Research Techniques – You’ll receive in-depth training to familiarise you with the different research methods and analytical techniques available to modern researchers.
Research Proposal Development – You’ll work with your intended PhD supervisor to prepare a research proposal for your three-year PhD research project.

Research Modules:

You will carry out one or two small laboratory research projects under supervision for practical experience.

Integrated PhD in UK - Lectures and Lab Work

If you complete these modules with satisfactory performance, you will be awarded a Masters degree and will be considered for the following three-year PhD programme.

Each university has its own process for making this consideration, but most invite you to an interview with the supervisor you wish to conduct research with. The interview is used to confirm that you have acquired the specialised knowledge and research skills expected at masters level, and beyond that of someone capable of completing doctoral study.

If your interview goes well, you will be enrolled in your PhD programme. From this point on, your path will be the same as a regular PhD student. During your doctoral phase, you will conduct independent research and laboratory work for two years, followed by a final year of writing up and formally submitting your findings as a thesis. Your thesis, expertise and research competence will be assessed in an oral examination known as a viva. Upon successful completion of your viva, you will be officially awarded a PhD, and your studies will come to an end.

It should be noted that aside from the above, your university may offer optional modules which can equip you with a wide range of transferable skills.

Eligibility

Entry requirements for an integrated masters degree in the UK will vary from university to university, but the typical requirement is an Upper Second Class (2:1) honours Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. Equivalent international qualifications are also accepted.

If you are an international student and English is your second language, most universities will require proof of your English language proficiency through an exam certificate. It’s best to check directly with the universities which certificate types they accept, but the most common English language qualification requirement is an IELTS certificate, with a minimum overall score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each category.

The typical annual tuition fee for an Integrated PhD in the UK is £4,712 per academic year for home/EU students (or £2,356 for part-time study) and £19,596 per academic year for international students (or £9,798 for part-time study).

As with all doctoral programmes, there are likely to be additional costs associated with your studies, such as bench fees for lab work, travel costs for collaborating and potential write-up fees for students who need more time to submit their thesis. You can get more information about these additional costs on our cost breakdown page .

Funding Opportunities

You can obtain funding for Integrated PhDs in the same way as for regular PhDs. Funding is usually provided by one of the seven UK Research Councils and research charity organisations such as the Wellcome Trust ; grants, scholarships and funded opportunities can be found directly in our searchable database .

Funding can either be partial (tuition fees only) or full (tuition fees and living costs). Most funding providers also cover the tuition fee for the Masters degree programme due to being integrated with the PhD, however, you should confirm this on a case-by-case basis.

As with regular PhD funding, the fully-funded opportunities are generally limited to home and EU students.

It’s also worth noting that PhD programmes which include an integrated Masters degree are eligible for a Doctoral Loan , even if you already have a postgraduate Masters degree from a previous university. Applications for Doctoral Loans must be made directly to Student Finance England and you must first be registered for a full doctoral degree. Due to application restrictions, you won’t be able to apply for a separate Postgraduate Masters Loan for the integrated Masters phase of your degree.

Availability

You can search for Integrated PhDs in three ways:

Our Search Page – Search for the term ‘Integrated’ in our comprehensive database of STEM PhDs .
University Search Pages – Universities advertise their Integrated PhDs on their postgraduate search pages. You can find them by searching the name of the university followed by “ search postgraduate courses ” directly in Google.
Funding Body Websites – Funding bodies which provide studentships for Integrated PhDs sometimes advertise the positions on their website. A list of the most common funding providers can be found here: PhD Studentships .

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Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and Beyond

Kasey Chatterji-Len and Anna Kovner

Photo of three young students writing a formula on a green blackboard with white chalk.

Becoming a PhD economist can provide a fulfilling and financially secure career path. However, getting started in the field can be daunting if you don’t know much about the preparation you’ll need and the available job opportunities. If you’re wondering what it means to be an economics researcher or how to become one, please read on. We’ll review how to prepare for a career in economics research, what an economics PhD program entails, and what types of opportunities it might bring. Economic education is a core component of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s mission to serve the community. To empower would-be economists, this post provides information for students who seek a career in economics research. We hope this information will be helpful to students interested in economics, regardless of their background and economic situation.  This information is most applicable to students applying to programs in the United States.

The Breadth of Economics Research

Academic disciplines conduct research in different ways, so it’s important to have a basic understanding of the types of questions economists ask and how they approach answering them. There are many definitions of economics, but a broadly useful one is the study of how people, organizations, and governments make decisions under different constraints, and how those decisions may affect their outcomes.

When answering these questions, economists seek to ground their analyses in models and to be quantitatively precise about the effects they assign to any given cause. The range of topics economists can study is wide, but the accepted approaches to answering questions are stricter. Some examples of what economists might ask:

How do different public housing programs affect the children who live there?
Does a certain type of law encourage businesses to innovate?
How will a change in the interest rate affect inflation and unemployment rates?
How much does affordable health insurance improve people’s health?
How can poor countries eradicate poverty?

There are many different subfields within economics, including, but not limited to behavioral, econometrics, energy/environmental, development, financial, international, monetary, public, and urban economics. You can familiarize yourself with the latest work in economics by subscribing to working paper series, such as NBER’s New This Week or the New York Fed’s Staff Reports . To get an idea of the breadth of questions economists can answer, you could listen to Stephen Dubner’s “ Freakonomics Radio ” podcast. You may also want to explore the Journal of Economic Perspectives , the New York Fed’s Liberty Street Economics blog, VoxDev , or VoxEU .

What Is a PhD Program Like?

Economics PhD programs typically last five to seven years. Unlike masters programs, they are often fully funded with a stipend, though most require students to complete teaching assistant and/or research assistant (RA) work as part of their funding package. In the first two years, students take classes, many of which are mathematically demanding. The rest of the program can include additional classes but is primarily devoted to original research with the aim of producing publishable papers that will constitute the dissertation.

Faculty advisors are a central part of PhD programs, as students look to them for guidance during the research process. Economics PhD programs are offered within university economics departments, but there are similar programs in public policy and business schools. You can look at their websites to understand any differences in coursework and subsequent job placements.

What Can You Do with an Economics PhD?

Upon graduation, students can obtain jobs in a variety of industries. Many PhD students hope to become university professors. Governments and public policy-related institutions such as the Federal Reserve System, the U.S. federal government, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also hire economists to work on policy, lead programs, and conduct research. Finally, economics PhD graduates can also find employment at a variety of private sector companies, including banks, economic consulting firms, and big tech companies. The pay for these different positions can vary. According to the American Economics Association (AEA), the average starting salary for economics assistant professors in 2022-23 was approximately $140,000 at PhD granting institutions and $98,000 at BA granting institutions.

Programs often publish the placements of their PhD graduates, so you can look online to see specific employment outcomes. See, for example, the University of Maryland’s placements . Ultimately, economists are highly regarded as authorities on a variety of topics. Governments, nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, financial institutions, and non-financial businesses all look to economists to answer important questions about how to best achieve their goals. Thus, earning an economics Ph.D. can potentially help you to influence issues that are important to you.

Preparing for an Economics PhD Program

There are several components to an economics PhD program application: college transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Please download the Appendix linked below to learn more about transcripts and letters of recommendation. The Appendix details ways in which you can select coursework, obtain research experience, and develop relationships to position yourself for success as a PhD applicant.

If you feel that you are too far along in your academic career to take enough of the classes described in the Appendix, this does not necessarily preclude you from pursuing an economics PhD. For example, it’s possible to take some of these classes through a master’s program, or through a pre-doctoral RA job. Some pre-doctoral RA jobs, such as the one here at the New York Fed , may enable you to take classes in preparation for graduate school. If you are concerned about your transcript, reach out to an economist at your university for advice; program standards for coursework and grades vary, and it’s a good idea to get more personalized advice.

Research Experience

If you’re interested in becoming an economics researcher and applying to PhD programs, it’s best to get research experience as soon as possible. Working as an RA is a great way to learn how to conduct research and get a better idea of whether it’s the right career path for you. Additionally, it can help you obtain a letter of recommendation for graduate school applications and improve your qualifications.

All types of academic research can be enriching, but it’s beneficial to gain experience working directly with an economist. To find a position, you can reach out to professors whose work you find interesting or find an RA program at your school. Typical RA tasks may involve data collection and cleaning, as well as running analyses and creating charts to represent results. This is where coding skills become crucial; having taken math, statistics, and econometrics courses will also enable you to take on more responsibilities.

You may also have the opportunity to conduct your own research, possibly under the supervision of a professor at your university. This research could be self-initiated or part of a course such as a thesis workshop. Self-directed research is a great opportunity to learn about all stages of the research process. It’s also an excellent opportunity to create a writing sample for graduate school applications. Ultimately, though, your motivation for conducting your own research project should be that you want to answer a question. One thing economists have in common is a love of answering questions using data and theory.

Research experience is also often obtained after completing an undergraduate or master’s degree. Taking on a full-time RA position before applying to PhD programs is very common and can make you a more competitive applicant. You may either get an RA job working for a professor or participate in a pre-doctoral RA program.

Research assistant programs are more structured than positions with individual professors or projects, which could be helpful. Universities, parts of the government, think tanks, research organizations, and the Federal Reserve System are all good places to look for research assistant programs. To help you decide which opportunities are most desirable, you may want to ask potential employers : Where do people in this program tend to go afterward? Will I be working directly with an economist? How much of my time will be spent on academic research work? Will I be able to take classes as part of this program? Considering whether an economist will be able to evaluate your performance is an important factor for recommendation letters. The ability to take classes, either through tuition reimbursement or waivers, can also be an important benefit.

The Research Analyst program here at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one example of these programs and you should check it out here . The Federal Reserve Board of Governors also has a large program, and many other regional Federal Reserve Banks have similar programs. In addition, the PREDOC website and the NBER post listings of RA opportunities. J-PAL and IPA also tend to recruit RAs for economic development projects. Another source of RA opportunities is the @econ_ra account on X.

Who Should Get a PhD in Economics?

A PhD may not be for everyone, but it is for anyone—people of all genders, religions, ethnicities, races, and national origins have PhDs in economics. Many economists majored in economics, but others majored in math, physics, or chemistry. Because economics is such an integral part of policymaking, it is important that economists come from a wide range of backgrounds so policy can be stronger and more effective. The inclusion of differing perspectives helps ensure that the contribution of economists to work in public policy, academia, and beyond effectively serves the broadest range of society.

Coursework Appendix

Kasey Chatterji-Len is a research analyst in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Research and Statistics Group.

Anna Kovner is the director of Financial Stability Policy Research in the Bank’s Research and Statistics Group.

How to cite this post: Kasey Chatterji-Len and Anna Kovner, “Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and Beyond,” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Liberty Street Economics , May 31, 2024, https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2024/05/thinking-of-pursuing-a-phd-in-economics-info-on-graduate-school-and-beyond/.

You may also be interested in: AEA: Resources for Students

PREDOC: Guidance for Undergraduates

RA Positions-Not at the NBER

Disclaimer The views expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the author(s).

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How to apply for a PhD in the UK

Applying for a phd is not quite as daunting as you might think. a postgraduate student recruitment officer from the university of sussex shares his tips for putting together a phd application.

Ben Osborne

There are many different reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD – to move into an academic role at a university, to continue studying a subject you are passionate about or to further your career.

Whatever your motivation, many students are now choosing to pursue a PhD abroad. This guide will help you understand how to apply for a PhD at a UK university and answer any questions you might have around doing PhDs.

How to apply for a PhD

Application rules and methods vary for each university. The number of courses that you can apply for in a year will vary. For example, at the University of Sussex , you can apply for up to three postgraduate courses per year using the postgraduate application system.

If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You can also apply to different universities to improve your chances of being accepted to a PhD course of your choosing.

What qualifications do I need?

Each PhD will have specific entry requirements and you will also need to meet a university’s general entry requirements. This may be an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification. For some PhDs you may need a master’s qualification, and you may be asked to attend an interview.

International students may also be required to prove language proficiency. This will vary across institutions so do check what level universities expect before starting your application.

Applicants should always check the specific entry requirements in a university’s online prospectus before making an application.

When should I start applying?

This will depend on when your term start date is. Most research degrees will start in September but some courses offer additional entry points in January or May.

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May, and the deadlines for applying are usually one month before the course start date for UK applicants, and three months before for international applicants.

If you’re applying for funding from an external organisation you’ll need to be aware that they may have different deadlines for the funding application. So give yourself plenty of time to research your funding options, and ensure you know how long the application process takes.

Many universities offer a number of funded PhD opportunities and PhD scholarships for UK and international students, and it’s always worth investigating funding routes such as research councils and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas.

In some cases, it may be possible to study a PhD by distance which means you’ll be able to learn online and have virtual meetings with your supervisor.

If this is something you would be interested in doing you should check before applying whether your university can accommodate this option.

Nine things to know before doing a PhD Starting a PhD during the pandemic Studying for a part-time PhD: the challenges and the benefits Is it possible to do a three-year PhD as an international student?

How should I look for a supervisor?

Usually if you are applying for a funded project, or to a research centre or group, you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitability for working in that area, and if successful you will be allocated a supervisor.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic, and you will be expected to write a research proposal. In some cases you may only be required to provide a summary of academic interests and this can be used to match you to a researcher that suits you.

If you are proposing your own research topic, there may be a research database at your university that you can search, or your university will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. It may be possible to request supervision by a particular member of faculty – this will be considered but not all requests can be accommodated.

If you do find a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them directly to check their availability for supervising you.

It is a good idea to draw up a shortlist of two to three potential supervisors, and take an in-depth look into their research history. You can also find out more about your potential supervisors by looking in the reference sections of academic textbooks and searching for articles in research databases and academic blogs.

When you contact your potential supervisor, it is important to tell them something interesting about yourself, and explain your research interests and how you feel your research proposal matches their expertise.

How do I write a research proposal?

If you are proposing your own research you will need to write a strong proposal that formulates a precise, interesting research question, and establishes the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking.

You’ll need to make sure your proposal describes the data or source material your research requires, and outlines a clear and practical methodology that enables you to answer the research question and that states clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research, and what new areas it might open up.

The precise content and structure of your research proposal will depend on your subject area, and the University of Sussex has some helpful resources on our website to guide you through the process.

How long does the application process take?

Completing an application and writing a research proposal may take some time and should not be left until just before the application deadline.

It’s not easy to give a definite idea of how long it takes to hear if your application has been successful, as it will depend on when the application is made and the nature of the specific PhD, and you would need to meet any conditions contained within the offer before you can start the PhD.

What are the associated costs?

There won’t typically be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees. If a university does charge application fees they will usually be between £50-£100.

The tuition fees for students studying in the UK are set by UK Research and Innovation . Fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for lab-based subjects per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, but there are a number of funding routes you can apply for to help with this. As well as PhD scholarships and funded research projects there are research council awards, PhD loans for those eligible, and various organisations to which international students can apply for funding, such as The Gen Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

It’s important to be aware of the costs involved, but it’s also worth remembering that the educational, career and personal benefits of PhD study can be worth it.

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IHOG: International House of Grads

Is a UK masters degree valid in the US?

By YankGirl02 March 15, 2012 in IHOG: International House of Grads

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fingers_toes_X

I applied to US phds with my UK master in Psychological research. I have got accepted to my top choice US school (not clinical program). Not sure if there's master's program in clinical psych in the UK though.

Nah I haven't been looking at a master's in clinical psych really, more like a masters in research/counseling/applied psychology...if I want to go on and do clinical, I'd do a PhD in the US

SweetPea_45

I've been looking into am MPP program at Edinburgh University. I'm also a USA student and I got my BA from American University!

I'm in the same boat as you, trying to navigate and figure out if going to a UK institution will hurt job prospects or if individuals/ institutions will look at my degree in a different way.

After talking to other USA students getting their degrees in the UK, my current manger, my former manager, and alumni of different ages from the University Edinburgh who have gotten their masters (MSc), my parents, here is what I have found.

1) Everyone has different perspectives on this matter. In the end of the day, it depends on who is looking at your application. One hiring manager may know of and value the smallest school from the smallest town in the smallest state over a University which is ranked in the top 20 in the world, whereas others may see St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Kings, etc, recognize and know the tremendous value of graduating from such a top ranked school.

2) It depends on what your interests are. Are you interested in a subject matter of psychology/ counseling which is content based in something that is U.S. based? If so, there may be value in going to an institution based in the USA? Additionally, if you are interested in going for a PhD, is there value in going to grad school at the same place as where you want to get your PhD?

3) It is important to see if there is an outside body which accredits your program from Scotland. For instance, the program that I am interested in is currently seeking accreditation from an external USA. and European body. If you are able to show that your program is accredited by an outside organization that is recognized by other countries (such as the USA), then other organizations shouldn't have any questions. Also, if you need a licence in order to practice say counseling in the USA, find out what the requirements are and if the Scottish University of your choice meets those requirements.

4) It may be worthwhile to see if you can get your hands on a syllabus of a USA institution that you are interested in and a syllabus of a Scottish institution. Just so you can compare notes and see what you would be getting and to see if the courses match up.

5) Connections, connections, connections. I've noticed that in my field, among other fields, in order to land a job, and sometimes getting into schools as well, it is all about who you know. See what kind of connections the schools have which can help you.

6) Contact the course organizer/ contact and find out if/ how many students successfully obtained a masters degree from the University and then was able to get into grad school, or land a job in the USA.

7) Information- Contact everyone and anyone you know. Speak to old internship advisers, old professors, attend information sessions, etc in order to find out as much information about different programs, and the necessary steps you need to take in order to get to where you want to go.

8) Be able to explain it- People may ask you why you went to a U.K. institution. So be prepared to explain your reasoning behind it. Make sure your reasons are positive and describe it as a strength. For instance you may say that you wanted to learn about psychology or counseling from an international perspective, etc.

Hope this helps!

Frozenroses

I have an MA from a UK institute (Russell group) and have been accepted into all programs applied to.... Englands education system isn't awful...

oopalfrootz and Hanyuye

2 weeks later...

Which academic discipline are you in?

collegegrad1

If you are applying to unis like Oxbridge, St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc…you should be fine! Some of these names are bigger and better than American schools.

I'm sure this has been asked ad nauseum but I'm desperate! I have a BA in psychology from an American university (I'm American). I want to get my masters at a UK institution, most likely applying to schools in Scotland (St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc). The degree would probably be in something like counseling, or general psychology. If i plan to return to the US, will this hurt me in terms of job prospects? I have no idea what my long term career goals are, but I may down the line apply to clinical psychology PhD programs in the US. If I have a masters from the UK, will it kill my chances of being accepted into PhD programs? I know to practice psychology you need to be certified specifically in the US but that'll be way in the future. I'm more worried about getting into PhD programs or getting other jobs related to counseling - I know in the US there are certain jobs open to people with masters in psychology/counseling, but if I have a UK masters in these subjects, is that like a death sentence for my career? Has anybody else been in this position?

Hey! I currently go to American University and have been accepted into the MSc Counselling Studies program in Edinburgh. I am also waiting to hear back from their MSW program. I had similar concerns but it is my understanding that a UK degree will be recognized here with no problems. I'm happy to tell you more about what I know and share my thoughts/questions if you want. We are in very similar positions!

Olga Childs

original scottish univertsities, such as St Andrews, actually grant Masters as a first degree as a result of a 5-year program ))

but that is an ancient feature limited only to several universities in scotland

generally most UK degrees are recognized as valid in the US, even though they often (in case of English degrees) shorter in study period than equivalent US degrees

I personally having experience with both systems think that English (not scottish) education is more shallow, but I dont think it is politically possible in the next 100 years, that US will stop recognizing english university degtrees ))

wreckofthehope and hustlebunny

original scottish univertsities, such as St Andrews, actually grant Masters as a first degree as a result of a 5-year program )) but that is an ancient feature limited only to several universities in scotland generally most UK degrees are recognized as valid in the US, even though they often (in case of English degrees) shorter in study period than equivalent US degrees I personally having experience with both systems think that English (not scottish) education is more shallow, but I dont think it is politically possible in the next 100 years, that US will stop recognizing english university degtrees ))

Scottish degrees at the Ancient universities are four years and you graduate with an MA(Hons.). They're of no higher quality than BAs from English universities.

In my own limited experience I would say I've had a better chance at expanding my subject specific knowledge here. I studied abroad at a liberal arts college for a semester and I much prefer being able to dedicate myself to my topic as I can here.

8 months later...

I am also looking at getting my MSW in London. Did anyone do this and then get an LCSW in America? I am worried about accreditation.

3 weeks later...

oopalfrootz

I am currently studying for a Master's in the UK, and have been accepted into US unis for PhD studies. If it's somewhere respectable like Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrew's or in certain disciplines Stirling, you shouldn't have a problem. The above person is mistaken. Else why do the postgrad classes in one US uni I've applied to have the same content as my 2nd year of undergrad? Remember British undergrad is 3 yr Bachelor's usually, or 4 in Scotland. Perhaps this is true in some special cases. A UK Master's is as different from a US Master's as the PhDs are.

hustlebunny

I didn't do UG in the US and like I said I may be entirely wrong, it really may be a special case.

I attended Cambridge over the summer and during a Q&A session about grad school, they specifically stated that a UK masters is not equivalent to a US masters, but a UK PhD is equivalent to a US PhD.

So unless your goal is to get the masters in the UK, then work in the UK, you'd be better off opting for a PhD out there or staying in the US for a masters.

This is just my understanding, hopefully it helps.

wreckofthehope

I attended Cambridge over the summer and during a Q&A session about grad school, they specifically stated that a UK masters is not equivalent to a US masters, but a UK PhD is equivalent to a US PhD. So unless your goal is to get the masters in the UK, then work in the UK, you'd be better off opting for a PhD out there or staying in the US for a masters. This is just my understanding, hopefully it helps.

Did they say in what ways they weren't equivalent? Because, contrary to hustlebunny's point, my impression is that some UK universities, especially the ancient uni's, consider the US Master's degree to be roughly equivalent to the final year of a UK Bachelor's degree. The thinking goes that a UK Bachelor's is specialized from day one and so, in the three years, your subject specific knowledge and skills are developed to a greater extent than they would be during a US degree, where you spend a huge amount of time studying other subjects. Also, a fair number of US Master's degrees don't require a thesis, which is a central requirement of a UK Master's degree (almost universally). So, for PhD admissions in the UK, a US Master's might not be seen as sufficient preparation for the UK PhD, which is solely research based. I've heard of Cambridge not recognizing US MA's before and requiring PhD applicants to complete a second UK Master's degree before they will accept them for PhD study. Of course in the States, they think a one year Master's degree is too short to learn anything useful and tend to consider UK MA grades as a very, very small aspect of the applicant's education during admissions, or so I've been told.

Honestly, as an international student, I find the levels of ignorance about other country's higher education systems from within the academy pretty depressing.

I think the OP's question was specifically about a practical field, though, in which accreditation issues abound, and not about UK degrees more generally (which are certainly considered equivalent to US degrees in general). I would be especially careful with something like this OP, as you could end up spending a lot of money on a degree that will not allow you to do the kind of work you want, and you may then have to spend more in order to become accredited in the US. Sweetpea makes some really great points - definitely think about what she/he has said.

ekim12 and annieca

I'd have to agree. I did my undergraduate degrees in a commonwealth country, and our degrees are just as difficult, perhaps more in some regards (much more emphasis on exams than coursework). A 3 year BSc is absolutely equivalent to a 4 year BS from the US. I normally ignore the freshman year of college here when equating my education to the US system. From what I've seen of the courses, it's roughly equivalent to our final year of high school. That being said, we have a very good average standard of high school education compared to the US.

This is true, they are not equivalent . The UK offers two separate master's degrees; the MSt and the MPhil. The MPhil is a two year research degree. The issue that might arise (in seeking a job) is precisely this matter of equivalency. It's a different system. Thus, different names and a lack of understanding of the UK system in the US.

A UK master's won't hurt your chances of returning to the US for a PhD

. The MPhil is a two year research degree.

Not always, and not at Cambridge where it is a one year taught Master's degree (mostly...and I mean taught in the sense that UK universities mean it: has a substantial element of coursework that requires class attendance - but usually also a substantial dissertation component)

Hmm, I understood that most schools in the UK (including Oxford) have one year taught programs (MSt) and two year research programs (MPhil), both including a diss component.

But I did some more reading and it seems that, indeed, at Cambridge the MPhil is a one year, at Oxford it is usually a two year, and at most other institutions it is almost always a two year. These divergences are strange, indeed.

Thanks for the info, wreckofthehope!

Hmm, I understood that most schools in the UK (including Oxford) have one year taught programs (MSt) and two year research programs (MPhil), both including a diss component. But I did some more reading and it seems that, indeed, at Cambridge the MPhil is a one year, at Oxford it is usually a two year, and at most other institutions it is almost always a two year. These divergences are strange, indeed. Silly Cambridge Thanks for the info, wreckofthehope!

So, am I ridiculous to be and American student pursuing a MSc in the UK? I spoke with a few people (professors) and they didn't seem to see anything wrong with a MSc from the UK and then coming back to the US for a PhD.

This thread seems very focused on Cambridge and Oxford, neither of which I applied to.

2 months later...

Good info... does anyone know how advanced practice nursing degrees transfer? I am thinking of doing the same thing - US trained RN/BSN, looking into MSN programs in the UK, to come back to the US after completion. State nursing boards tend to be strict with what they will accept, I am just wondering if people have generally had any luck with MSNs from the UK.

5 years later...

So, is the consensus that you can't get a 1 year MSC/MA in the UK and then get licensed in the US?

1 year later...

MaurissaRae

Picking this back up after almost a decade, did any of you complete a councelling or psychology master's program in the UK and then seek employment in the US? I'm in the same boat as YankGirl02 was, and I'd love to know if YankGirl02 or anyone else in the this thread found success in the US after completing a master's program in the UK and/or if they ran into any difficulties. An update would be amazing and much appreciated.

On 3/14/2012 at 11:18 PM, YankGirl02 said: I'm sure this has been asked ad nauseum but I'm desperate! I have a BA in psychology from an American university (I'm American). I want to get my masters at a UK institution, most likely applying to schools in Scotland (St Andrews, Edinburgh, etc). The degree would probably be in something like counseling, or general psychology. If i plan to return to the US, will this hurt me in terms of job prospects? I have no idea what my long term career goals are, but I may down the line apply to clinical psychology PhD programs in the US. If I have a masters from the UK, will it kill my chances of being accepted into PhD programs? I know to practice psychology you need to be certified specifically in the US but that'll be way in the future. I'm more worried about getting into PhD programs or getting other jobs related to counseling - I know in the US there are certain jobs open to people with masters in psychology/counseling, but if I have a UK masters in these subjects, is that like a death sentence for my career? Has anybody else been in this position?

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When the PhD path leads to career struggles

A bird flew past a rainbow on the horizon, as viewed from Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester.

A doctoral degree is a major commitment. Think carefully.

I appreciated reading Kara Miller’s The Big Idea column “PhD: Pretty heavily disappointed” (Business, May 22), about people with doctoral degrees struggling to build careers in academia. It made me think back to a conversation I had when I was about to graduate from high school.

I happened to run into a former track coach of mine, and as we were reminiscing he asked me what I planned as a major in college. “History,” I responded. He said, “Why don’t you take some computer classes also? It never hurts to be able to do something useful.”

I did not reflect on his motivation at the time, but my track coach was a young guy, and he was probably giving me advice straight from his own life, as a parent trying to raise his own young children. I did take computer classes in college and ultimately received a PhD in chemical engineering. I always remember that conversation as being a kind of turning point.

Earning a doctoral degree is a life commitment of great proportion. It can take, as Miller notes, between four and seven years. If we think of working life as roughly between the ages of 22 and 65, then a PhD requires more than 10 percent of a person’s working life. People need to think carefully about that investment.

Two powerful arguments in favor of the path of science, technology, engineering, and math are that there tend to be more STEM jobs for PhDs, and many universities’ STEM departments are generous in covering their PhD students’ tuition and cost of studies, including a stipend toward food, rent, and other expenses.

Stuart Gallant

Not much has changed in 30 years

As I prepared to graduate in 1995 with a doctor of education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, my mother memorably said to me, “Of my four children, you are the one with the most education and the smallest salary.” Apparently not much has changed in 30 years.

I must congratulate these students, however, on following their passion rather than following the money. I can’t help but think that their lives, though stressful, may contain greater happiness.

Peggy Clark

Lawyers & electricians & philosophers, oh my!

Kara Miller’s column on the career challenges for people with doctoral degrees generated more than 260 comments on Boston.Globe.com. The following is an edited sample of readers’ reactions:

Lots of law school grads are underemployed as well. (PL)

So true, PL. The market in Massachusetts is flooded with talented lawyers seeking work. (Roforma)

Supply and demand, the market at work. (guk)

Investing in education and research in all fields is the hallmark of a society with staying power. Disinvesting from these endeavors signals decline and decay. (Massachusetts citizen)

Electricians, plumbers, mechanics, and other skilled technical professions have no problems getting $100k jobs with great benefits. (ramsen)

Not enough turnover from tenured professors, leaving little space for new faculty. Although the tenured, well-established professors are needed, it’s the junior faculty who are hungry and with new ideas that help build new programs. The whole graduate program model is a bad model. I worked two jobs, had my tuition and some type of minimal student health insurance and could barely cover the rent with my stipend, and the second job paid for everything else. Though I was working on many faculty projects, it was the faculty who said this would be good for me. Never did they say it was also good for them. (TravelerofNJ2)

I just retired from a tenured faculty position in science. I’m in my early 70s. I have colleagues who are still doing what they do well into their 70s, a couple approaching 80. There is no active incentive from the university to move the older faculty on, to make way for a new generation. (Lola-lola)

The next step is for adjuncts to go on strike across the nation and hold colleges and universities accountable. The current system is completely absurd. (Wordsmith2358)

Universities should be required to release disclosure data about the fate of their PhD graduates. (davidman820)

I knew an attorney who managed a Cheesecake Factory. She had worked in food services through school. As an attorney, she really did not make that much money and was not doing the field of law of her choice. How many real estate closings can you do without dying of boredom? She went into management in the food industry and makes the same salary. (Antietem)

It was always a question and puzzling to me why people study philosophy. (Blazer27)

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Breaking news, kentucky high school student micah price denied diploma after praising jesus in his ‘off-script’ graduation speech.

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A Kentucky high school allegedly withheld a graduate’s diploma when the student went off script during his graduation speech to preach his belief in Jesus.

Micah Price received the green light to praise Jesus Christ in his commencement speech at Campbell County High School in Alexandria, Ky., on May 24, but followed his address with “urging other Christians to stand up.”

“Class, before another word leaves my mouth, I must give the honor, the praise and the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ,” Price said to a packed Truist Arena at Northern Kentucky University.

His oration received resounding applause from the audience before he continued with his holy message.

“Who in his very words tells us he is the light, he is the way, the truth and life. Class, anyone in the audience today, I’m here to tell you that if you don’t have any of those things in your life and can’t seem to find the answer, then my lord and savior is your answer.”

Micah Price didn't immediately receive his high school diploma after praising Jesus in his graduation speech on May 24.

When Price shifted his prepared remarks, school officials weren’t pleased with his off-script moment and confronted the graduate after the ceremony.

The school reprimanded Price and denied him his diploma.

“After the speech was over, one of the principals came in, tapped me on the shoulder, very politely and professionally told me that I was going to have to go in front of the board and explain what I did because I went off script,” Price said in a video posted to TikTok on Sunday.

The school district had allowed Price to thank his “lord and savior Jesus Christ” before telling him to read off the preapproved script.

Micah Price received the green light to praise Jesus Christ in his commencement speech at Campbell County High School in Alexandria, KY on May 24.

“All speakers were told that going off their submitted speech, or any unplanned choices at graduation, may have repercussions as they would at any school function,” Superintendent Shelli Wilson told WKRC.

“Off-program choices such as speech, signs, and caps in support of any cause or religion, injecting inappropriate language, or political election statements could lead to something other than this outpouring of Christian faith,” Wilson said.

@priceproduction High school am i right ♬ original sound – Micah price

Price claimed he had all the preaching to his classmates in the script but was told to take it out before it was approved.

“I had that in my script, and they told me that I was; they said that it was a public institution; and they didn’t want to divide their audience or my audience because I was speaking,” Price told the outlet. “I think it was fine that I thanked him, but going in and urging them to follow him and urging other Christians to stand up and talk about him might be the thing they didn’t want.”

Price told his TikTok followers that he had no bad blood with Campbell County or the principals as they were “just doing their job.”

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He also took full responsibility for the incident, saying he went against school policy because “he serves a higher power.”

“I do no one’s bidding but God. So, if anyone’s in the wrong, I am. I deserve to get punished.”

Price received his diploma on Wednesday after a long holiday weekend.

Following the ceremony Price was given a diploma cover without his actual diploma.

“Holding it is just an answered prayer, that’s all it is, just an answered prayer,” Price told the outlet.

The incoming US Air Force Academy cadet says he has no regrets and would “do it again times two.”

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General election latest: Starmer takes pop at Johnson hiding in fridge as he refuses to comment on Abbott row

At the launch of Labour's "battle bus", Sir Keir Starmer said a vote for his party was a vote for "change and hope". The Tories are also launching their campaign bus - as a new poll suggests they could be left with only 66 in the election next month.

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Labour's Angela Rayner speaks to our political editor Beth Rigby in an extended interview for the Daily podcast.

The party’s deputy leader says that she believes Diane Abbott should be able to stand as an MP - and she denied leader Sir Keir Starmer was acting "in a factional way".

On the first official day of campaigning, she also spoke about the investigations into her living arrangements - and revealed the details of her campaign battle bus.

We've just been hearing from Sir Keir Starmer, who stopped to speak to reporters at the Labour Party "battle bus" launch in Uxbridge.

He was asked about the row around Diane Abbott, and his decision to confirm she is not barred from standing for the party - after first saying he wouldn't give a view.

"I dealt with that issue yesterday," Sir Keir says, before changing the subject.

"Today is about taking our argument to the country and getting people back to work.

"There are millions of people who aren't in work, who are on benefits, who desperately want the dignity and respect of being back to work."

Pressed again on the situation around Ms Abbott, Sir Keir says: "I dealt with this yesterday."

He was then asked more widely about an unease from black voters to back Labour after the Diane Abbott row.

He dodges the question, pointing again to change.

Sir Keir Starmer jokes that Angela Rayner should "check that Boris Johnson" isn't stowing away in the Labour "battle bus" as the party launched its tour.

Of Angela Rayner, he says: "All week she's been showing me photographs of her bus, and now I've come to see this fantastic bus."

He compares this to Tory defectors, saying you wait for one "for ages" and then "three come along all at once".

Sir Keir adds: "But this one I'm reliably told has got a fridge at the back of it, so check that Boris Johnson isn't in there - he used to be around these parts."

The joke is in reference to the former prime minister hiding in a fridge as he tried to avoid a TV interview with Good Morning Britain.

The Labour leader then says again that the 4 July election "is about a choice".

"A choice before the country - a clear choice. More chaos and division with the Tories after 14 years of failure, more of the same - or change, hope, turn the page and re-build with Labour."

He claims that the Tories are "preying on people's hopes" over levelling up, with "another unfunded commitment" around investing £20m in 30 towns.

"This election is all about change," Sir Keir says. "A changed Britain.

"It starts with the first steps."

Sir Keir Starmer is in west London, where he is launching the Labour Party's "battle bus" - which will travel 5,000 miles throughout the election campaign.

The Labour leader is in Uxbridge, Boris Johnson's former constituency, joined by his deputy Angela Rayner and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.

First up is Ms Rayner, who will be on the "battle bus" for its journey.

She says: "This election is about putting the UK first."

The deputy leader adds: "We've got to turn the page, we've got to have change in this country."

Ms Rayner says she has been "looking forward" to getting on the bus, and sending a message that "we are a changed Labour Party".

She hands over to the shadow chancellor, who says the UK is "crying out" for change.

"I will never play fast and loose with the public finances in the way the Conservatives have done," she says, repeating the Labour line that "stability is change".

The Labour Party could win the upcoming election by a landslide with a 302-seat majority, a new poll has suggested.

The large-scale MRP polling, published by Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now , predicted that the Conservatives will be reduced to just 66 seats, compared to Labour with 476.

The poll includes two scenarios - the results with and without tactical voting (TV).

In the with TV scenario, the Tories would return just seven more seats than the Liberal Democrats, who would have 59.

The poll also suggests that 18 cabinet ministers would lose their seats. They include: Oliver Dowden, James Cleverly, Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch, Claire Coutinho, Mel Stride, Gillian Keegan, Mark Harper, David Davies, Victoria Prentis, Esther McVey, Andrew Mitchell and Johnny Mercer.

All of these seats would be lost to Labour, the poll suggests.

The Multi-level Regression and Poststratification is a method of polling which Electoral Calculus claims has "successfully predicted the last two general elections".

The polling of 10,000 people was conducted between 20 and 27 May.

By Tom Cheshire , online campaign correspondent

"I smell a virgin…" Katie Hopkins said, looking straight at me. "I smell lefty, pressy scum!"

The far-right commentator was addressing an audience of 500 people in a soggy tent in a rural corner of North West England.

I was standing at the back but that didn't stop her singling me out. The crowd theatrically booed me, as if I was a pantomime villain. I blushed.

Officially called the Weekend Truth Festival (WTF), this was one of many strange moments I witnessed at the three-day event that some may call a conspiracy theory gathering.

As well as being called out by Hopkins, I saw children chanting anti-vax slogans and had a magnet applied to my arm to prove my COVID vaccinations are the antenna of a bioweapon.

This was the first WTF and its organisers hailed it as a success.

With the general election campaign officially under way, what better time to keep a close eye on the latest polling?

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker here .

Tim Farron, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said his party will try to "return the people's game to the people".

The Liberal Democrats have set out a new manifesto pledge for 10 Premier League games a season to be available to watch on free-to-air TV.

Asked about this, Mr Farron said: "We know there are other issues at stake, but there is something to be said for trying to return the people's game to the people.

"It is now just over 30 years since pay-per-view has been dominating Premier League football on television."

The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey has accused the Conservatives of having "completely failed football fans".

He said: "From breaking their promise to create a football regulator, to allowing greedy broadcasters to hide Premier League football away from millions."

But why are the Lib Dems focusing on football?

Mr Farron says: "We're not saying this is the only thing we're going to do.

"We think it's absolutely outrageous that we have cancer waiting times that means that two thirds of people in my constituency at times are waiting for more than a month to get that first treatment, a third waiting more than two months to get their first treatment.

"People dying because of the lack of investment in GP's and cancer services and other parts of the health service.

"We are absolutely for promoting the fact that we need to clean up our rivers and waterways we need to tackle the cost of living crisis."

By Paul Kelso , business correspondent

Launching his plans for Great British Energy, a state-owned clean power company, Sir Keir Starmer promised the new entity would reduce bills, create jobs and deliver increased energy security.

Specifically, Labour's press release for an idea first announced in October 2022 said: "Great British Energy will cut energy bills for good, as families face the threat of £900 annual energy price spikes under Tories."

That claim is based on analysis of fluctuations in the energy price cap set by Ofgem and the prospect of soaring energy prices, triggered by global events - specifically, the Russian invasion of Ukraine - being repeated.

Labour's analysis of the price cap calculates that in the two years since April 2022, consumers have paid around £1,880 - or around £900 a year - more than they would if prices had remained at pre-war levels. The government also spent £94bn on the energy price guarantee, further capping bills at £2,500 per household.

While the £900 figure is correct, and energy bills remain well above the long-term average, the likelihood of further spikes depends on your reading of world events.

Where Labour and the Conservatives agree is that the way to increase energy security and cut bills is to accelerate the transition to renewable and low carbon sources of power. Where they differ is how fast that should happen.

Read Paul's full analysis here:

By Dr Hannah Bunting, Sky News elections analyst, and Joely Santa Cruz, data journalist

The prime minister has taken a defensive approach, signalling the Conservatives' worry about being so far behind in the polls.

Sir Keir Starmer's visits show the scale of their ambition and highlight Labour's awareness of the challenge they face. They need to gain 125 seats to win the smallest possible majority.

This campaign is being fought on new electoral boundaries, with many constituencies undergoing significant changes since 2019.

For the purposes of this analysis, we use notional results based on calculations by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, honorary professors at the University of Exeter, which estimate the 2019 election seat results if they had taken place on the new constituency boundaries.

You can read more from Sky News below:

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COMMENTS

Applying to US Phd Programs while doing a UK Master's
4. I recently received a conditional offer from UCL in MSc Advanced Neuroimaging. I'll be completing this program through distance learning (meaning that I won't have to physically be present in the UK). I was thinking about applying to PhD programs in the US this fall with the hopes of starting in the fall of 2020.
Studying a PhD in The USA: The Complete Guide
1. PhD course length. The total length of a PhD in the USA is between 4-8 years for full-time students and 8-10 years for part-time students, depending on your field of study. PhDs can be completed in 4-5 years for students with a masters degree in an appropriate subject. Students typically dedicate 1-4 years on coursework, followed by 2-4 ...
Applying for a PhD in the USA
This decision is made by your graduate school, who will decide how relevant your existing degree is. To apply for a PhD at an American university, you'll need to submit a list of documents which include: research statements - A research statement is different from a research proposal (required if you're applying for a PhD in most other ...
8 big differences between the US and UK PhD experience
It's a different story in the US, where, according to the Survey of Earned Doctorates, students take an average of 5.7 years to graduate. 4. UK PhD fees tend to be lower. Fees err on the more ...
Insider's guide: PhD requirements in USA for international students
Academic qualifications are an important requirement for international students seeking to pursue a PhD in the USA. Students are typically required to hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a recognised university, with a strong academic record and relevant coursework. The specific academic qualifications required for admission to PhD ...
PhD Study in the USA
Innovation - America was the second country ( after Germany) to adopt the modern PhD degree. Its own structured approach to doctoral training is also now influencing PhD study in the UK and Europe. If you're interested in studying your PhD in the USA, we've covered everything you need to know in our selection of guides below, including ...
PhD in USA
In general, however, the typical annual tuition fee for a PhD in the US is between $12,000 and $45,000 per academic year. As with any doctoral degree, additional costs may include travel for collaborations, bench fees, accommodation and living expenses. A PhD in USA takes 5-6 years, costs between $12-45k per year and has a different structure ...
Study in the USA: the ultimate guide for a PhD in 2024
The USA is the favourite destination of international students, and over a million head there every year, nearly twice as many as the second-placed country, the UK. In fact, there are nearly as many international students in the US are there are in the whole of Europe, although you should decide whether an American or European education is best ...
Postgraduate study in the USA
Studying in the USA at postgraduate (graduate) level. The US is a fantastic place to undertake a master's or PhD programme, or a graduate certificate. World class research universities with rigorous yet practical programmes, and potentially generous funding options mean that thousands of British students take up graduate level studies in the USA.
Postgraduate Study in the USA
The types of postgraduate course offered by US graduate schools are similar to the UK, i.e. masters and doctoral (PhD) degree courses. Masters degrees may be academic or professional and typically last two years. PhDs commonly take at between five and seven years to complete. US courses in law and US courses in medicine result in USA-specific ...
Study in the USA
Studying in the USA is expensive but funding is available. According to Statista, there were 948,519 international students studying in America in the 2021/22 academic year - 10,000 of those were from the UK. The USA is globally renowned for its standard of education and degrees earned in the country have an excellent international reputation ...
11 Secrets of a PhD in Europe vs USA that Matter
PhD in US vs Europe: Time to completion. PhD programs in the UK (and rest of Europe) take around 3 to 4 years to complete.. After a PhD in the UK, students generally go on to their postdoctoral research. In the US, a PhD may take up to 5 or 6 years.. After a PhD in the US, students tend to go directly from graduation to academia or research jobs without a postdoc.
What happens if you apply for PhD in US after a Master's degree from UK
PhD programs in US are 5 years total ( 2 years Master's + 3 years PhD) Now, if you do a 1 year Master's degree in UK and then apply for a PhD program in US would you have to do, only 3 years of Phd in US to get your degree, or. 4 years (1 year Masters + 3 yeard Phd), or. 5 years again (2 + 3)
5 Differences Between PhDs in the USA and the UK
The typical annual fee will probably be a bit higher and you're likely to be studying for longer overall. As an international student, you might be looking at something like $78,000-177,000 across a 5-7 year US doctorate, vs $40,000-107,000 for 3-4 years in the UK. (Exact fees will vary, so it's worth checking the fees for specific UK PhDs ...
If UK MSc, will applying for a US PhD require that I get ...
I'm in anthropology, getting an MS in the US, planning to pursue a PhD after. My understanding is that it varies school to school on what a previous graduate level degree counts for in the PhD. One school I'm applying to has told me I can transfer 30 of my MS credits, reducing the amount of PhD coursework and the master's will transfer so I won ...
Doing a PhD in Europe vs. the US
European PhD programs are shorter than those in the US. For example, it takes three years to complete a PhD in France, Norway, the UK, and Germany. Across Europe, a three to four year PhD in common. In comparison, six years is the average time to degree in the US with many PhDs in the humanities taking seven or eight years to earn their degree.
Integrated Masters with PhD
An Integrated Masters with a PhD is a relatively new form of Postgraduate study, but what exactly are they and who are they for? ... The typical annual tuition fee for an Integrated PhD in the UK is £4,712 per academic year for home/EU students (or £2,356 for part-time study) and £19,596 per academic year for international students (or £ ...
Master's in UK and PhD in US
Hi, I am an American student doing the reverse-I am doing a Masters in the Uk in Fall of 2011 and returning to the US in Fall of 2012 to apply for a PhD program (app due early Dec, 2012). Most schools will expect you to have completed the Masters and have your transcript usually no later than te application deadline date but of course it all depends on the individual school. Perhaps there is ...
Thinking of Pursuing a PhD in Economics? Info on Graduate School and
Research experience is also often obtained after completing an undergraduate or master's degree. Taking on a full-time RA position before applying to PhD programs is very common and can make you a more competitive applicant. You may either get an RA job working for a professor or participate in a pre-doctoral RA program.
How to apply for a PhD in the UK
Each PhD will have specific entry requirements and you will also need to meet a university's general entry requirements. This may be an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification. For some PhDs you may need a master's qualification, and you may be asked to attend an interview.
Would a UK 1 year master be valid for US PHD programs
If you're applying to STEM PhDs where the universities require you to have a lot of research experience, then the UK would not be a good option because you'd only be getting 3 months of research, compared to 1-2 years of research with a US master's degree. Of course, that doesn't apply if you want to return to the US after the master ...
US job opportunities after UK PhD : r/PhD
After you do a PhD from the UK you will be more competitive for jobs in the UK. In my field, US PhDs tend to be more rigorous than UK PhDs, so much so that US PhDs are getting jobs in the UK, but the reverse is not true. I don't know anyone in my field who did a UK PhD and got a job in the US.
Is a UK masters degree valid in the US?
Posted February 19, 2013. On 2/11/2013 at 11:35 PM, budgie said: I attended Cambridge over the summer and during a Q&A session about grad school, they specifically stated that a UK masters is not equivalent to a US masters, but a UK PhD is equivalent to a US PhD. This is true, they are not equivalent.
Should you get a dual degree in medical school?
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, roughly 10% of medical school graduates pursued a dual degree in 2023. Master's degree tracks usually add about one year to a medical student's time in medical school. An MD-PhD can take upwards of eight years for medical students to advance to residency.
When the PhD path leads to career struggles
It can take, as Miller notes, between four and seven years. If we think of working life as roughly between the ages of 22 and 65, then a PhD requires more than 10 percent of a person's working life.
Rice University PhD graduate defies the odds after being ...
Felix Wu graduated with a PhD in psychological sciences focusing on industrial-organizational and quantitative psychology, making him a "triple owl" for earning his bachelor's and master's degrees ...
5 Things American Grad Students Need to Know About Doing a PhD in the UK
These organisations offer studentships that include a tax-free, annual stipend of around £17,668 (USD $20,788) as well as a contribution to PhD tuition fees. Previously, this funding was only fully available to UK students, but as of the 2021-22 academic year, international students (including Americans!) are eligible too.
Kentucky high school graduate, Micah Price, denied diploma for praising
00:02. 00:42. A Kentucky high school allegedly withheld a graduate's diploma when the student went off script during his graduation speech to preach his belief in Jesus. Micah Price received the ...
Study in UK
There are many high-ranking universities and colleges in the UK with their own fee structures. Here's the basic cost of studying. S.No. UK Study Program. Average fee (in Euros*) 1. Undergraduate bachelor's degree. GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000 per year. 2.
General election latest: 'You don't deliver energy security with a logo
Overnight, UK forces joined the US in carrying out airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which is the fifth time the RAF has done so.