Can I do a PhD without a Masters?: Today we are going to explore a possibility that is not so widespread among those who want to study higher education abroad: do a PhD without having to go through a master’s degree . Yes, because it is not always necessary to follow the traditional path of starting academic life with a bachelor’s degree, doing a specialization, obtaining a master’s degree and, only then, moving on to a doctorate.
Direct transition, however, is not as common and can have disadvantages. In this post, we’ll talk about the pros and cons of this option and what it takes to put it into practice!
Can I do a PhD without a Masters?
Why choose to skip the master’s degree
Starting with the positives, one of the main benefits is that going on to a PhD without having gone through a master’s course naturally saves time and money . When dealing with an experience outside the country, managing costs is essential, after all we are talking about a change in life, which requires a profound adaptation during the postgraduate period. Entering the job market more quickly is also a benefit of this alternative.
Disadvantages of doing a PhD without going through the master’s degree
The master’s degree is an excellent possibility for the student to experience graduate school, with fewer lectures and seminars and more practical work. In addition, it is a closer contact with academic research, which makes the researcher more prepared to later delve into a particular area of study.
Expanding the network of contacts and getting to know the professors are other advantages of going through the master’s degree. However, not having experienced these stages does not prevent the doctoral experience from being successful. Maybe it just takes a little more work and requires more dedication.
How, after all, to do a doctorate without a master’s degree
The first step to enter directly into a doctoral program is to check whether the university offers the possibility of entering from the licentiate or baccalaureate. Several foreign higher education institutions do not require a certificate of completion of the master’s degree, but only of the undergraduate degree.
Admission criteria for a doctoral program vary from school to school and may include completing an application, submitting GRE or GMAT exam scores, paying an application fee, and a written statement of purpose. The list of documents in the application may also include a resume, in addition to letters of recommendation and motivation. In practice, therefore, there is no difference between the selection process of those who took the master’s degree and those who did not.