Comparing PhD from Europe and PhD from USA
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Comparing PhD from Europe and PhD from USA

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Apr 11, 2020 15:16 IST

For PhD aspirants, it usually gets confusing whether to pursue the course from US or a European country. Since the top schools at US and Europe produce equally brilliant researchers, this decision is the hardest for any student to make. However there are a few differences between pursuing a PhD from US and pursuing PhD from Europe.

Most schools in Europe require less time than PhD programs in the US. This means that the students who receive a PhD from Europe are less prepared for research post their graduation than their US counterparts. Typically a PhD in Italy is three to four years long. It often takes three years to just learn the basics of how to research.  So the model is quite different where post-doctorates are the expectation. In contrast, students in the US programs start being productive around their third year. So doing a five to six year PhD means there is more continuity and more students go directly from graduation to research jobs without a post-doctorate.

In many European institutions, there are firm guidelines on how long a PhD takes, and often those are more powerful than individual decisions by students’ advisor.  This is not the case in most US schools. You can finish PhD in three years if you produce tremendous impact, and other students can slowly slog through eight to ten years of a PhD because they are slow in producing research output. In US, a faculty member would never sign off on a student's thesis unless the contribution and publications were significant enough to justify the thesis. Conversely, they are not opposed to graduating a student in two to three years if they can satisfy the requirements and produce an impactful research.

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Masters Degree - Typically in Europe, you would join a PhD program after completing your Masters degree. Whereas in the US this is not always the norm and you would spend a few years taking courses, alongside research, which get you a Masters degree along the way. Entering with a Masters degree can give you course waivers, which could potentially decrease the six year long course duration.








Classes and MS degrees - While many commenters point out that European PhD programs generally require a Masters, it is important to note that many US based PhD students also get their MS before joining the PhD. This generally makes little difference, unless the MS degree is from a department that works similarly to the PhD lab. But that is not the case for international students, and thus students with MS benefit little from their extra years, and most take the same number of years to finish.







Exceptions - There are a growing number of exceptions to the statements above. An increasing number of European schools have moved towards the US model in terms of depth and length, including EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), ETH, MPI. As a result, US schools consider these departments with the same metrics as their own.

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Thesis Topic and Funding - Funding for a PhD student in Europe is typically for a period of three years. This means that you have relatively less freedom in choosing your thesis topic. When you apply to a European college for a PhD you are expected to talk to an advisor and propose a thesis topic along with an outline with your application. This is not the case in the US, where your thesis and research direction typically evolves for a year or two.

Pay - A PhD student in Europe earns more than the same student doing a postdoc at an American university. Although it is a generalization, the pay scale for graduate students tends to be higher in Europe.

Job opportunities – Typically you do not see a large number of European PhD graduates getting academic jobs. There are definitely exceptions and often those with a job offer have done post-doctorate at a US program, with strong reference letters from that group.

Taking everything into account, we would suggest you focus on the quality of the research group rather than the school. If the reputation of the professor or the group is good enough, it doesn’t matters whether it's a European school or American. Take a look at the best conferences in your area of interest and note where the most papers come from. That is the best hint as to which schools have the best research departments in your area, and which schools should you aim at.

Q:   Is BSBI degree valid in Germany?

A:

BSBI does not hold degree-awarding powers in Germany and its programmes are validated by private Italian distance learning institution UniNettuno International Telematic University. BSBI has also partnered with Concordia University Chicago to deliver programmes at its Berlin campus.

Q:   What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?

A:

The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.

Q:   What is the cost of a student visa in Germany?

A:

International students going to pursue higher education in Germany are required to apply for a German study visa. The cost of  study visa for Germany is EUR 75 per applicant. Below we have provided a check list for German student visa:

  • Valid passport
  • Application form
  • Declaration for additional contact and legal representation information
  • Copy of passport
  • Proof of admittance to the study course
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Proof of Financial Means

Q:   How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?

A:

The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses: 

The Undergraduate Application Process:  

Step 1:  You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.

Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.

Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements. 

Check out:  tips to improve your SOP

Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS. 

Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.

Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.

The Postgraduate application process: 

Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\

Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.

Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.

Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course. 

To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application. 

Step 5:  If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester. 

Q:   Does the University of Essex require IELTS?

A:

International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:

English Language Test

 Score

IELTS

Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section

The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:

English Language Test

 Score

TOEFL iBT

Overall score of 72 to 114

PTE

Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section

Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities

Q:   What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?

A:

There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.

Q:   Why do Indian students choose to study at Istituto Marangoni - France?

A:

Indian students choose to study at Istituto Marangoni in France for various reasons. The school offers a unique blend of international exposure, high-quality education, and a strong focus on practical skills that are highly valued in the fashion industry. Additionally, the school's strong industry connections and its reputation for producing successful alumni, such as Rahul Mishra, Dhruv Kapoor, and Anvita Sharma, make it an attractive choice for students seeking to launch their careers in fashion. 

Q:   Why study at IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany?

A:

IU International University of Applied Sciences courses are state accredited and recognized internationally. The university is known as Germany’s largest private state-accredited university. Students can learn a mix of online self-study and classroom learning (2-3 days per week) alongside their peers. IU University Germany is the 1st German university to be a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Hence, it is one of the best study abroad universities for international students.

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Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert

Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio

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Syed
MBA in USA

Syed Nazrul Hassan, an MA graduate in International Relations, is an adroit counselor who believes in the philosophy of putting himself in student's shoes in order to provide honest and sincere counseling services. ... Read Full Bio

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Comments

(1)

9 years ago

what is the step to get a admission in phd..?? i have masters degree in india.so suggest me.i want to do phd in usa.so what is the fee structure..??

Reply to

5214586
Ankita Bhatt

9 years ago

Hi Dhruv, admission into PhD will require extensive research on your part before admissions. You must browse colleges and departments and select a college offering research on your area. For admissions, you must write to the departmental heads. Fee structure varies and majority of them will offer yo

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