You want the option to study part-time while working.

You are willing to pay a higher upfront cost if it means finishing with your degree (and thus being able to work) much faster.

You want to develop professional skills for a specific career.

You want to continue studies in your field, but you’re not committed to a career as a professional researcher.

You are willing to spend years pursuing your research even if you have to put up with a lot of dead ends and roadblocks.Ī master’s degree is the better choice if any of the following apply:.

You love research and are passionate about discovering the answer to a particular question.Your goal is to become a professor at a university or some other type of professional researcher.Wage premium (compared to earnings with a high school education) is 23% on average. Tuition fees are usually waived and a living stipend provided in exchange for being a teaching or research assistant. Varies by country, university and program usually higher upfront cost with limited financial aid available. Mostly coursework, often with a semester-long thesis or capstone project at the end.Ģ years of coursework (in the US), followed by 3–5 years of preparing a dissertation, which should make a significant original contribution to current knowledge. Prepares for a research career, ideally as a university professor.ĥ–7 in the US (master’s degree included) 3–5 outside the US (after a separate master’s degree)

Usually intended for a career outside of academia. The table below shows the key differences between the two.

Frequently asked questions about master's and PhD degrees.

What is the meaning of phd