As an aspiring academic or researcher, you may be weighing whether to pursue a master’s degree before jumping into a PhD program. Earning a master’s can provide valuable preparation, but is it an essential step for PhD admission? Let’s look at the pros and cons of getting a master’s on the road to a doctorate.
What is a Master’s Degree?
A master’s degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded after 1-2 years of study past the bachelor’s degree. Master’s programs allow students to dive deeper into a particular field through advanced coursework, research, and a thesis project.
Common types of master’s degrees include:
- MA – Master of Arts
- MS – Master of Science
- MBA – Master of Business Administration
- MPH – Master of Public Health
Master’s programs exist in most major fields like business, education, engineering, sciences, social sciences, and humanities
What is a PhD Degree?
A Doctor of Philosophy or PhD is the highest academic degree awarded in most fields. Earning a PhD usually takes 4-6 years of intensive study and research beyond the bachelor’s level.
PhD programs focus on developing skills needed for academic research and teaching This includes
- Advanced coursework
- Comprehensive exams
- Independent research
- Dissertation project
- Teaching experience
PhDs prepare graduates for careers as professors, researchers, and experts in their field. They are required for most tenured academic positions.
Do You Need a Master’s to Get a PhD?
This is a common question among prospective doctoral students. The short answer is – it depends on the field and program.
In most cases, you do not need a master’s degree to apply for and be admitted to a PhD program. Many doctoral programs accept students who have only completed a bachelor’s degree.
However, certain fields like sciences more commonly expect or require a master’s first. Even when not required, a master’s can strengthen your PhD application.
Here are some key considerations:
Direct Entry PhD Programs
Many top doctoral programs offer direct entry options which let students enroll in a PhD directly after finishing their bachelor’s degree. This allows you to go straight into advanced study and skip the master’s.
Direct entry PhDs are common in fields like:
- Social sciences
- Humanities
- Physical sciences
- Life sciences
If your goal is to jump right into a PhD, look for programs offering this direct entry pathway.
Changing Fields
If you want to switch fields between your bachelor’s and PhD, completing a transitional master’s first can be very beneficial.
For example, if you majored in psychology as an undergrad but want to do a PhD in neuroscience, a relevant master’s like cognitive science or biopsychology could bridge this gap nicely on your CV.
The master’s shows your commitment to the new field and foundational knowledge to undertake doctoral-level work.
Strengthening Your Profile
Even in direct entry PhD programs, having a master’s degree can give your application a competitive edge. It shows your ability to succeed in advanced graduate coursework.
This can be especially helpful if you are coming from an unrelated undergraduate background or your grades were borderline.
Strong master’s academics and research experience can overcome other weaknesses in your bachelor’s profile.
Pros of Earning a Master’s Before a PhD
There are several potential advantages to getting a master’s degree first:
-
Preparation – It eases the transition to PhD research and rigor.
-
Specialization – You can focus deeply on a subfield of interest.
-
Access – Provides entry to desired PhD programs and advisors.
-
Funding – Master’s studies may be funded by assistantships.
-
Marketability – Adds an extra degree to boost your resume.
Cons of Earning a Master’s Before a PhD
Some drawbacks to completing a pre-doctoral master’s are:
-
Time – Adds 1-2 years before starting the PhD.
-
Cost – Many master’s degrees are self-funded.
-
Redundancy – Some credits may not transfer to the PhD.
-
Opportunity cost – Delaying entry to the job market.
Key Takeaways
-
A master’s degree is not required for most PhD programs but can strengthen your application.
-
Direct entry PhD programs allow students to enroll without a master’s degree.
-
Earning a master’s first is most useful for changing fields or boosting a borderline profile.
-
Weigh the costs and benefits carefully for your situation and goals.
-
Many master’s credits may not transfer to the doctoral program.
-
If unsure, contact your desired PhD programs to see if they expect or prefer a master’s degree.
Do You Really Need It?
At the end of the day, whether you should complete a master’s degree before pursuing a PhD depends on your personal goals and situation.
If you can get accepted directly into a strong doctoral program after your bachelor’s, that is often the most efficient path. The exception is if you need the master’s to transition fields or boost qualifications.
Discuss options with trusted mentors and advisors. Look at your target PhD programs’ expectations and admission stats. If appropriate for your field and goals, taking the direct entry path can shave years off your time to completion.
With careful planning, you can decide if tacking on an extra master’s degree before the PhD is truly necessary or just an additional hurdle on your academic journey. Chart your course wisely and efficiently. Your future self with thank you!
Disadvantages of Applying to a PhD without A Masters
Although a Masters degree will add a year onto your academic journey, it can be incredibility helpful for your development and can help prepare you for a doctoral degree.
Not having a Master’s degree may prove to be a hindrance during your application process. This is because many other students will also apply to the same research projects, and it’s likely that the majority will hold a Masters. This will put you at a disadvantage to them.
Besides this, the dissertation project you’ll be required to undertake on a Master’s programme will provide you with a taste of what it is like to work on a research-based project. In addition to this, it’s likely that you’ll be able to select your own dissertation topic. As such, you can explore a specific field you’re interested in in further detail. This is a great way to confirm that both research-based work and the specific field you’re interested in are right for you before committing the next few years to it via a PhD.
Another advantage to the dissertation project associated with a Masters degree is the opportunity it provides you with to work closely with a project supervisor. This will help you understand the PhD student-supervisor relationship and communication frequency that works best for you. You can then use this knowledge to find supervisors who would compliment you when it comes time to find a PhD project to apply to. For tips on how to find a great PhD supervisor, check out our supervisor guide.
PhD without a Bachelors – Is It Possible?
Yes, it is possible to get a PhD without a Bachelor’s, however, this is extremely uncommon.
When this occurs, it is almost always reserved for very mature individuals. For example, an individual may not be in active academia but still may have significantly contributed to their field. This contribution could be through the work they have undertaken as part of their career, or as part of a long-term study project, they have undertaken out of self-interest.
In either case, the individual would need to prove that they have extensive experience in their field and have directly contributed to new knowledge within it. The key factor here is that their work has pushed the boundaries of existing knowledge. It is not enough for an individual to be regarded as an expert in their field – they must have contributed something new and meaningful. It’s common for individuals awarded a PhD through this means to have produced several publications within their lifetime. It’s also common for the individual to have gained several professional accreditations within their field before even being considered suitable for a PhD research degree.
Do You Need a Masters to Get Into a Doctoral Program? (VIEWER QUESTION)
Do I need a master’s to get a PhD?
Do you need a master’s to get a Ph.D.? A master’s degree is typically not a requirement to enroll in a Ph.D. program. Earning your master’s degree may provide benefits if you choose to do so, however it is rarely a requirement of entering a Ph.D. program.
Does a master’s degree transfer to a PhD?
Many new doctoral students find that their master’s coursework doesn’t transfer. If you enroll in a master’s program recognize that it will likely not make a dent in your required doctoral coursework. Your PhD will likely take an additional 4 to 6 years after earning your master’s degree. Con: A master’s degree is usually unfunded.
Is a master’s degree better than a PhD?
Master’s degrees are shorter but less likely to be funded. Both master’s degrees and PhDs lead to increased salaries upon graduation. While PhDs usually earn a bit more than those with a master’s degree, in some fields, the wages are identical, meaning that no financial benefit is gained from going on to a PhD.
Can you get a PhD from an undergraduate degree?
In the USA, it’s fairly common for students to go straight from their undergraduate degree to a PhD. This is because universities will usually award PhD candidates a Masters degree on their way to achieving their final doctorate.
