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Bypass masters and get PhD instead - Seagull - 02-11-2021

I remember reading way back some article on this.

Is it possible? 

Have only capstone left to complete and then on to graduate programs.
At first wanted to get a grad certificate if it is worth having. With only 12 credits feels doable. But I remembered reading of students bypassing the masters and wondered how it can be done.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - Supermind - 02-11-2021

You don’t actually bypass a Master’s. Some universities offer an integrated Master’s + PhD program that extends for 4-5 years. But after 2 years in the integrated program, upon successfully completing the requirements, you may apply for a Master’s degree. The difference is that you are not enrolling for a terminal Master’s degree program; the terminal degree is a PhD in such cases. Many Ivy League Grad schools typically offer such integrated programs for Psychology.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - nyvrem - 02-11-2021

just do a PhD from a UK university ?

it's 3 years.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - Supermind - 02-11-2021

(02-11-2021, 03:39 AM)nyvrem Wrote: just do a PhD from a UK university ?

it's 3 years.
To the best of my knowledge, a Master’s degree is required to enroll in such programs.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - nyvrem - 02-11-2021

Quote:Entry requirements

You must hold a UK undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree with at least First Class or Upper Second-Class honours or an equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas institution.

From the U of Leicester website. (just took it off their Management PhD page, theres other fields as well)

Also from the U of Leicester website.

Quote:International Distance Learning

  • Starting in 2020/21 academic year: £24,930 (Total course fee)

that's around 35k USD for the whole program

https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/research-subjects/management


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - Alpha - 02-11-2021

I think there is another factor at play here, regardless of whether you are applying to a US or a British program.  Many of these programs have competitive admissions.  There are a limited number of open slots.  This is common in PhD programs because each candidate must have a doctoral advisor, a committee, etc.  While the admissions criteria may not state explicitly that a Masters is required for admission to the Doctoral program, if you apply with just a Bachelors you may find yourself going head to head with a bunch of people who already have grad degrees.  In that case there may need to be something very special about you or your degree/university in order to win that competition and be awarded a slot.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - innen_oda - 02-11-2021

(02-11-2021, 12:08 AM)Seagull Wrote: I remember reading way back some article on this.

Is it possible? 

Have only capstone left to complete and then on to graduate programs.
At first wanted to get a grad certificate if it is worth having. With only 12 credits feels doable. But I remembered reading of students bypassing the masters and wondered how it can be done.

Seagull, sorry you got such bad advice in this thread.

In the UK (and Australia), 'bypassing' a master degree is quite typical and wouldn't even raise an eyebrow. (In fact, it wouldn't even be seen as 'bypassing'; rather, the master pathway is bypassing the typical route, for those without the grades for honours.)

Bachelor degrees are generally 3 years. Honours is 1 year. Master degrees are 1-2 years. PhDs are . . . well, however long it takes you.

So if you want to do a PhD, you have two main options:
Bachelor + honours. (3 years plus 1 year)
Bachelor + masters. (3 years plus 1-2 years)

The honours pathway is more competitive because it's generally more respected (or perhaps it's the other way around!). Getting into a master's degree is a little bit easier, particularly if you stuff up a bit during your undergrad years and don't have the GPA necessary (grad certs and grad dips are frequently open to anyone with an bachelor degree, for example).

Remember that US undergrad degrees and UK undergrad degrees are quite different in structure. In the UK, your bachelor is 3 years of full specialisation in the subject matter (with a few elective subjects), while in the US, the first two years are gen eds, and then 'only' two years of specialised study. So where Americans are doing specialisation in their Masters, much of the rest of the Anglo world has done that specialisation already in their honours undergrad.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - ss20ts - 02-11-2021

Totally depends on the school and program. Many PhD programs in the US aren't even open to you without a master's degree. The master's degree is quite often a requirement for admission. Frequently, you're even limited in what the master's can be in. Like I can't apply for a PhD program in history with a master's degree in mechanical engineering because I wouldn't have the required master's level history courses to catapult into the PhD program which is the next level.


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - withrown - 03-25-2021

It is possible but, your best bet for this type situation is the school your getting your bs/ba at. Like many have said technically you don't bypass it you just earn it along the way. I live in a metro area with large college with a big phd/md/dds program and I have heard a lot of folks tell their sob stories of washing out of a program and walking away with a masters.

*this is based on my experience in the US


RE: Bypass masters and get PhD instead - Ideas - 03-25-2021

Might be best to do a competency-based Masters. Versus trying to do a combined program where it is all slower traditional classes.