Masters vs PhD: Which is right for you?

Even though a PhD usually comes after you’ve finished your Masters, there are some exceptions that will allow you to transition into a PhD program.

For example, some courses offer an Honours year that will give you the option of skipping your Masters and go straight into a PhD and some programmes offer 1+3 year courses, which means that you automatically continue to pursue a PhD once you’ve graduated your Masters.

If you are deciding on whether to pursue a Masters, a PhD or perhaps both, and you have second thoughts about which option is better for you, here are few pros and cons that can help you decide.

What do you want to do?

No matter which discipline you’re studying, the biggest decision related to whether to pursue a PhD is to ask yourself about what you want to do later in your life.

If you want to to continue into academia and teaching at a university, then a PhD is the right choice. There are very small chances of get a teaching job at a university unless you have a PhD as a minimum.

The same also applies if you are looking to get a job as a researcher or a scientist. Many research institutes require a PhD level for their applicants so if you want to be a scientist of any kind, so a PhD will open those doors for you.

On the other hand, if you have no interest in teaching and working with students and would prefer working in the industry, there’s no reason for you to apply for a PhD.

For some industry jobs, even bachelor’s degree can be sufficient, but with a Masters, you’ll have a bigger chance of progress. A Masters degree will give you the additional knowledge and experience to specialise in your chosen field.