Master's vs. PhD: What's the Difference, and Why Go to Grad School?

After four years of hard work earning a bachelor's degree, your studies have reached a milestone, but you can still choose to keep going. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, its 2019 to 2029 job market projections list 99 occupations that require a graduate degree, and these occupations pay more than the median wage for all occupations.

So what exactly is the difference between a master's degree and a doctoral degree? And which one should you pursue?

The purpose of a PhD is to prepare for a career in academic research, though of course a PhD can also help us enter many other careers or start at a higher job level and starting salary. In the US, master's study is actually part of the doctoral program, serving as an early preparatory stage that mainly involves coursework, so college graduates can apply to PhD programs. In most other countries, applicants need a master's degree to apply for a PhD.

Master's vs. doctoral degrees: the differences (US example)

Master's or PhD: which should you choose?

The application process for master's and PhD programs

The application processes for master's and PhD programs are very similar. In general, applicants need to provide the following materials.

Preparing your graduate school application documents

Once you've worked out whether to pursue a master's or a PhD, the next step is preparing your application. When writing your application materials, always keep in mind whether the degree you've chosen is aimed at research or at building professional skills. For example, an MBA application résumé should highlight your professional and personal development. When applying for a PhD, however, you need to highlight your published journal articles and your strong passion for researching the topic further and in more depth.

Wordvice helps you with the final step of preparing your study-abroad application

Wordvice, an English editing company, offers professional English editing for study-abroad documents. Whether you're continuing your studies at home or going abroad, its industry-leading native English editors can help your application documents (essays, personal statements, recommendation letters and more) stand out. These services help make sure your graduate application documents are error-free and fully show your academic potential, so you get admitted to the master's or PhD program you want.

For more study-abroad writing tips, including how to write a graduate school statement of purpose (SOP) or how to ask for a recommendation letter, check out the Wordvice study-abroad documents blog.

Click the link for a more detailed comparison of master's and doctoral degrees.

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