<p>Hi guys, I am an international student admitted into a master program. After visiting webpages of universities, I find that most MS students go to work directly after graduation. Little of them go on for a higher degree. I wonder does this indicate that having a master can not help you apply for PhD? Someone tells me that master students' life is filled with courses as a result you have no chance to get some research experience....</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!:)</p>
<p>If you get a MS prior to getting a PhD, better take the thesis version…</p>
<p>My program says that a thesis is optional… The time is 2 years only after all, I get a bit worried</p>
<p>I was in an M.Phil. program when applying for a Ph.D. program in the US. Having a master degree is absolutely not necessary. You should find out whether you can switch to a Ph.D. program directly. Indeed, I did not finish my master thesis as I found it not important. Most students will go directly to a Ph.D. program if that is their ultimate goal. In my graduate school, there were around 1/3 of the students did not pass the qualifying exam and got a master degree at the end.</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply. But what if I wana to apply for a PhD program in another university?</p>
<p>You may apply any time. Again, an MS degree does not help your application. Most MS students do not plan to further study afterward. I have a friend went for a Master program in the US right after college. Because a problem in his project and he could not finish his thesis within 2 years. He ended up spent 3 years for the master program and then 5+ years for the PhD. So you better think it through. It was a hard decision for me when I gave up my MPhil degree after 2 years, but it do not regret at all when I look back.</p>
<p>It really depends on the field. In some areas of Biology and some Engineering departments, a Masters degree (with thesis) is actually required. In physics and chemistry it is not a requirement but is not a hindrance either. We have a number of students who come to the IIT physics program for a Masters degree who move on to another school for the Ph.D., even without a thesis. Since the coursework for the M.S. and Ph.D. is more or less the same in physics, it is possible for students to move right into research after a Masters.</p>