Hey everyone, I’m a European who’s a little confused with the system in the US. Here’s why: I want to study Biological Sciences. Now I hold offers from University of Edinburgh where I would study for 4 years for a Bachelor’s degree, and University College London where I would also study for 4 years but for a joint Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
As far as my understanding goes, a Bachelor’s degree equals an undergraduate education in the US; however, I don’t quite understand where the joint Master’s+Bachelor’s degree ties into the US (undergrad, grad, postgrad) system. Because I am planning to go to grad school, and because I would like to go to the US for graduate school, I was wondering if either of the two has any disadvantages or advantages compared to the other when considering eligibility for US grad schools (I know this is a broad category, but because I’m low income I’m considering the best ones as of now)? How do US schools usually view these joint B+M degrees? Would having one shorten the amount of time I’d have to spend in grad school (considering I’d already have a Masters)? Does a 4 year Bachelor’s course provide a solid foundation needed to apply to US unis? Edinburgh is much cheaper but I believe I could make it work at UCL if the B+M degree is a much better investment
What is the goal of your education? If you wish to become a University professor in the biological sciences you will require a Phd (or DPhil in the UK). If you wish to become the PI in a biological research lab, you will require a Phd. If you want to work in industry at a level below that of a PI, or teach at a level below university, a masters may be sufficient. In the US and the UK, a bachelor’s is sufficient to apply to a Phd or DPhil program. Completing a master’s before going on to a Phd can be done, and some Phd/DPhil programs grant Master’s degrees after the first two or three years of the program. Generally speaking, any graduate level coursework taken that is applicable to the field of study for which you are pursuing a Phd/DPhil can reduce the amount of coursework needed while enrolled in the Phd/DPhil program. Whether that actually reduces the amount of time spent enrolled as a graduate student is not particularly clear, as the main determinate of the length of study is frequently the progress of your research/dissertation.
Joint BS/MS programs are usually special offerings that allow undergraduate students to earn a master’s in the same amount of time - or slightly more - than they would earn a BS. While you’re at the school you’re often considered an undergrad for registration/tuition purposes the whole time, but when you graduate your master’s degree isn’t really considered differently than a master’s degree earned independently.
Having a master’s may shorten the amount of time you spend in a PhD program, but not by very much. If the department deems it, they may allow you to count some of the graduate courses in your MS program to substitute for requirements in the PhD program, but often PhD programs don’t allow you to do this for more than around 9 credits (which is about a semester’s worth). A few programs may grant you a year. But time to degree in PhD programs is variable and not super dependent on the coursework.
Yes, a BS provides a solid foundation for a PhD program in the U.S. You don’t need an MS here.
It depends on what your endgame is. A Master’s is considered a graduate degree, so earning one in the combined program would fulfill your grad school desire. However if you wish to do a PhD in the US, either program would be fine, but a Master’s is not a requirement.
You don’t need a master’s to enter a PhD program in the US. I know in Canada many schools require you to get a masters, or have equivalent coursework/preparation, before they will consider you for a PhD. I’m not sure about other countries.