<p>I am an international student who's applying for graduate school (Ph.D. Computer Science), and I just submitted a couple of applications to some US universities; a couple of weeks back I also applied to Monash University, Australia and I've just received news from them that I've been accepted with a full scholarship. They want me to accept it before 9th January, which would be long before I can hear anything from the US universities. </p>
<p>While a full scholarship sounds nice, the fact that the Australian Ph.D. is only 3 years bothers me. My guess is that an Australian Ph.D. would be looked down at in the US. I applied to Monash in the first place because a 3 year Ph.D. sounded nice, but now I am beginning to worry about the quality of a 3-year Ph.D. I would like to end up someday doing exciting research, and the US seems to be the place where the best research is happening.</p>
<p>Monash is a well respected university worldwide. However, if you intend to do research or move into the United States after your degree, I would wait for the US results. Don't pursue something which will lead you down a road you would not prefer. A US PhD is looked upon as the most rigorous PhD degree</p>
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Assuming that you wouldn't start in February, you can always accept the offer and come up with an excuse if you get a better offer in April...
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<p>Not to be rude to VastlyOverrated, but never never do this. </p>
<p>This kind of question has come up a lot, and I think the best approach is to just be honest, always. Look, schools aren't stupid. They know you're applying to more than one place. Monash is apparently very interested in you and would love for you to commit by January 9th, but that doesn't mean that's a hard and fast deadline. I would write them a nice e-mail thanking them for their offer, explaining that you are seriously considering it but are also waiting to hear from a number of other schools, some of which may not make decisions until April, and ask them for more time. The very worst they could say is no, but unless there is some Australian financial aid deadline that I don't know about, I highly doubt that they will.</p>
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While a full scholarship sounds nice, the fact that the Australian Ph.D. is only 3 years bothers me.
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I don't know anything specific about Australia, but most countries require the equivalent of a Master's degree before you may start working on a PhD. In the US students typically enroll in a PhD program with only a Bachelor's degree and take Masters-level classes in the PhD program. That's why American PhDs take longer to complete than foreign PhDs.</p>
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I don't know anything specific about Australia, but most countries require the equivalent of a Master's degree before you may start working on a PhD.
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Hence my worry; An M.Sc. is not required, though it would be a plus if the applicant has one (I don't have one). Only a four-year Bachelor's Degree is minimally required to apply.</p>
<p>I've read that outside the US, PhD students often do not take classes for the first couple of years as we do here, but already have an outline for their dissertation when accepted and jump straight into research. So this Australian school may be operating the way we would if quals were included in the admissions process instead of two years down the line. Of course, I don't have any personal experience, and this may mostly be because students are required to receive masters degrees first.</p>
<p>To answer the question, though, I agree with the poster who suggested contacting the school and asking that your final answer be given after the results from other schools have come in. They may say that, in that case, other candidates for the scholarship who reply in January will be given priority, but it's better than giving a definite yes only to receive an acceptance letter from a school you'd be happier at later.</p>
<p>tkm256 and New_User:
Yeah, that's what I've decided also. The first thing is to contact Monash and see how much leverage I can get - then I can take it from there.</p>
<p>p.s. If anyone has any idea about the quality/standard of an Australian Ph.D., please provide info.</p>