A little background... I did my undergraduate studies in Canada, where Experimental Psychology/Neuroscience PhD programmes typically take 5 years to complete, although i know of many bright young researchers who take 6 or even 7 years to finish. Now these are BSc -> PhD programmes that do not award a Master degree.

I've been looking at some PhD programmes in the UK recently and much to my surprise, one can complete a PhD in the UK within 3 years! I read up on it online and found that one of the reasons PhD programmes are much shorter in the UK is because there are less coursework and less teaching responsibilities required of the student.

I'm wondering if those holding a UK PhD would be at a disadvantage when compared to North American PhD graduates, as they're both trained in research but the latter would have considerably more teaching experience?

Do you have to take master first in the uk?

Within the field of Psychology, at least at the few UK universities that i have looked at, a good Honours bachelors degree meets the admission requirements for the PhD programmes.

A professor (he graduated from the US) once told me that the North American PhD takes a more developmental and coaching approach while the British PhD (including Malaysia) takes a more "exam-oriented" approach.

During the viva voce and the proposal defence, the examiners will coach you and provide critical suggestions (for the North American PhD) whereas, the environment can be very much different during the viva for a British PhD.

Interesting. My impression of a defense is where examiners grill you on your dissertation. Why you did what... What can be improved... How is the British PhD viva different, if i may ask?

I know for sure Cambridge, Oxford and all American psychology PHD programs take in students directly from undergrad. 5 years is just the estimated time it takes. It all depends on your research progression, supervisor, the board, and what you wanna do after you graduate. Most people can and are expected have done research substantial enough for a dissertation within 3 years. Your first two years will consist of taking classes and then applying for candidacy with your master's thesis and some hard ass examinations.

source: I have been doing research for two years and was about to apply for phd programs in the US. However, I decided against it for the time being and want to join the corporate world first.

This post has been edited by mumeichan: Sep 16 2013, 05:42 PM

That's what would happened in a viva but according to that Professor, he mentioned that the culture in the US is that they take a softer approach to "grill" you during the viva compared to a British PhD.

UK Phd are basically research based. Being able to lecture or tutor is incidental to the course. Most UK Phd learn to lecture on the trot after they complete their Phd. However, in most cases, doesn't seem to harm them as lecturers.

Case in point, my brother in law, obtained a first from Birmingham university in biochem. He was on a Lee Rubber scholarship at that time. After that, was awarded a scholarship by the British council to do his Phd at Imperial College, again in biochem. As this was in the early 80s when biochem was still relatively new, his Phd was supervised at both Imperial College and Cambridge, although his Phd was awarded by Imperial. I think he was one of the very few Phd students who can claim to be supervised equally by Cambridge and Imperial.

He was later headhunted by Chicago Medical Hospital on a 5 years research grant to do cancer research there. Upon completion, he was headhunted by NUS to continue his research at NUS. He's being at NUS close to 20 years now, a professor and lectures at the Medical faculty. But still does cancer research as his core there. He never tutored or lectured in his life until he arrived at NUS. However, he picked it up and was even later tasked to supervise President scholars at NUS who were doing their Phds. President scholars students at NUS are the creme de la creme of students in Singapore.

Not too bad for someone who never learned to tutor or lecture whilst doing his Phd.