Postgraduate degree

[magicsiew]

Hi, for postgraduate degree, I would like to ask, is there any other method to jump from undergraduate to PhD, besides getting first class honour year?

[magicsiew]

By the way, i found that some University only take undergraduate and PhD candidate. Means for those who wish to take post graduate degree must be first class honour year or take Master degree at other university first right?

[canalon]

You might want to give a little more details about where you are coming from and where you want to apply to get a meaningful answer.
I could tell you that the system for French universities is quite different, but that might not be very helpful for you...

[magicsiew]

I am from Malaysia, few preferred places will be US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, French and Spain. My undergraduate course is 3 years (honour).

[canalon]

OK, so you might be interested in the French system then
Since I have moved to Canada I might not be fully up to date but what I can tell you should still be true.
You should find detailed informations here: http://www.campusfrance.org/en/

They also have list of grants available for resiedents of different countries there.

You first need to select the degree you are interested in pursuing, and which universities are involved. You will have to apply first for a master even if you want to go to PhD, because the first one is the door to the second. The master application is a competitive process where decision are made by looking usually at grades, but also at experience in the lab and other things (motivation,...). For example I went into a very good and demanded program while I had grades only slightly above average, because I spent a term in a lab and demonstrated interest and motivation to do research in the field I was interested in. Obviously good grades do not hurt though. Knowing one lab where you will be able to the (some of the) research part of the master program (content is different from program to program, and the amount of research involved, rotation between labs will vary) can also be very helpful.

The master takes 2 years and if you have chosen the research option you will be able to transfer to a PhD degree. That said the authorization to do a PhD depends on your ability to get funded (self funded PhD are not allowed) either through your ranking at the end of the master (each program has a variable number of PhD grants awarded on merit) or through other sort of funding (industrial, external grant awarded to a research program etc...) that allow you to go whatever your ranking (even if you rank last of a master program that can award a very limited number of grants, but you get external funding you can go on while someone with better grades that did not find fund will have to stop).

Oh, your foreign credentials will need to be validated by (one of) the university granting the degree before you can apply. So they must also be contacted when you have chosen to apply for a program.

Good luck

[Darby]

A lot of US grad schools go straight through to the PhD from an incoming Bachelor's.

[magicsiew]

OK, so you might be interested in the French system then
Since I have moved to Canada I might not be fully up to date but what I can tell you should still be true.
You should find detailed informations here: http://www.campusfrance.org/en/

Hi Canalon, I have looked through on the courses I am interested. From the admission site, I see some of the courses are taught ONLY 50% in english. However, I am interested to take Master in research, so is it matter about the language been taught? Or the 50% in english is meant for those who want to take coursework?

[magicsiew]

A lot of US grad schools go straight through to the PhD from an incoming Bachelor's.

Hi Darby, you mean they only take 1st class honour Bachelors to go straight throught to the PhD, or they got some other regulation?

[canalon]

Usually in labs everyone will more or less be able to speak english. But if there is a course requirement I have no clue how much french will be necessary. I suspect that it will depend on each master. I suggest that you contact the people in charge of the masters you are interested in.

[Julie5]

Don't know what the situation is for grad courses, but undergrads over here now in the UK are being milked for fees. Foreign students are being utterly ripped off!

Be warned!

[magicsiew]

Don't know what the situation is for grad courses, but undergrads over here now in the UK are being milked for fees. Foreign students are being utterly ripped off!

Be warned!

Yes, heard the news many students demonstrate. About the news that next year tuition fee will raise 3 times, is it really going to implement?

[Kezzer]

hey, obviously depends which education system you want to go for a PhD in, but I know quite a few people that have gone straight from Bachelors who haven't got a first but a 2.1 instead.
And yes it is true as of 2012 tuition fees for undergraduate courses will be up to £9000 per year!
I take it you are looking for a funded PhD?