MPhil vs PhD: Difference and What to pursue after Masters?

Master of Philosophy is known as “MPhil” and the full form of PhD is “Doctor of Philosophy”. Although both degrees are similar and have a great importance in their respective fields, there are several factors that differentiate them. These factors include the admission procedure, course duration, course structure and many more. While PhD is by far the most popular research degree across the world, students can also explore other research degrees like MPhil, Doctor of Science, Doctor by Judicial Science, and so on.

Between MPhil vs PhD, many students choose an MPhil degree, which is a 1 to 2 years research based programme and is seen as a first step towards a PhD. However, most students are either not aware or are confused about the degrees and MPhil vs PhD difference. As so many international students often face the dilemma of choosing between MPhil vs PhD. In this article, we explain the basics of both MPhil and PhD degrees and help students in solving the MPhil vs PhD conundrum.

What is a PhD?

The PhD or Doctor of Philosophy is one of the highest levels of degree that a student can achieve in his/her academic credentials. A PhD is a Doctorate degree which can be attained through detailed research on a subject, following which the researcher is required to submit a thesis describing the result of her research. Usually, a PhD can be taken up after Master's and MPhil.

However, in certain cases, students can pursue PhD after bachelors as it is prevalent in the USA. As the name suggests, a PhD is a doctorate degree and is mainly pursued by those who are interested in a career in academics. There is no specific time frame for a PhD However, it generally takes upwards of 3 years to complete a PhD which can go up to 7 to 10 years. A PhD is usually undertaken under an academician, working under a university or otherwise, who is known to have enough research experience to guide the PhD candidate.

What is an MPhil degree?

The Master of Philosophy which is the full form of MPhil is a structured research degree that allows students to take up research-oriented studies for 1 or 2 years. It is an intermediate degree between a Master's and a PhD and is sometimes seen as a first step towards a Doctorate. In MPhil, students learn the fundamentals of research work and may actually investigate the research of others rather than taking up their own research. An MPhil degree is more common in the field of Arts and Humanities, with many universities offering it as a replacement for a Ph.D.

Again, an MPhil degree is not necessarily a research degree. In cases like that of Cambridge University, MPhil replaces the one-year Masters’ degree and has more coursework content. However, in other cases, the MPhil degree's structure is inclined more towards research or the study of it.

MPhil vs PhD

While the inclination of both PhD and MPhil is towards research, both are far from being similar degrees. Two of the major difference between PhD and MPhil are, of course, their lengths and content structure. The table below highlights MPhil vs PhD difference in terms of length, content, guidance and more.

Difference between PhD and MPhil

After Masters Degree What Next: MPhil or PhD?

Generally speaking, pursuing a Master's or PhD depends on the interest of the student. Both are research-oriented programmes and lead to different qualifications. Since an MPhil is intermediate to a PhD, many students pursue it as preparation for a PhD.

It has, however, been observed that MPhil degrees are mostly offered in the field of Arts and Humanities while STEM-related fields focus more on Ph.D. Further, MPhil courses are rare and not all universities offer an MPhil degree while most universities, especially research intensive ones, offer research opportunities in at least some of the subjects.

MPhil vs PhD: How to apply?

• For PhD, the best way to apply is by searching research opportunities in specific departments and writing to them asking for opportunities.
• While Master's is a must for many universities, many even accept bachelor's students, provided the student can show credentials that are impressive enough for the faculty members.
• PhD aspirants are required to submit a research proposal and their doctorate depends on whether the research proposal is accepted and an academician at a university is willing to take the student under her.
• For application to MPhil, the requirements vary along with the universities. Since an MPhil degree does not require a dissertation; students are not required to submit a research proposal for the same.
• In fact, the process of applying for an MPhil is more often the same as for Master's. However, the university will look into your research interest during screening.
• Also, as in PhD, when you apply, it helps to have majored in the same subject that you wish to pursue your MPhil in.

Here are few ways to apply for PhD across the world:

• How to apply for Phd in the UK?

• How to apply for Phd in the USA?