The difference between a PhD and a Masters

My rule of thumb…. Bachelors in a subject means you understand the basics. Masters in a subject means you’re grounded. Doctorate is a subject means you can teach the subject

She broke this down soooo smooth

Great explanation although to add, there appears to be a difference between American and European Masters. In the latter, a Masters is expected to contribute to academic knowledge too and in many cases forms the academic foundation for one’s PhD topic later one.

The problem of postgrad is the peer review. With peer review you cannot bring new knowledge.

The elephant no one ever addresses... with tens of thousands of PhDs awarded every year, and each of those people "producing new knowledge" - where is it all going, shouldn't we have solved more things by now across all fields.

Masters = Intent; find proof; recognize the problem PhD = Action; offer proof; present solution/conclusion

masters: "we are glad you chose us, wish you all the best! you have secured a scholarship from your home country and will pay an exorbitant amount to us soon right?" phd: "we pay you this puny little salary, now start publishing slave!"

Gotta share this with my clients who do not understand why I charge double for PhD research assistance. PhD has so much more in-depth research that really requires you to master the subject and decipher gaps, then propose a solution.

Got people in the comments who got their GEDs on the 3rd try saying she doesn't know what she's talking about

What she has explained as PhD is actually a Masters degree in Kenya. At least for those of us in Agricultural disciplines.

Wouldn't do either one tbvh

The fact that one cannot be accorded an MSc or PhD unless some bunch of experts approve means these are hogwash credentials because a student cannot rise above the "experts"

Agreed. Academic apprenticeship...

🎯 Simple Way to Understand It Master’s → “I want to specialize.” MPhil → “I want to research seriously.” PhD → “I want to become an expert and create new knowledge.”

I could add this

Good analysis but not entirely, especially the Masters part. Masters; coursework and/or research. PhD 100% research. Both has more definition and meaning/impact than my two statements above …

And AI will make both of them entirely irrelevant and utterly meaningless over the next year or two. Don't even waste your time. Oh, and most colleges and universities won't even still exist five years out from now. It's over. You can thank AI for that too.

Her definition of a PhD is masters in many countries

2 cousins with PhDs 1st wanted to work in academia until she realized the pay was actually low compared to corporate. 2nd had progressed to public school principal on Master's and just wanted a PhD so schools staff had to call her Dr. A PhD does not = smart.

There’s Master’s in dissertation 🙄

Ok but what new grounding research is a gender studies PhD doing? STEM PhDs make sense but we have too many people getting PhDs in liberal arts where all that really happening is that these people are piling up debt to enrich the university.

With the advent of AI, and especially how fast it is evolving, we all need to rethink our decisions. Soon, there may not be a need for anyone to pursue education in the traditional sense.

Mphil does the same as PhD, it is just data sample size that differs and duration. So you've got to break down the types of Master's degrees. MA,MSc,MRes, MBA,LLM are not the same as MPhil. So is PhD different from other 2 years Doctoral programs.

First time I heard a so well articulated explanation of difference between Master and PhD they're some people talented at easing concept. Thank you for sharing

Then PhDs became a source of revenue which rendered them incapable of producing anything they were theoretically designed to do. This is why Umberto Eco mocked the idea of anyone doing masters level, nay PhD level work, before they were 40.

So… you immerse yourself in Masters and lose yourself in a PhD? Got it.

👀 in Masters you are supposed to produce knowledge? Kante how is education in America when in SA, your Masters must already produce some knowledge.

How do you find a gap/contribute new knowledge where the entire discipline is entirely made up ? Like Gender studies?

Too simplistic. There differences between traditional academic masters or PhD programmes and professional masters and doctoral programme which do not fit into such a narrow distinction.

Getting a PhD no be moimoi. You need your A game

Master = in practice. PhD = in theory

Once I was ABD and was just dissertating, I came to realize that the PhD is mostly about how you're able to move about your peers in the field fluidly. You're not just knowledgeable, you're conversant.

In South Africa it’s not like that.

@JordizzleJ Professional advancement vis-a-vis Academic apprenticeship- on point !

Are you trying to put some hype on PHDs? Of the top 100 net worth entrepreneurs, I doubt if you will get many of those knowledge creators( PHD). So what is that knowledge manifesting as, if it's not creating a noticeable leadership impact in the way we live?