How to choose postgraduate study in a foreign university: science, career, emigration

This material is provided to us a constant reader of Marat Afzalovym, the head of an educational site OnCampus.ru.

For some post-graduate courses abroad - it is an opportunity to fully engage in science, for others - a stage in his career, for the third - the path of emigration. Whatever the reasons, there are a number of factors, which are recommended to be taken into account when choosing a foreign graduate school. Consider at first sight the most obvious of them, but which can greatly affect your experience of studying in a foreign university.

Specialization program

Specialization programs are not always obvious. For example, the candidate received basic higher education in the field of psychology, but plans to enroll in US graduate in the field of experimental psychology. In the US, there are hundreds of programs in the field of experimental psychology and even though their names are the same, they are often specific, more narrow specialization. If this information is not available anywhere else, specialization can be defined as follows: to examine the site of the Faculty research interests of scientific and teaching staff; find out how to have access to laboratories at the Department; examine curriculum. At least the above will give an idea of ​​what to expect from the training program.

Philosophy

Some PhD programs focus on basic theory and research methods, the other - on applied aspects and application of research results in practice. It is necessary to take account of this difference when filing documents. If the applicator papers on theoretical program you specify that you are most interested in applied research, the more likely you will get a refusal. With regard to the master's choice can stand in front of the regular program Taught Master's or Master's by Reasearch. The second option is more suitable for those who are planning to continue their studies in doctoral studies.

program structure

PhD program can be structured and not structured. In the first case, students first "train" on research methods and theory, and towards the end of training they start to work on my dissertation. Structured PhD programs are more typical for the American and Canadian universities. Classic unstructured doctoral programs are more common in Europe. Here, a doctoral student from the very beginning is assigned to a certain professor and working on his research topic alone or as part of the research team.

Requirements for thesis

Postgraduate programs involve writing a qualifying work - Master's or doctoral thesis. It makes sense to clarify the requirements for dissertations in the program of interest: should be the thesis It based on empirical data or she needs to be more theoretical with multi-page overview literature. The choice will depend on what is closer to your academic interests.

other factors

In addition to the above items are encouraged to explore such obvious things as sources and the ability to obtain financing, the program rating conditions for Employment Research, the location of the university.

Note: with reference to foreign graduate programs, such as Master and Doctorate (PhD), used understandable term "Graduate School," foreign exchange term "graduate school".

Copyright Shutterstock