The United States of America is not only the most sought-after study destination in the world but also offers a unique experience to international students from all over the world. When compared to other countries, graduate programs in the USA are relatively more structured based on major and minor degrees that facilitate extensive training along with independent research.
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What is a Ph.D.?
Ph.D. is an acronym for Doctor of Philosophy. It is a globally recognized postgraduate academic degree that requires students to complete a thesis or dissertation based on thorough and original research in their field of study.
In most countries, a Ph.D. degree is a minimum qualification that qualifies an individual to teach their chosen subject in the universities or work as an expert in their chosen field.
How do Ph.D. Programs Work?
Generally, the length of a Ph.D. program is three to four years in which a student works on an original research project presented as a thesis or dissertation. The Ph.D. programs differ from the universities’ requirements, while some universities require a student to submit a publication and not course work, others may ask for both to meet their criteria for selection.
Along with the research project, the students are also required to give a viva or oral presentation for their Ph.D. in front of the examiners and research students, which lasts for about two to three hours.
Important Study in USA Articles
Admission Requirements for Indian Students
To get admission into Ph.D. programs in the USA, students are required to fulfill the following criteria:
- An honors degree
- A master’s degree with excellent academic performance
- Proof of language proficiency in which a student intends to study, if it is English then IELTS or TOEFL scores are needed
- Academic/ Employment references
- Personal statements
- Ph.D. research proposals
Note: There may be some additional admissions requirements that students may be required to meet depending on the program they are applying into.
Top Universities in the USA for PhD
Some of the top universities in the USA that offer PhD programs are listed below
University QS WUR Ranking 2022 Top disciplines Tuition fees California Institute of Technology – Caltech 6 Biology and Biological Engineering Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Engineering and Applied Science Humanities and Social Sciences $58,467 Harvard University 5 Accounting & Management Business Economics Health Policy (Management) Marketing $50,928 Stanford University 3 Engineering Humanities and Sciences Medicine Business $98,102/ year Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1 Aeronautics and Astronautics Architecture Biological Engineering Biology $27,755 Princeton University 20 Philosophy Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Neuroscience $ 56,010 (a SHP Fee of $2,780 in absentia or holding dissertation completion enrolment (DCE) status) University of California, Berkeley 32 Accounting Finance Marketing Real Estate $17,799 (First Semester Fee) $17,674 (Continuing Semester Fee) Yale University 14 Arts & Sciences Engineering & Applied Science Architecture Art $45,700 University of Chicago 10 Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Cell and Molecular Biology Immunology Precision Health $19,662 Columbia University 19 Business Journalism Nursing Social Work $25,248/ semester Johns Hopkins University 25 Business Arts & Sciences Engineering Medicine $ 40,000 to $ 65000 (varies as per chosen field)
Cost of Living in the USA
Along with the tuition fees for Ph.D. programs, students should acquaint themselves with the estimated living costs to sustain themselves.
In general, living expenses include accommodation costs, utilities, transportation, and food expenses. Although the cost of living varies with the territory a student chooses to reside in, the average costs for each category are enlisted in the table below:
Category Costs Utility costs 50 to 100 USD / month Accommodation costs On campus accommodation – 450 USD/month Off campus accommodation – 600 USD to 3,000 USD/month Food expenses 450 to 600 USD/ month Transportation costs 45 to 100 USD/ month
Alternatives to a PhD
There are many alternatives to research degree in which the research conducted by the students gets published in peer-reviewed journals. One form of such research degree is called MD (Doctor of medicine) and is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in some countries.
Some universities offer dual degree programs that offer both professional and research training. These programs are called MD-PhD programs. Medical professionals willing to make their career in research can opt for these programs. Other degrees in the USA that are similar to a Ph.D. are as follows:
- Doctor of Science (DSc)
- Doctor of Juridical Science
- Doctor of the Science of Law and Doctor of Theology
Funding and Work Opportunities
Although the USA shares a reputation of being the most expensive country for higher education, there also exist excellent opportunities to fund one’s Ph.D. Some of these opportunities come in the form of fully funded Ph.D. programs that remit all the tuition fee expenses. To fund your Ph.D. journey, you need to bear in mind some of the key points that are listed below:
If you are an international student you will not be charged more than the state student in public universities. Private universities do not differentiate between state and international students. Also, many universities have the provision of full-ride Ph.D. scholarships dedicated solely to meritorious students that cover their tuition fees and living expenses. Fulbright commission offers several funding opportunities for international students to execute their research in the USA. USA nationals can avail of federal loans to complete their research in the USA.
When it comes to work and employment opportunities, many universities offer assistantships to their Ph.D. students. This is a form of employment opportunity wherein there is a fee waiver or a stipend in return for the fulfillment of a selection of responsibilities. Some of the assistantships are as follows:
- Graduate Teaching Assistantship
- Administrative Assistantship
- Fellowships
- Research Assistantship
Besides this, there is a graduate research fellowship program run by the National Science Foundation. This federal grant scheme is limited to talented STEM graduates in the USA providing them with multiple benefits like a $34,000 annual stipend and tuition fee allowance of $12,000 for three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average cost for pursuing a Ph.D. degree differs from university to university. It also depends on the status of the students whether he or she forms a part of in-state or out-of-state students. In the case of in-state students, it costs approx $12,410 for a year. For out-of-state or international students the cost is higher than $12,410.
There are myriad work opportunities for a student pursuing a Ph.D. He can enroll in the assistantship programs sponsored by the same university and teach the graduate students and in exchange, he can earn a stipend. Apart from this, they can also enroll themselves in various research-based work or administrative work. The average cost of expenditure varies on an individual basis. However, the estimate falls under the range of $93,226 or more(including tuition fees, accommodation, food, etc ) each year. There are many premier institutes in the USA to pursue a Ph.D. based on your area of interest like Harvard University, University of Chicago, Yale University, and Johns Hopkins University to name a few.
What is the average cost of a Ph.D. from the USA?
What are the work opportunities during the Ph.D.?
What is the average cost of expenditure that one incurs when pursuing a Ph.D. in the USA?
What are some of the premier institutes in the USA to pursue a Ph.D. from?
Also Read:
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- A guide on IELTS Score to study in the USA
- Here are 50 Interesting Facts about the USA
- Key Requirements for Studying in the USA
- A guide to settle in the USA from India!
- All about the cost of studying in the USA!
- Part-Time Job Options in the USA for International Students
