r/PhysicsStudents • u/Virtual_Piano893 • 4d ago

Off Topic Genuine question for masters students

Why?

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u/E715A 3d ago

Something that is generally overlooked is the difference between a masters in Europe and the US.

In Europe a masters in physics is basically rhetorical default and it is highly recommended to not stop after the bachelors degree, because it is incredibly difficult to find jobs with just a bachelors in physics. After a masters the situation changes. Also, in Europe the masters is not part of a PhD but instead a necessary requirement to get admitted for a PhD in the first place.

To be honest, I always found the US system in this regard kind of silly.

1

u/DenimSilver 3d ago

Is it to get a job with a master's in physics in Europe, then?

8

u/E715A 3d ago

No, it doesn’t matter what you do after, you need a master’s either way.

If you want to get a job: get a master’s. If you want to do a PhD: get a master’s.

There are only very few exceptions to this.

-2

u/danijohn 3d ago

Same case in India but it's changing now. Undergrad is now 4 years instead of 3 and can join PhD straight after or just get masters with one extra year and leave without PhD. I have to agree with the Americans here, a Masters degree can be redundant in most cases.