The REAL difference between a PhD and a Masters

In this video, I share with you the real difference between a PhD and a Masters. If you are thinking about going to grad school here is everything you need to know.

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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – learn versus generate
2:16 – thinking
4:14 –more and more about less and less
5:48 – Return on investment
7:12 – writing

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▼ ▽ TOOLS

[willerwin]

A master's degree demonstrates mastery of a subject. A PhD demonstrates mental imbalance in the pursuit of that subject.

[robertnelson]

What's important for us to understand/remember when we are on the doctoral journey (I'm going to finish next year) is that the thesis or dissertation is simply an artefact - the most valuable output is ourselves as practitioners in our chosen fields.

[kkhalifah]

I really enjoyed my grad school, because by then I already had 20 years of experience working in an industry that was directly related to my field of study. Having seen the value of being able to relate in a practical manner the stuff I learned during my coursework with what I actually do at work, I wanted more of it. As it turned out, as an alternative to a PhD now there's also the DBA, a different kind of terminal degree that focuses on exactly that. And so here I am today, a part-time doctoral student at age 50 hoping to write a dissertation that might ultimately serve as the groundwork for a business venture I'm thinking to go into post retirement. Return of investment? Hell yeah!

[s-kayebrown]

Thanks for this Andy. Amazing insights as always!

[jc-tupg]

andy you give such great insights that could only have come from someone who has gone through the fire himself! thank you!

[MD-eymn]

My Master is not about passing exams at all. All our exams are made to initiate us to the way of doing research. This is my 1st semester and our "final exams" are essays, annotated bibliographies, detailed thesis plans, and long or short "research papers" (+ 2 translation exams from French to English/Spanish and English/Spanish to French).
I know it's very different from some other masters as this one is specially designed for students planning to start a PhD in American/English/Spanish literature/history afterwards.
Its name is Masters ALC (Arts, Literature (and languages) and Civilisation). The version available at my Uni is called LLPC as Lettres, Langues, Patrimoine and Civilisation (= Letters, Languages, Heritage and Civilization in English).
It's really, really broad and we have classes related to Mythology (Greek and Roman mostly), Short Forms, History and Historiography, Translation, etc. even Psychology!

[miguelsamudio]

Me going for my PhD even though I'm a terrible writer. 👁👄👁

[mplws]

Brilliant video Andy!
Maybe do a video too on what’s out there for someone who is thinking on doing their Masters. MA MSc MPhil/PhD. These were the usual questions . Thank you!

[AyeYanna]

Currently in my master’s (MSW) and we write more than taking tests or exams, so maybe it depends on the field you choose. For example, we would write a paper integrating the textbook and other recent research to show we understand the topic rather than take an exam. Also, we have a dedicated research class every semester of the two years, likely to prepare us for a PhD program or program evaluation jobs (e.g. program director).

[infinite-ichthyologist]

Looking at the Return on Investment section... I would love to see a video about how to choose a valuable Masters!

[zmesopotamia]

Based on my experience, at the beginning of your PhD you look at other finished theses and feel hopeless as they vary between 150 to 600 pages (on average) while you don't have even a single draft 😁. Then when you get deeply involved in the research you start realising that the least issue to be worried about is writing as it will automatically goes on along your progress.

[peggy]

THANK YOU, that viedo makes me think carefully about whether i want to get a phd.

[ThomasFlynnPresentations]

Can you make a video on how you can use your time as a researcher to create a YouTube account and share knowledge please? Also, information on CPMs for channels in the education niche.

[elrumisa]

Throughout my Bachelors & Masters I really didn't like studying different fields that weren't related to my area of interest. I've actually enjoyed the "diving into the unknown" part of research and had been told "leave that for your PhD" more times than I can remember. So according to this comparison I believe doing a PhD would be something that I'd "enjoy!" maybe!

[TheRenaissanceAmazon]

I’m in a M.S. program in the states and we don’t take a lot of exams. We have to analyze research, write essays, etc.

[Kenleaty]

So...PhD has quite a bit of writing, right?

[joev]

I think this might be slightly different in the US vs the UK. I almost never took an exam in my grad school work in the US but mostly was graded on review and synthesis of previous research.

[joshh.]

Every PhD I've talked to said unless I'm planning on going into academia or already well established in industry a PhD's not worth it. Glad I learned that early

[jennifernicole]

History major here…our masters in the US at least, is ALL writing and reading. No exams, I rather write a thesis than take a test. 😂

[edgarrodriguez]

Here in Colombia is not like that, MS are more alike to doctorates. In fact is expected that one publishes 1 article, in the doctorate there are 2 or 3 articles, that's the difference.