UK vs US PhD
Posted by Ben C. Blackwell under
PhD Stuff [11] Comments
British/American
Here are some quick thoughts I had. I just added one other benefit for the US being a longer time period–allowing for more time to have get out a publication before graduation.
B: 3 years (give or take); A: 5+ years (while longer, the US does make it a little easier to have time to get at least one publication b4 graduation)
B: “focused”; A: “broader” (stereotypical answers). American system is broader at first through seminars, but then focused. But you are regularly exposed to different topics along the way thru the NT seminar and sitting in on MA modules. American is supposedly better preparation for teaching b/c broader, but I think it is not as either/or as it is sometimes made out to be.
B: Regular contact with others through the whole process through the NT seminar; A: Not sure, but once you get to writing it seems you are more on your own b/c no more course work. But not sure on that.
B: Uni based; A: choice of Uni or seminary. (I wanted uni based so more diversity in my education.)
B: international experience; A: not. (Though this depends on where you start from…)
Cost may be much more or may be equivalent for US person going to UK (b/c of exchange rate, and international student fees) and moving/travel costs. About = for UK to US?What have I missed?
See also my UK vs US Redivivus
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Thursday, 25 January 2007 at 4:39 am
I don’t know how you would evaluate this since you’ve not been in a US phd system, but how would you compare academic demands in both systems? That is, which system do you think fosters greater academic excellence?
Friday, 26 January 2007 at 6:10 pm
Ben,
I also came across your blog on a google. I’m interested in pursuing a PhD in the future either at Durham or possibly with Simon Gathercole. Your posts have been helpful. I’ve communicated with Dr. Barclay and Dr. Gathercole regarding the area I’d like to focus and both encouraged me to consider another degree to narrow my interest. I recently graduated with an MDiv from a fundy school (I’m a recovering fundamentalist
and have taken their suggestion to heart. My wife and I are most likely moving to Chicago this fall to begin work on either an MA with a thesis or a ThM. I was curious to see your thesis proposal. I put together about a half a page on what I was considering writing on (intertextuality and the authority of Scripture) thinking I was doing pretty well. When I saw you mention a 7000 word proposal I thought otherwise. I’d really like to see how you structure it if possible. Thanks again!
Nate
Saturday, 27 January 2007 at 12:25 am
Xav, I would like to think they are pretty comparable (or really that the UK is best since that’s what I chose). I suppose this could be tested empirically based on the % of those who get their theses published afterwards. But ultimately they both demand original, independent research.
Nate, I was talking to some of the MA students here applying to the PhD program. They were told something between 2 pages (single spaced) or 10 pages (double spaced) would be the standard expectations. Mine was a little bit of overkill, but since I hadn’t done a NT research project, I needed to show that I had developed some background in the area in order to go into the PhD program instead of having to do the MATR first and then PhD. Here’s the proposal format that a friend of mine passed on to me and that I used.
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Framing the Issues (basic readings on the topic—how people approach it)
1.3 Seeing the Problem (what’s the angle you’re looking at and which approach you take)
1.4 Justification of Study
1.5 Asking the Questions
1.6 A Working Hypothesis
1.7 Aims and Objectives
1.8 Tools for the Task
1.9 Definitions
1.10 Presuppositions
The key thing for the proposal is to clarify what questions and subquestions you are attempting to answer.
You can’t go wrong with Simon or John. Definitely let us know if you ever come over to visit. We love to host other Americans.
Saturday, 27 January 2007 at 2:56 am
Thanks a ton!
Saturday, 27 January 2007 at 4:33 am
Look, let’s face it: if you’re not doing philosophy, it doesn’t matter where you’re studying. (I wonder how long until Ben deletes this..)
PS – Ben, I got your email and am going to respond soon (I just have a few more papers to grade first)
Cheers!
Saturday, 27 January 2007 at 8:41 pm
Any suggestions for financing a UK PhD. Obviously you’re in a great spot where most of it’s taken care of, but had you given it much thought prior to receiving the fellowship?
Monday, 16 July 2007 at 3:04 pm
Here’s my post on financing…http://dunelm.wordpress.com/2007/01/28/financing-the-uk-phd/
Friday, 14 September 2007 at 9:21 am
[...] are a few posts where I and others have explored this issue: UK or US?, UK or US? redivivus and Mark Goodacre’s [...]
Friday, 8 May 2009 at 9:07 am
[...] are my old posts: 1: US vs UK 2: US vs UK, redivivus 3: SBL Forum: US vs UK [...]
Friday, 5 June 2009 at 8:10 am
[...] are my old posts: 1: US vs UK 2: US vs UK, redivivus 2: US vs UK, pt 3 4: SBL Forum: US vs UK [...]
Tuesday, 13 December 2011 at 7:43 pm
[...] between the two approaches. If you are interested in reading some of these differences you can read here, here, and, here. These are helpful summaries and were considerations that I took into account. [...]