A PhD in the US

Want to do PhD program in the US after your Dutch bachelor’s or master’s? In America, students can go directly into a PhD program after their bachelor’s degree. In the first years, you follow education at the graduate level, earning a master’s degree as part of the PhD track.

The U.S higher education system has two graduate degrees: the master’s degree and the PhD degree. To be admitted to a graduate program, you need at least a US bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree from another country. A master’s degree or PhD program, unlike a bachelor’s degree, is specialized in nature. There are about 1,500 institutions in the US that offer graduate degrees in a wide variety of fields.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, you can apply for a master’s, or you can start directly with a PhD program in the US. Unlike in the Netherlands, in the US it is not always necessary to obtain a separate master’s degree before starting a PhD program. You can also apply directly to a PhD program. The first two years of a PhD program are similar to a master’s program. Do you already hold a master’s degree in the field in which you want to pursue a PhD? If so, you may be partially exempted from taking courses.

When pursuing a PhD program, there are plenty of opportunities to receive funding from the university. For example, you can work as a teaching or research assistant. The university will then finance (part of) your tuition fees and a monthly living allowance.

How to go about it?

Finding a suitable American university requires good preparation. Enrollment at an American university differs substantially from enrollment at a Dutch university. You must take into account that it takes a lot of time, effort, and money to complete your enrollment at an American university. It is wise to start preparing at least a year before you want to leave.

In the application process, you largely follow the roadmap as described for a master’s program. You can find this roadmap in the following.

Fulbright flyer optie 1

Step 1

Explore your possibilities

18 to 12 months before the start of your studies

Once you have decided that you want to pursue a master’s or PhD program in the US, finding a suitable university is an intensive, fun, and often surprising process. With nearly 1,500 institutions, there are many different options. In addition, there are great differences between universities. Doing good research certainly takes time, but it will pay off in the end.

 

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Step 2

Financing your studies

12 months before the start of your studies

Think about your budget and funding options early on. It is tempting to focus on admission first, but if you wait until after your admission to find funding, in most cases you will be too late to successfully arrange it. Realize that there are strict cut-off dates for applying for financial aid, often before you are certain of your admission.

 

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Step 3

Prepare your application

12 months before the start of your studies

It takes at least a year to successfully complete your application to a US university. Have you shortlisted universities? Then make a list of deadlines for each university and what is required for your application, such as what admission tests you need to take, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. Based on this, set up a schedule to turn in each of these materials on time.

 

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Step 4

Submit your application

9 to 7 months before the start of your studies

Naturally, all parts of the application must be received by the university before the closing date. Each institution has its own closing dates. The deadlines are generally between November and April prior to the academic year in which your studies begin. Check with the institution what the exact deadlines are and, based on your shortlist, plan your application and financial aid application deadlines for each institution.

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Step 5

Pre-departure preparations

3 to 4 months before departure

Will you be leaving for the US? The university will be able to offer you more information about the follow-up procedure and what other documents you will need. What you need varies from institution to institution. Most universities have mandatory orientation days for new international students prior to the academic year. In addition to applying for your student visa, you will need to arrange a number of things before departure. For example, it is important to have good insurance in the US.

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