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Graduate school presentation

Graduate school presentation. Types of graduate programs. Taught master's Some are professionally oriented – e.g. medical physics programs, nuclear physics programs aimed at nuclear power industry Research master's Usually called MPhil Euromasters Combination of both

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Graduate school presentation

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  1. Graduate school presentation

  2. Types of graduate programs • Taught master's • Some are professionally oriented – e.g. medical physics programs, nuclear physics programs aimed at nuclear power industry • Research master's • Usually called MPhil • Euromasters • Combination of both • Through Sepnet, or go to Europe through a Mundus Erasmus program • PGCE • Required for teaching in state schools, not always required for private schools • PhD

  3. In which subjects can physics graduates apply? • No trouble to apply in physics • Nor applied physics, engineering physics, where offered • Engineering, geology/geophysics, math, chemistry may be options in some cases

  4. Other nations? • In most countries, funded PhD positions are open more or less equally to students of all nationalities. • In the UK, the situation is more restrictive, but if you're an EU citizen and a graduate of a British university, you should be eligible • In most of Northern Europe, and selected places elsewhere, you can live quite well and work entirely without any problems just speaking English • Example: me – I lived 2 ½ years in the Netherlands and understand about 50 words of Dutch • In general, the programs are longer in foreign countries, for all the advantages and disadvantages that has • i.e. You will be older when you finish, but with a more substantive level of experience and skill • Teaching and coursework requirements may be larger, especially in the USA • American PhD programs assume only a bachelor's degree, and you do a master's first, followed by a PhD • May be more opportunities to pick your own topic • If interested, also check out EU network positions • High salaries!! • Obviously there are cultural adjustments and issues about being away from home that deserve serious consideration if you decide to move abroad for a few years. It can be exciting or stressful depending on your personality and where you go.

  5. How to choose an institution • Talk to your tutor, final year project coordinator, etc. • Ask other academics in the department as well • Often, better to choose the supervisor than the institution • Ask former grad students of the potential supervisor, your tutor, other trusted academics for advice • E.g. there are many “dead weight” researchers at famous universities, and many excellent ones at some of the ex-polytechnics • Don't rule out staying in Southampton, but also don't choose to stay here just because it's the easiest thing to do • The programs are quite good here, but there are other places that are good, too, and which have different specializations • If you stay here, it should be because the research here is what you really want to do - you will make new friends if you go somewhere else, so don't let comfort sway you too much

  6. Procedural issues • UK PhD programs: get applications in by end of January for full considerations • Taught master's courses: application deadlines vary • Often take students quite late in the year, but don't count on it • International PhDs • USA: must take GRE tests, application deadlines vary, but typically Jan 1. • Europe: most places treat PhD places like jobs, advertised throughout the year • A few notable exceptions – Max Planck International Research schools, for example.

  7. While applying • Choose your references carefully, and also give them plenty of notice • Ideally, bring them addressed envelopes for all the letters you will need sent on paper • Think carefully about the statements you need to write • For undergraduate applications, grades are all that matters • This is not true for postgrad applications

  8. What criteria are used? • Varies widely • Different supervisors want different things • e.g. If you've done very well in labs, but poorly in heavily mathematical courses, you could be attractive for experimental physics places over someone with a higher grade average, but who did less well in labs and better in theory/math courses • Interviews for most PhD places • Want to see evidence of a depth of understanding, and a “spark” of creativity • Past research placements are very helpful to PhD applications • Taught master's courses will usually admit based on paper

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