A Master’s degree and a PhD are both postgraduate qualifications, but they serve different functions within academia. The distinction affects expectations around study, research, independence, assessment, and career pathways.
This page explains the differences as they typically operate across higher education systems, while recognising that structures vary internationally.
Purpose within higher education
A Master’s degree is designed to develop advanced knowledge and skills within an existing body of scholarship. It supports subject specialisation, professional development, and preparation for further study.
A PhD is designed to produce original research that contributes new knowledge to a field. It is widely treated as the highest academic qualification and is closely tied to the broader structure of higher education systems
and to how doctoral research is defined.
This difference in purpose shapes everything else, including structure, assessment, and the level of independence expected.
Level of study and expectations
Master’s-level work focuses on engaging critically with existing research. Students are expected to demonstrate advanced understanding, analytical ability, and the capacity to apply knowledge within established frameworks.
Doctoral-level work involves designing and carrying out independent research. PhD researchers are expected to sustain inquiry over time, situate their work within wider debates, and demonstrate an original contribution. These expectations reflect how academic knowledge is produced and how researchers are developed through formal training and evaluation processes.
The distinction is therefore not only one of duration, but of academic level and responsibility.
Structure and learning format
Most Master’s programmes combine taught elements with independent work. This often includes lectures or seminars, structured assessments, and a dissertation or final project.
Most PhDs are organised around a long-term research project. Supervision, milestones, and formal training structures shape the process, but there is usually far less prescribed teaching. This difference becomes clearer when looking closely at what doctoral study typically involves.
Duration and time commitment
Master’s degrees are typically shorter and more structured. Many take one to two years of full-time study, with part-time routes extending this in some systems.
PhDs usually require several years of sustained work. The length varies depending on discipline, country, funding model, and study mode.
Assessment and outcomes
Master’s assessment commonly includes coursework, exams, presentations, and a dissertation or project.
PhD assessment centres on the doctoral thesis and its oral defence, often referred to as a viva. The processes surrounding the doctoral defence and the range of possible outcomes after examination shape how doctoral work is ultimately evaluated.
Differences across countries and institutions
There is no single global model for either degree. Structures vary by education system and discipline.
Common variations include:
- Taught Master’s and research Master’s programmes, which differ in the balance between coursework and independent research.
- Systems that allow direct progression from undergraduate study into doctoral study without a prior Master’s.
- Integrated doctoral programmes that award a Master’s qualification during doctoral study.
- Professional doctorates that focus on applied research within practice-based fields.
Funding arrangements also differ widely. Many Master’s students are self-funded, while PhD researchers may receive support through scholarships, stipends, or employment-style arrangements, reflecting the broader structures discussed in how doctoral funding works and the differences between stipends, scholarships, and self-funding.
Common misunderstandings
"A PhD is just a longer Master’s."
"A Master’s is always required before a PhD."
"A PhD guarantees an academic career."
A PhD is often required for research roles, but academic employment follows structured pathways shaped by academic career trajectories and the role of temporary positions such as postdoctoral contracts.
"A Master’s is a lesser qualification."
Master’s degrees serve distinct purposes, including professional development, career change, and preparation for further research.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PhD harder than a Master’s?
Can you fail a PhD after completing most of it?
Yes. While uncommon, doctoral candidates can fail if the thesis does not meet the required standard or if the defence is unsuccessful. The outcomes of examination and the possibility of corrections or failure are shaped by how the doctoral defence process
operates and how final outcomes are determined.
Is a Master’s enough for an academic career?
Some teaching, research support, and professional roles within universities are accessible with a Master’s degree. Long-term academic research careers usually require a PhD, particularly for permanent research and lecturing posts. The structure of academic progression is shaped by how academic career pathways
are organised.
Do you get paid to do a PhD?
Some PhD researchers receive funding, others do not. Financial support can include scholarships, stipends, or employment-style arrangements, while many doctoral researchers remain self-funded. These structures are shaped by how doctoral funding systems work and by the differences between stipends, scholarships, and self-funding.
Is a research Master’s the same as the first year of a PhD?
They can look similar on the surface, particularly where research training is emphasised. The expectations differ. A research Master’s still focuses on learning how to conduct research, while a PhD assumes responsibility for defining and sustaining an original project.
Can you do a PhD without wanting to stay in academia?
Yes. Some people complete a PhD for intellectual, professional, or personal reasons unrelated to academic careers. Many career paths after doctoral study exist both within and outside universities, including routes discussed in leaving academia and the broader value of transferable skills.