UK vs US Engineering Grad School

[enginegeek]

Why does phD in engineering take so much longer in US grad school compared to UK? I just read that a DPhil in oxbridge takes about 3 to 4 years while phD in engine. in US take 5 to 6 years?? 

[NuclearFlea]

In the US the PhD program includes a "de facto" master's degree.  You take master's level courses for the first two years then you do your research for ~2-4 years.  That is why you can go straight to a PhD from a bachelors.  in the UK master's is 2 years, and you must do it before going to PhD.

[TheMostPowerfulApplicant]

Also the number of years in Ph.D can vary. My father finished his Ph.D in 2.5 years after his MS, and my advisor here finished his Ph.D in like 2 years or something.

 

It really depends on how productive and aggressive you are in your research, and of course luck

[History98]

In the US the PhD program includes a "de facto" master's degree.  You take master's level courses for the first two years then you do your research for ~2-4 years.  That is why you can go straight to a PhD from a bachelors.  in the UK master's is 2 years, and you must do it before going to PhD.

In the UK you can jump straight to a 3-year PhD from a Bachelors degree (which also takes only 3 years), a lot of people do it, especially in scientific fields.

 

And even if you opt for a masters degree, it will only take you 1 year to complete it not 2.