Application for Doctoral Programs Admission

Students applying for any degree program are no different from tertiary education applicants who have ample of requirements before being admitted. The admission requirements for Doctoral Programs may vary from degree to degree and from school to school. These programs are available in various study fields including business, public administration, nursing, humanities, engineering, and accounting.

Doctoral Programs – Course Requirements

Doctoral Programs – Graduation

Generally, students who are interested to apply for doctoral degree should have, but not limited to have earned a master’s degree; Graduate Point Average (GPA) score of at least 3.0; introduction letter stating their career objective and personal history that includes their goals and motivations; work experience in the specific field that they would like to pursue; resume or curriculum vitae; two sets of official transcripts to be submitted from each college or university attended in a sealed envelop from its Registrar’s office; two recommendation letters; and English proficiency evidence proving the English fluency of international students through their acceptable scores in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Meanwhile, there are schools that offer international students exemption from the TOEFL/IELTS requirements provided that they have attained a master’s or baccalaureate degree from their recognized educational institutions in places such as the United States, England, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Liberia, New Zealand, and Scotland. There are certain Doctoral Programs that may require international students to have achieved IELTS or TOEFL scores notwithstanding their country of origin and academic history.

Doctoral degree applicants are required to have at least two years experience in vocational guidance, industrial training, vocational education and work experience in related course they have decided to study or related experience that is acceptable to the faculty. The applicants are expected to exhibit their competency in academics, effectiveness in interpersonal relations, and oral and written communications.

The advancement and qualification of the students to degree program are contingent upon their successful passage of PhD coursework, designation of a research advisor, and preparation and defense of written research proposal. Some Doctoral Programs may also require subject-comprehensive examination as a proof for a coursework and knowledge of other essential study fields. Candidacy advancement may take two years for students entering with a master’s degree and three years for those with bachelor’s degree.

Students are required to have at least six credit hours of actual PhD coursework beyond the master’s degree and 30 additional credit hours for those entering with bachelor’s degree. There are degree programs implementing diagnostic entrance examinations and consider it as their basis for enrollment. There are also additional deficiency courses to be imposed to students with master’s degree from another major or degree program of their chosen field of study.

Doctoral Programs may also require applicants to earn 60 credit hours for dissertation research other than the actual coursework credit of a minimum of six credit hours during the first and second phases of the coursework. Other schools may also require residency of at least two years for students with master’s degree and three years for those with three years of residency.

Key Facts about Doctorate Degree

A doctorate degree, by definition, is a formal education with the highest level of knowledge and skills.

The degree is usually asked for students or individuals who wish to be in a higher education career as a university professor. The type of doctorate degrees, their titles and benefits vary according to the qualifications set by the degree program, university, and subject matter.

Doctorate Degrees are made available in various fields of study depending on your interest. They are offered in the study areas of public administration, business management, health, arts, engineering, accounting, humanities, nursing, psychology, philosophy, and medicine.

Doctorate Degree Graduation

These doctorate programs can be expensive depending on the school or university and the subject you are interested in. However, there are other ways on how to pursue your college education and obtain doctorate program through scholarships, student funds, and fellowships. You may also apply for financial assistance or any scholarship or fellowship or assistantships that you may be able to attain while studying. Other than financial aid, this will also give you practical experience, expertise, and knowledge to better prepare you for your future career opportunities and employment.

Doctorate Degree – Tips for Selection

If you are considering getting a doctoral degree in a certain field, consider whether a degree is necessary. Gather information or research about your prospective colleges or universities with the best reputation in the field that you have chosen. Keep in mind that these programs can be completed from four to seven years, with extensive researching, reading, and writing. Decide way ahead of time whether or not you should apply to a specific doctoral program.

Typically, eligibility for these degrees requires a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in certain subject matter. Qualified applicants should have passed the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). International students should pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Pertinent documents such as letters of recommendation, university transcript of records, and curriculum vitae are also required for degree admission.

Getting a doctoral degree can be intellectually fulfilling and satisfying since it requires students to have skills in reading and learning to excel and be an expert in a particular field of specification. Graduate students are also expected to have contribution to their selected field of knowledge through their research in a form of dissertation, which are published as articles in books or academic journals.

Graduates of doctorate degrees usually pursue careers in academics. The degrees may equip graduates to land in great jobs such as in government offices, consulting, research and development, and any other areas in the labor market with promising pay. They may have a better edge in the labor market than other applicants who are not degree holders. These Doctorate Degree may give them prestige with their earned title of doctor, which may open various doors for career opportunities in the higher positions. Most important is the exceptional knowledge gain from this high educational level.