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Study PHD in USA

A PhD degree is the highest degree awarded in most academic disciplines. If you’re seeking to advance your career, contribute to a growing body of research, become an expert in a certain subject, look for jobs in industry or genuinely thrive in academic settings, pursuing a PhD degree could be the right step for your future career. PhD programs are available for a variety of subjects, from sciences, engineering , literature, music to humanities. However, the time of completion for a doctorate degree can vary significantly between programs and discipline.

Students with an aptitude for research can undertake the PhD program. Although students with a Master’s program typically apply for a PhD, some universities are also happy to accept Bachelor’s attained students for a PhD directly after the degree is complete. However, they must indicate past experience of research. Students need to contact universities for Research Guides and possible funding availability before application.

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PhD in USA for Indian students:

The USA is the most popular and biggest destination for PhD study abroad. PhD in USA involves a structured degree programme that features comprehensive training alongside independent research. America’s rigorous approach to PhD delivers a standard of training and professional development that often surpasses the minimum requirement for a research focused program. Hence the PhD in USA attracts innumerable international students at its universities and colleges.

Reasons to consider PhD program in USA for Indian students:

  • USA has made substantial investment in research output and expertise.
  • USA dominates Global research:
  • PhD in USA first focuses to aid you to develop a deeper understanding of your interest through coursework followed by dissertation proposal.
  • There is a vibrant international community which helps you to gel in.
  • PhD is USA is packed with innovation.
  • PhD opportunities in USA are very encouraging.
  • There are over 1500 universities that offer PhD in USA.

Scrutiny Procedure for PhD in USA:

  • The Dean of Academic affairs/Committee of Grad school takes a call on your application.
  • Strong applicants will have a telephonic/ skype interview .
  • Research Proposal is not needed.
  • Your complete profile is weighed and how you perform in the interview is also counted.
  • Sometimes it might be difficult to get funding in 1st semester but later on they ensure funding is available for PhD students in USA.

Cost of PhD in USA

The fee for a PhD program in USA varies from university to university based on its location and subject. On an average the cost of PhD in USA is around $30,000 per academic year. The living costs are not too high and are very much affordable. Once a student procures an admit the international office of the University will provide information regarding the living expenses which covers groceries, rent, other bills and travel.

Funding

PhD in USA offers many fully-funded PhD programs for Indian and other international students. Funding is provided in the form of scholarships to graduate students. Various scholarships available are the teaching assistantship, research assistantship, administrative assistantship and grading assistantship. This is offered based on your profile and the documents you submit.

Procedure for Ph.D program in USA:

Ph.D in USA is for a duration of 4-5 years depending on your dedication and complexity of your research problem. Most of the universities admit you for a Ph.D program and on clearing the Ph.D qualifying exams at the end of the first year technically you will secure admission to study Ph.D in USA. The academic year in the USA is split into two semesters. The fall semester (August-December) and spring semester (January-May). PhD in USA admits are generally considered for fall semester admission.

Timeline for PhD in USA

  • First year the student is expected to do courses like MS students.
  • Student has to do lab rotation in each lab for 3 months to get a feel of the research in each lab.
  • Second year he/she has to clear the qualifying exams for Ph.D. sometimes also known as comprehensive exam.
  • Post this the Grad school committee, Profs and student sit down and take a call whom the student will join for his/her Ph.D.
  • A PhD advisor is assigned to the student.
  • The student has to submit a research proposal to the committee and further work on that project
  • Finally you present your findings and defend your PhD work to be awarded a PhD degree from USA.

ENTERANCE TEST for Indian Students to Study PHD in USA

  • GRE provided by ETS..
  • TOEFL conducted by ETS Or IELTS by British Council/IDP

APPLICATION to Study PHD in USA

Students need 16 years of education plus at least some amount of research experience or a strong research interest. The applications are available online from about 8-10 months in advance and have different rounds of deadlines. But students are suggested to contact Faculty with the current research in allied fields to connect get a possible research Supervisor/Guide.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in USA admission:

  • GRE & TOEFL are mandatory (GRE 320 +, TOEFL 105 +)
  • AGRE (Subject GRE is a must in good schools for students from Maths, Physic ,Chemistry, Psychology & English majors)
  • For students from engineering background Subject GRE is not required (or not given)
  • Strong academic record and CGPA > 8.5 or so.
  • Bachelor’s degree from reputed institutes.
  • If you have a Master’s degree already then it’s an added advantage.
  • Papers published in undergrad if any.
  • Poster presentation in conference or symposium.
  • Students with 16 years of education (with a Bachelor’s degree) are also considered directly for PhD in the USA if they have an extraordinary profile.

Application Process :(Documentation)

The following documents are required to submit your application

  • GRE score
  • Toefl score
  • AGRE score
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Personal statements
  • Resume
  • Additional essays as required
  • Academic transcripts.

The universities charge around $50-$70 as an application fee to review your applications. Once you submit your applications the universities revert to you after 2-3months with a decision.

Visa process for Indian students to study in USA

To pursue PhD in USA visa is mandatory for international students.Students need a F-1 visa.You need to book an interview appointment at the USA embassy.Once you clear the personal interview you are ready to book your tickets and fly to USA to pursue your PhD.

After receiving an Admit

After receiving an admit from a university you need to procure your I20.For this the required financial documents need to be submitted to the university.

Key factors for PhD in USA

  • The admission procedure is super competitive. Each department might have 8-9 fully funded PhD programs only available.
  • How you present your documents, that is your SOP, LOR’s, CV,essays, personal statements will affect your PhD admission.
  • The selection is based on a holistic profile of the applicant.
  • Entry test scores are also very important and determine your admission.
  • Shortlisting the right kind of universities is also very important.

When you are done with a PhD in USA, you know how to

  • Look at a problem,
  • Bound the problem into something solvable,
  • Develop a rigorous method to solve that problem
  • Execute that method
  • Report the results of your findings

Covid situation in USA

The covid situation in the USA has improved. Students were provided vaccinations and booster doses on the university campus to help them fight the pandemic. Right now universities have moved from hybrid mode to offline classes. Many states of the USA are right now mask free zones. Imperial has constantly supported the students who were studying in the USA even during the pandemics. Right now it's safe to study for a PhD in the USA.

Role of Imperial overseas to study PhD in USA

  • Getting a fully funded PhD admission is super competitive but its possible with dedication and right guidance.
  • Imperial overseas has qualified counsellors who have their MS, PhD from USA who will guide you.
  • We will train you for your PhD interviews.
  • Help you with a written Statement of Purpose.
  • Provide you written Letter of Recommendation which you can share with your mentors.
  • Discuss and provide you university shortlisting based on where you have chances of getting an admit according to your profile and helps you to fill applications.
  • We also provide guidance for finances, help with education loans and walk you through your visa procedure and conduct visa mock interviews which tremendously increases your chance of getting a visa.
  • You can participate for free in our educational fair where we can connect you directly with delegates from respective universities who can clarify your queries.
  • Imperial also trains you for GRE, GMAT, TOEFL and IELTS exams.
  • Get free career counselling from our top counsellor’s.

FAQ

FAQ

The duration of a PhD program depends on the country and the difficulty of the research problem. The average time taken for PhD completion is between 3 to 5 years.

Most of the PhD programs are fully or partially funded. Scholarships are always available for worthy students pursuing their PhD.

A PhD degree helps you to climb up the success ladder faster. Many senior positions and business head roles are available for candidates with a PhD degree. It also aids you to become an expert in your field.

Yes, PhD program is offered in every field of engineering, be it Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Mechanical, Chemical or Civil Engineering.

There is a strong correlation of higher salaries associated with a PhD degree. It depends on which branch you have pursued your degree. An average range would be USD 90,000-100,000.

It requires 4-5 years of commitment, but the hard work does pay you back the rest of your life.

Yes, PhD can be pursued in various other fields like Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Literature, Sociology, Psychology etc.

The applications should be submitted at least 9-10 months in advance to the start of the program. A student looking to enrol for a Fall-start program in August/September must submit applications by October of the previous year.

A PhD degree opens up pathways for industrial as well as academic positions.

A PhD degree holder can get easily absorbed into academic positions in universities across the globe.

It’s not that easy to get a funded PhD position. Most universities have 8-9 vacancies per department for a fully funded PhD program. It’s super competitive. Having said so, a worthy student with a good profile and proper guidance can secure a fully funded PhD admission abroad.

Scholarships in PhD is a part of the application procedure. Based on the interview conducted online and the profile of the candidate, scholarships are released in the form of teaching assistantship or research assistantship.

If you are looking for PhD position in USA, GRE and TOEFL scores are mandatory. A good score in GRE is expected so as to be eligible for scholarships and fully funded positions. An excellent IELTS score is mandatory for PhD positions in countries other than USA, whereas TOEFL is preferred over IELTS in the USA.

A Master’s degree is preferred if you are applying for PhD positions. At times students with a Bachelor’s degree are also able to get PhD admits directly if they have a good academic background and research papers published in reputed journals.

Yes, an interview is mandatory for PhD admission abroad. Generally, selection is first made based on your profile and final selection is made based on a personal interview conducted online..