Hi ECOLOG, As an American currently living and executing a PhD program in Europe, I feel compelled to write expressing my agreement with Wayne Dawson's comments. While it is true that many PhD projects for students are prescribed supervisors, this is not the only way it works. I, for example, had already formulated an idea for a PhD project, which I proposed to my supervisors. Many students that I know also had designed their own project, and many supervisors I know prefer taking on such students. Surely, this more American-style manner of approaching a PhD is becoming a lot more apparent here in Europe.
In addition, many people in the US have the impression that the abbreviated nature of PhD programs in Europe deprive students of opportunities to take classes or teach. Actually, when deciding whether to elect a US vs. European institution for grad school, this was one major fear that I had about electing to enroll in a European program. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I am able to audit and course in my department, which my advisor supports strongly. Furthermore, most graduate students act as teaching assistants for departmental classes, whereby they regularly meet with and supervise groups of undergrads taking that class. These small-group sessions offer great teaching experience. In fact, many universities here place strong emphasis on a well-rounded PhD experience. Unlike most US programs, classes and teaching are not required nor prescribed by the department. Instead, courses and teaching are pursued by each graduate student and under their terms. I personally prefer this arrangement, as it permits each PhD project to be customized to optimally fit the needs of the student. I can not speak for European graduate programs in general, but at least from my experience as a PhD student in Europe, a lot of the negative American preconceptions about what graduate education represents in Europe have not been accurate. Of course, my view of US PhD programs has not diminished at all. I still revere the quality of American universities. However, after beginnig my PhD in Europe my appreciation for the European system has grown. I hope my comments are useful to you all. Best, Dave Daversa -- **************************** *David Daversa* *PhD Student Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Cambridge Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London [email protected] [email protected]* http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/zoostaff/manica/drdaversa.htm* <[email protected]> * On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 3:05 PM, Wayne Dawson <[email protected]>wrote: > Hello ECOLOG, > > I'm not sure if a European perspective has been expressed yet, but I will > do > so anyway. I cannot comment on US PhD positions and the US grad school > system, as I have no experience of them, but I do have experience of doing > a > PhD in Europe (in Britain), and of supervising/observing them in > Switzerland > and Germany. > > I disagree with Jane Shevtov's suggestion that most European PhDs are > completely prescriptive, and do not allow the development and > implementation > of the student's own ideas. It is certainly wrong to suggest they are no > more than technician posts. I agree that US PhDs allow the students more > time to develop their own ideas. But, my experience is that there should be > enough flexibility in European PhDs for the student to come up with and > implement their own ideas within a broad question or topic, design their > own > experiments, analyse their own data, and write their own papers as first > authors. It's too simplistic to say the US system is going to be better by > default. They're just different, and one system may suit some people better > than the other. > > > German PhD positions in some institutions require students to be a member > of > a graduate school, but usually with choice involved in the precise courses > taken. Even without compulsory grad school, PhD students in the UK and > Switzerland are often encouraged by their supervisors to take extra courses > in advanced statistics, project management, writing a research proposal > etc., i.e. in courses which enhance their skills as a researcher. To me, an > important function of doing a PhD is to learn how to do research in your > given field, and courses taken should perhaps reflect this. > > That being said- I would encourage a PhD student to take grad school > classes > or equivalent when they have the opportunity- nobody ever stops learning. > > Best, > > Wayne Dawson >
