Given the various comments about the equivalence - in rigour, length or
status - of the UK PhD and MD, I should like to comment based on the
regulations at the University of Hull. I would be interested to hear (off
list) from others in the UK who can check actual regulations rather than
hearsay.
The PhD is based upon three years' (or equivalent) original research, but
increasingly requires the inclusion of formal training in research methods
and other professional aspects, and it takes place in a research
environment with experts in the specific field (QAA Code of Practice).
Current policy is to encourage students to train in research methods
before being accepted on the formal PhD programme (1+3 pattern).
The MD is based on one year's full-time research (so I'm interested that
others quote two) BUT has an entry requirement of:
a) being a qualified and registered medical doctor
b) having practised medicine for minimum two years after graduation.
The research IS supervised. Our regulations require the supervisor to be
a senior member of the Faculty of Health, and to be satisfied before the
research starts that the candidate is able to complete the research.
The implication to me is that the MD is a research project within a
professional area in which the candidate is already competent and has
sufficient research skills to obtain substantive results. It is more
pragmatic than a PhD, probably aimed at solving a specific professional
problem rather than generally increasing knowledge.
This University also offers a PsyD and ClinPsyD for psychiatrists, and an
EdD in Education. While for professional and administrative purposes one
has to rate equivalences, I still find quite bizarre the suggestion of
listing alternative qualifications in a publication. The standard practice
is to name the awarding body to identify an award.
Someone else can explain the the list MA(Cantab).
R. Allan Reese Email: [log in to unmask]
Associate Manager GRI Direct voice: +44 1482 466845
Graduate School Voice messages: +44 1482 466844
Hull University, Hull HU6 7RX, UK. Fax: +44 1482 466436
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The management here were SO impressed with W Edward Deming's "Out of
the crisis" that they are working flat out to create THE BEST crisis,
so we can start implementing the 13 points.
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