Do you wish to see the three prestigious letters PhD after your name? Scroll through this write-up to find all information about pursuing PhD programs in USA.

PhD Programs in USA

For any aspirant who wants to pursue his education abroad, USA is a dream destination. True to the common belief that a degree from an American university would help in attracting best of the best career options later in life, students do not dare to miss the opportunity to experience college life amidst ultra modern facilities, distinguished professors, top-notch educational institutions, and excellent international exposure. However, the cutting-edge courses and world-class universities are two of the most popular reasons for witnessing huge student traffic to the US for pursuing research work. Most American colleges and universities offer not just top-rate education programs in undergraduate and postgraduate courses, but also present a plethora of highly recognized subjects and courses for PhD degree as well. The kind of research work carried out by students in a US university offers frequent opportunities to meet and study with leading scholars in the chosen field. Healthy interaction with faculty members and encouraging environment make the experience of pursuing a PhD program from USA an enriching one. Read on further to grab more information about the various subjects offered for PhD and the process for seeking admission in a reputed US university.

PhD Programs in USA

Degree Recognition

Any individual passing out with a PhD degree from a US university is considered as a subject expert. Thus, acquiring an American PhD degree is a prestigious honor. The career opportunities widen for students with this distinguished degree from an educational institution of the US.

Degree Structure

Obtaining a Master’s degree is an essential requirement before applying for PhD program. However, this may not be compulsory in all cases, as some universities and colleges provide the opportunity of giving admission to PhD program directly after the Bachelor’s degree with exceptionally outstanding coursework records. The final decision of giving admission or not to such special cases lies entirely on the university or head of the university department. The duration of a doctoral degree in USA varies from a minimum period of three years to a maximum time of six years. The duration of the course purely depends upon the field chosen, ability of the student, and complexity of the research work undertaken. On successful completion of the doctoral degree, the university confers the subject scholar with an honorary doctorate degree and the scholar is deemed to add the title ‘Doctor’ before his name.

Subjects for Doctoral Degree

Machine Learning and Statistics; American Studies and Ethnicity; Biomedical Engineering; Algorithms, Combinatory and Optimization; Bioengineering; Bioinformatics; Building Construction; Chemical Engineering; Computational Science and Engineering; Computer Science; Design with concentration in Industrial Design; Human-Centered Computing; Management; Paper Science and Engineering; Robotics; Nursing Science Program; Materials Science and Engineering; Classical Civilization; Environmental Engineering Sciences; Agriculture; Art History; Astronomy; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biomechanics; Building Construction; Counseling Psychology; Criminology, Law and Society; Economics; Film and Media Studies; Genetics; Finance and Real Estate; Geography; Marketing; Mass Communication; Music Education; Philosophy; Public Policy and Administration; Romantics; Statistics; Accounting; Anthropology; Applied Physics; Botany; Zoology

Admissions Requirements

The application procedure for PhD programs start much before you even take your GRE/TOEFL exams. The subject, in which you desire to research on, should be chosen during your Master’s degree, to give you a better prospect of what to expect at a higher level.
Collect all your transcripts for the university coursework done and degrees completed. Get your marks converted into grades, as all universities in US follow the grading system.
Arrange original copies of all your mark sheets and previous work experience certificates, as most universities ask for original documents. In case you cannot arrange for the originals, contact the university for alternatives.
Take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests and ensure that you have high scores as that would increase your chances of admission to your preferred university.
Write a statement of purpose, of about 800 to 1000 words, indicating why you aspire to join a particular program under a particular advisor, in a particular university. Also include about yourself and your achievements in the past. Make sure that the statement of purpose is well-written and enhances your personality, as it is an important admission criterion for granting admission to a student.
Get three letters of recommendation from people in academic or professional communities, who can positively address your capabilities and potential for undertaking doctoral work.

Application Procedure

Start requesting for application forms to a number of universities at least 15 to 18 months before the proposed date of admission. You can either fill the online form posted on the university’s website or send a request by airmail to the university, for application material.
After completing all the application form, necessary documents, and other formalities demanded by the Admissions Office of the university, assemble them together neatly in a file.
Post the documents to the university before the closing date of applications. Make a note of the list of the tracking numbers, date of posting, and contents of every packet you have sent to the universities. Confirm the delivery of your documents through their respective tracking numbers.

Cost of Education

Tuition Fees in $US

A doctoral degree in a US university can cost you anywhere between $10,000 per year for a state university and $40,000 per year for an esteemed private university. Most students get significant amount of funding, in exchange of which students can provide 15-20 hours per week of service to the university. It can be either teaching or helping with research. This provides an additional benefit to the students as they can earn money, build networking, and update their CV with their work done.

Living & Other Expense in $US

The average annual living expenses, including accommodation, food, clothing, utilities, phone, and sundry, cost about $7,200-12,000 per year.

Accommodation Expense in $US

Depending upon your lifestyles and area of accommodation, you can end up spending $400 per month on rent, if you are residing alone in Auburn or sharing an apartment with 6 people in New York.

Health Insurance in $US

Mostly, health insurance is a mandatory requirement by US universities for international students. Thus, students are required to have adequate international student health insurance protection, as universities do not want to bear the medical expenses of international students. Health or medical insurance in USA can cost about $300-$400 per year.

PhD Programs in USA

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