Difference Between M.Phil. and Ph.D. Degrees

M.Phil. means “Master of Philosophy” and Ph.D. means “Doctor of Philosophy”. Both the degrees are research based and can be opted after the master’s degree has been completed. In some university Ph.D. can be pursued after bachelor’s degree with excellent academic record. The students have to submit research paper work in both the courses of M.Phil. and Ph.D. in order to appear. The study structure is almost same in both M.Phil. and Ph.D. course but still there are some difference between the both. 

1. Generally M.Phil. degree is of two years course but in some cases it can be of three years as well. The M.Phil. degree is mostly a thesis based course and known as a Senior OR Second Master’s Degree between a Ph.D. and a taught Master’s Degree. A student can get an M.Phil. degree after few years’ original research but before the giving dissertation. This degree may work a pre-requisite for enrolling a Ph.D. degree as well.

2. A Ph.D. degree has a high edge over an M.Phil. degree. M.Phil. is generally used as training in advanced research work. In M.Phil. degree the research work generally has to be original. The research work in the dissertation need not to be compulsorily original rather it can replicate a research that has already been done.

3. Ph.D. is a Doctorate degree awarded by universities. The education level needed to pursue Ph.D. course depends on country, institution and time period as well. A student who completes Ph.D. degree, he/she known to as a “Doctor”. The term “Doctorate of Philosophy” does not only relates to the field Philosophy but is used in a wider spectrum.

4. The requirements in order to complete Ph.D. degree differ from university to university. In some universities of US, Canada and Denmark, they need additional course work to write a thesis. Some universities need the author of the thesis to defend the thesis work before it goes to panel of experts for examination. The thesis should contain good synthesis and tough abilities and detailed investigations along with practical illustrations.

5. The M.Phil. degree generally referred as a pre-requisite to do a Ph.D. degree. The dissertation for M.Phil. does not have to be based on originality rather it can be replicated on someone else’s research. Whereas the thesis for a Ph.D. degree has to be original and will be examined by a panel of judges to give doctorate degree. Ph.D. has a value on higher note than an M.Phil. degree. M.Phil. is only a Master’s degree, on the other hand Ph.D. is termed as Doctorate.