You may have heard the word ‘research’ a thousand times in your life but do you know what research is? Is there any degree associated with research? Different national and international universities are becoming more research-centric. Do you know why? Today we will answer all these questions.
What is a research degree?
Without wasting any time, let’s understand the key concepts of research. The basic definition of research is that it is a scientific investigation of different materials and sources to reach a new conclusion.
The word research consists of two words “re” which means again, and “search” which means to find. This means that you explore something new. In other words, we can call it scientific investigation because scientific tools and techniques are used to conduct research. Obviously, you conduct an investigation on a particular subject and draw a conclusion. Mainly, research-based degrees are Ph.D., MPhil, and MA/MSc. These studies are research-based and you will investigate further your field.
A Career in research
Let us first clear a big confusion- most students perceive that a research career is only associated with academia. This is not true; there is a wide range of opportunities for a research degree. You can be part of a scientific, commercial, or public-sector research. You can join government research or a development center.
Besides, you can make a career in international and multilateral organizations and development consultancies, market research agencies, and several other areas are available as well.
Education requirements
The minimum education requirement for an international student to get a Ph.D. or MPhil degree is 18 years of education. This means that after higher secondary education, the student must have completed a 4 years bachelor’s program and a 2 years master’s program in a relevant field.
Language requirement:
- IELTS test minimum scores – 7 overall, 7 writing, 6 other sections;
- TOEFL (internet-based) test minimum scores – 100 overall, 25 writing, 22 other sections;
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) minimum scores – 66 overall, 66 writing, 59 other sections;
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – overall score of 185 or above, with writing 185 and no other sub-section below 169, or Grade C if taken before 2015;
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) – overall score of 185 or above, with writing 185 and no other sub-section below 169, or Grade B if taken before 2015.
Universities for Research Degree
A number of prestigious institutes offering research-related courses and degrees are mentioned below.
- Princeton University, United States
- Harvard University, United States
- Yale University, United States
- University of Waterloo, Canada
- California Institute of Technology, United States
- Stanford University, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
- Imperial College London, UK
- University of Oxford, UK
- University of California – San Diego, US
- University of Toronto, Canada
- The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, US
- University of Pennsylvania, US
- John Hopkins University, US
Jobs and average salaries
Students mostly ask this question and try to investigate the average earnings will be if he or she is selecting a particular field. Do not worry, the answer to this question is also mentioned- what type of jobs you can avail and what are their respective salaries. Here is a list of some famous jobs related to a research career- this will help you identify the total annual average earnings.
Actuary: This job deals with different financial analyses, calculating and forecasting the financial costs and related risks. The demand for this particular post is very high. Businesses are searching for talented and competent individuals for this post. The annual estimated average salary for this post is $118,131 in the United States.
Market Research Analyst: This is also one of the most interesting careers- the researcher conducts research on consumer behaviors and determines the need and demand for products and services. The annual estimated average salary for this post is $62,062 in the United States.
Medical Research Scientist: If you are interested in the field of medicine, this will be a good opportunity for you. Your job responsibility would be to conduct, record, and interpret the experiments and find solutions. The annual estimated average salary for this post is $92,491 in the United States.
Life science or Biological Researchers: This field will lead you towards government agencies where you will conduct research related to living organs. The annual estimated average salary for this post is $138,557 in the United States.
Research Psychologist: In this career, the primary job is to research the psychology of animals, humans, and their behaviors. You can work at any university, school, and health sector in this field. The annual estimated average salary for this post is $88,494 in the United States.
