Leaving PhD program with a Masters

AI Thread Summary
Starting a PhD program with the intention of leaving after two years to obtain a Master's degree is a common consideration among students. Many express concerns about the ethical implications of occupying a PhD spot without the intent to complete it, as this could prevent another candidate from pursuing their degree. Additionally, some institutions have strict policies that do not grant any degree if a student leaves the program early. The importance of securing strong recommendation letters is also highlighted, as leaving a program prematurely could complicate relationships with faculty. A suggested approach is to enroll in a Master's program first, which allows for a more flexible transition to a PhD if the research interests align later on. This strategy can help avoid potential awkwardness and ethical dilemmas associated with leaving a PhD program early.
collectedsoul
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Could someone advise me on starting a PhD program and leaving after 2 years with a Masters? Do people do this and what are the problems associated with such a course of action? For example is getting recommendation letters a problem and so on...

The reason I need to know about this is that it is quite possible that I'll be accepted to only 1 grad program where they don't really do research in an area I'm interested in, so I will want to move to another school after 2 years that does do research in an area I like.
 
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It's unethical to waste other peoples' time and money on a PhD spot that you don't intend to finish. Another student who would have have finished could take it.
 
On top of ethical issues, some schools simply don't allow it. When I was enrolling my MSc in Auckland's department of physics, I was told if I want to quit half-way through my PhD, I get absolutely nothing. So In my case they suggest I start with MSc and switch to PhD if I'm still interested.
 
You might be pleased to know that I've decided to not do what I thought of and take up a Masters option instead. I figured I didn't want awkwardness after 2 years into the PhD.
 

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