Ph.D. admission in Europe with average grades, no recommendations

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  • #1
psi1729
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I am a second year M.Sc. Physics student in an Indian university, I am highly motivated to pursue a carrier in theoretical high energy physics. I am willing to get a Ph.D. from a European university(as they have 3 year Ph.D. programs, unlike a 5 year program here in India and US). But the problem is that due to some reasons(some medical & some family problems), I am not able to secure very good grades, so I won't be able to get any recommendations from the profs(as they won't recommend an average student). Also, because I am not among the top 15-20% students of my class, I won't be eligible to write a masters thesis so won't get any research experience...I don't think it can get more worse, as these things(a good score, recommendations & masters thesis) are necessary for admission to some good universities and institutes in Europe. I don't see any hope.

I wan't to ask if there is some way to prove my worth to these institutes/universities without the above three requirements?:confused:
Like some sort of an enterance exam(like gre) or interview or something else...

Thanks in advance for any help...:frown:
 
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  • #2
No master thesis = no M.Sc. or something else?
What about a M.Sc. in Europe?
 
  • #3
mfb said:
No master thesis = no M.Sc. or something else?
What about a M.Sc. in Europe?
sorry i didn't get u?
 
  • #4
psi1729 said:
sorry i didn't get u?

he meant that why are you not considering doing another Master's degree in europe?


Edit: Off -topic: LOL at the tags: "without good grades" I think there should be a thread for below average physicists like that, count me in :biggrin: .
 
  • #5
mfb said:
No master thesis = no M.Sc. or something else?
What about a M.Sc. in Europe?
doing another m.sc. in europe will take another two years, then a ph.d. will take about three years, it will take some 5 years in total...
i can write gre & do a ph.d. in US in five years, but i don't want to spend 5 years on phd, whatever they teach during the first two years of course work, I've done in m.sc.
thats why i want to go to europe, it will save 2 years(which are very important to me)...
isn't there some test like gre for european universties?
 
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  • #6
Raioneru said:
he meant that why are you not considering doing another Master's degree in europe?



Edit: Off -topic: LOL at the tags: "without good grades" I think there should be a thread for below average physicists like that, count me in :biggrin: .


thanks a lot Raioneru


Edit: Off -topic: There might be a lot of reasons for bad grades. And bad grades does not always imply a below average physicist. Now you've felt the need, then you should start that thread ASAP.
 
  • #7
psi1729 said:
doing another m.sc. in europe will take another two years, then a ph.d. will take about three years, it will take some 5 years in total...
i can write gre & do a ph.d. in US in five years, but i don't want to spend 5 years on phd, whatever they teach during the first two years of course work, I've done in m.sc.
thats why i want to go to europe, it will save 2 years(which are very important to me)...
isn't there some test like gre for european universties?


It is important to realize that completing a PhD quickly should not be a goal in itself. In many countries a PhD takes 5 years (and that is if you already have an MSc), and for good reasons.
I don't know anyone who thinks that the system here in the UK where a PhD is supposed to take 3 years is good, there is simply not enough time to do high-quality research; which in turn means that british PhD students are less competitive when it comes to looking for international post-doc positions.
Note also a lot of British PhD students do end up spending 4 years on their project, simply to be able to get some publishable results; although this is not quite as common as it used to be because of stricter EPSRC rules.
 
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  • #8
f95toli said:
It is important to realize that completing a PhD quickly should not be a goal in itself. In many countries a PhD takes 5 years (and that is if you already have an MSc), and for good reasons.

In these countries, do they have have, like 2 years of course work + 3 years of research work?
or 5 years of direct research work(no course work).
 
  • #9
It varies. For my PhD (5 years in Sweden) I did a total of about 6 months of courses; but that was because I had done some of the obligatory PhD courses as part of my MSc; otherwise it would have been 1 year.
I was also a TA, which (in theory) was about 20% of my time.

Note, however, that even though I had teaching, courses etc I still had 5 years. Since the coursework and teaching was spread out over that time this still meant that started doing research on day one and then did a course now and then (and even then it usually did not take that much time, a few hours per week). It is also important to realize that "teaching 20% of the time" means 20% of normal 40 hour week (i.e. one day), most PhD students (including me) work more than that so the actual fraction of time I spent on teaching was quite a bit lower than 20%.

Anyway, the point is that I was much better prepared for my post-doc than someone who has done a 3 year PhD in the UK.
I've worked in the London for the past 8 years, and I supervise PhD student,so I believe I am able to compare the two systems.
 
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  • #10
so basically, you're looking for a PhD program where you can get admitted without letters of recommendation, and research experience. I wouldn't worry about the grades that much because you can't do much to change them at this point. did you consider finding a job?
 
  • #11
Raioneru said:
so basically, you're looking for a PhD program where you can get admitted without letters of recommendation, and research experience. I wouldn't worry about the grades that much because you can't do much to change them at this point. did you consider finding a job?

yes,
no letters of recommendation, and no research experience...
i still have a year to improve the grades to 70%.
i may get a very good gre score.
what are my chances?
where(the best place with these stats) can get at the most?
 
  • #12
I would be interested in having those information too.
I think most PhD programs I have seen require 1 to 3 letters of recommendation, it's mandatory and I don't see how it can be avoided. If you get a job, get something which is related to high energy physics, or just get anything physics related. It may not be what you want, it may take you one or two more years (my sister worked 3 years before applying to grad school, because of average grades) but this is one way you can make up for your grades. once you're out of school, and you start working your grades don't matter as much as they do right now.
If you get a Job, try to connect with your supervisor (also do a good it helps lol), have a good relationship so that after a while he/she knows where you coming from and what you need (i.e. a good letter of recommendation) when the time comes.
 
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  • #13
Raioneru said:
I would be interested in having those information too.
I think most PhD programs I have seen require 1 to 3 letters of recommendation, it's mandatory and I don't see how it can be avoided. If you get a job, get something which is related to high energy physics, or just get anything physics related. It may not be what you want, it may take you one or two more years (my sister worked 3 years before applying to grad school, because of average grades) but this is one way you can make up for your grades. once you're out of school, and you start working your grades don't matter as much as they do right now.
If you get a Job, try to connect with your supervisor (also do a good it helps lol), have a good relationship so that after a while he/she knows where you coming from and what you need (i.e. a good letter of recommendation) when the time comes.

Agreed...
I need a job. That will get me research experience, recommendation and it will cover for my bad grades.
 
  • #14
There is another thing. I can do independent research. Its theoretical physics and i don't need any apparatus to do it. If I do some independent research(working with some prof unofficially) during my M.Sc., can this work be considered as(or instead of) a masters thesis?
 
  • #15
whats the real difference between a Msc thesis and independent research?
 
  • #16
In my department only top 20% of the students in a class get a chance to work on a topic with a prof and submit a masters thesis(official), it is worth 4 credits out of total 20 credits for the whole semester.
Rest 80% of the class attends laboratories for those 4 credits.
Now, by independent I meant, I'd work on some topic during that semester, I'd request a prof for little guidance. But I won't have an official supervisor to guide me. Also I may not submit the thesis to the department.
I hope I don't confuse you.
 
  • #17
My first post here on PF! You should really try to get into contact with some Indian professors and ask for availability of a project with them. I think you can easily find at least one professor to work with. That's what I did and it worked..
 
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  • #18
MSc courses in the UK are one year in duration. Frankly, with no research experience and no recommendation letters, you will not be accepted into a PhD program.
 
  • #19
psi1729 said:
doing another m.sc. in europe will take another two years, then a ph.d. will take about three years, it will take some 5 years in total...
i can write gre & do a ph.d. in US in five years, but i don't want to spend 5 years on phd, whatever they teach during the first two years of course work, I've done in m.sc.
thats why i want to go to europe, it will save 2 years(which are very important to me)...
isn't there some test like gre for european universties?

MSc in the UK is 1 year.
 
  • #20
I think doing the unofficial research is worth the hassle if it's quality.
Doesn't matter if it's official or not, if you feel like you've done a very good job (and if your professor also think so) and that it can't hurt your admission file, put it in there.
 
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  • #21
cristo said:
MSc courses in the UK are one year in duration. Frankly, with no research experience and no recommendation letters, you will not be accepted into a PhD program.

what is the admission criterion for an m.sc. in UK? Will they accept me(without any recommendations and research experience)? What about scholarships(must be a costly life there)?
 
  • #22
Difference universities have different criteria. However, they all ask for recommendation letters so I think you'd better find 2 or 3 (2 usually). Research experience for MSc is not a prerequisite. They will certainly ask for a translated copy of your diploma and your transcript.
I think that's quite difficult to get a scholarhip from a UK organisation. It's better to look for one (or a sponsor) from your country. As for the costs, the tuition fees vary from university to university and depend on the programme you want to follow as well but those in the Russell Group are usually a bit more expensive than the others. If you move to the UK, your best option will be to apply for housing at the campus' houses. The rent depends on the location... but an amount of at least 400GBP per month is a good estimate (in London it's much more).
 
  • #23
I've just been accepted for a PhD here in the UK (in high energy physics) so I know a little about the application system and what is considered important. I don't know anything about applying to the rest of Europe though!

I applied for both experimental and theoretical PhDs and I know for sure that funding for the latter was pretty scarce for my applications (and being from the UK I could get the more numerous STFC studentships). I think it's almost essential to have done some research and to have a reference from the supervising academic. I can't remember seeing any theoretical MSc with much funding. One thing to mention is that of the first year theoretical students I talked to many of them had the part 3 masters from Cambridge, although getting onto that is a challenge in itself.

My recommendation would be to get any research experience and positive references that you can and then apply everywhere which offers a course (including any MSc and the part 3). Hopefully that will be enough to get you a few interviews and if you really impress there then your grades won't matter.
 
  • #24
In Italy there is usually an entry test or at least an interview... but still they need recommendation letters I think (I don't know everywhere actually as I am moving to the UK for my PhD)... anyway, doing this independent research, even if you on't have an official thesis, you should be able (if you work well) to get a recommendation letter from the professor following you right??
 
  • #25
tia89 said:
doing this independent research, even if you on't have an official thesis, you should be able (if you work well) to get a recommendation letter from the professor following you right??

i can get the recommendation from the following professor. in my department there are no big names in theoretical physics, there are some big names in experimental particle physics. does a recommendation from an experimental physicist stands any good for admission in theoretical physics?
 
  • #26
psi1729 said:
i can get the recommendation from the following professor. in my department there are no big names in theoretical physics, there are some big names in experimental particle physics. does a recommendation from an experimental physicist stands any good for admission in theoretical physics?

sure it is even better if the professor if involved in the field you list in your SOP for your application, but you've got to keep in mind that the Letter of recommendation's purpose is to get an idea about you from the eyes of another person who's spent significant time working with you and who knows you well. that's what should come out of a good letter and for that you don't necessarily need that person to be precisely in Theoretical Physics.
 
  • #27
i've talked to the profs and they don't mind recommending me if i do good this year...they have asked me to look for some groups in germany, I've looked one at leibniz university http://www.grk1463.uni-hannover.de/index.html, and one in hamburg...are there any more good groups?
 
  • #28
Very good for the letters... I think in this way it will do... also because in Germany they take who they believe will work well and hard, without too much fuss about admittance selections and so on... they will probably interwove you in some way (like skype) and then if they are satisfied they will hire you.
As for other groups, well it depends on what you want to focus. Anyway look in the Planck institutes to see if there is something which could appeal you. And the best way is to go on the website of the theoretical physics departments in the various universities and look what the professors do. This also because you will apply for the position with a professor, you have then to decide in advance with whom you want to work. And as well it ca be a good way to see if the topics they do research on are good for you.
Anyway, as for strings applied to GR and so on, there is Gia Dvali in Munchen also (http://www.en.physik.lmu.de/research/specialties/high-energy/index.html)... and in general take a look at positions in Munchen and in the south as well, there aer good groups... also try Heidelberg (http://www.thphys.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php?lang=e&n1=research)
And good luck
 
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  • #29
There are many groups in Germany. Do you have some specific research topic in mind?
 
  • #30
mfb said:
There are many groups in Germany. Do you have some specific research topic in mind?

i've not decided exact topic what i want to do. it might be related to string theory or something in THEP. I've learned about a structured phd in germany. can you suggest some groups offering such courses?
 
  • #31
What you mean with structured PhD?? And perhaps it is better that you understand what you want to do something more in particular... as for what you said, more or less ALL universities everywhere offer something... in this case, start pointing universities in Germany, look at the websites of the groups, see if they offer some topi you may be interested in and see which professor does offer that... then write emails, tons of emails... probably most will be no goes, but somewhere you might get lucky and find someone willing to give you information and perhaps a position... at least it worked for me (I'll be in the UK though, anyway the way is this one, professor, send an email explaining your situation and telling you would like to work with him, impress him, the trick is done)
 
  • #32
tia89 said:
What you mean with structured PhD??

http://www.research-in-germany.de/dachportal/en/Jobs-and-Careers-in-Germany/Info-for-PhD-Students/Structured-Programmes.html [Broken]
 
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  • #33
psi1729 said:
http://www.research-in-germany.de/dachportal/en/Jobs-and-Careers-in-Germany/Info-for-PhD-Students/Structured-Programmes.html [Broken]

Well, I didn't know about this possibility... the only way I see is that you read well the website you posted (with all links to other pages, at least the ones which are not broken) and see what they offer.

Anyway, as I advised you before, ASK around, don't be scared to contact professors you may be interested to work with... when it came my time to apply for the PhD (which I will start in three weeks) I wrote a ton of emails... most came unanswered or telling me "thanks for the interest in working with me but I have no positions open now sorry"... anyway a couple was successful and I ended up with two offers, one of which I had to reject... so ask, they will not eat you, the worst that could happen is that they never answer...
 
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1. What are the chances of getting accepted into a Ph.D. program in Europe with average grades?

Admission into a Ph.D. program in Europe is highly competitive, and having average grades may decrease your chances of acceptance. However, each university and program has different criteria for admission, so it is best to research and apply to programs that align with your academic background and interests.

2. Do I need recommendation letters for Ph.D. admission in Europe?

Recommendation letters are an important aspect of the application process for Ph.D. programs in Europe. They provide insight into your academic abilities, research potential, and personal qualities. However, some universities may have alternative requirements, so it is best to check with the specific program you are interested in.

3. Can I improve my chances of getting accepted with a strong statement of purpose?

Yes, a well-written and compelling statement of purpose can greatly improve your chances of getting accepted into a Ph.D. program in Europe. It allows you to showcase your motivation, research interests, and potential contributions to the field. Be sure to tailor your statement to each program you apply to.

4. Are there any specific language requirements for Ph.D. admission in Europe?

Most universities in Europe require applicants to have a strong command of the language in which the program is taught. This may include providing proof of proficiency through standardized tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. However, some universities may offer language courses for international students or have alternative language requirements, so it is best to check with the specific program.

5. How important are research experience and publications for Ph.D. admission in Europe?

Research experience and publications are highly valued by Ph.D. programs in Europe. They demonstrate your commitment to research, ability to conduct independent studies, and potential for future contributions to the field. However, not having these experiences does not necessarily disqualify you from admission, as universities also consider other factors such as academic background and potential for growth.

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