======= Date Modified 24 Jul 2011 07:28:52 =======
Hi, I'm new to this forum, so not too sure how to start things. And no for some reason I didn't use this forum whilst I was searching for a PhD. I'm going to start my PhD position at Bristol in September in a topic I'm very interested in. However, recently I got adviced by some friends who are doing PhD in the US that PhD in the US is regarded much higher than in the UK and it will be difficult for me to get a job in the US with a UK PhD. Just wondering if that is the case or not. If true, are there anythings I can do to raise my employability abroad after I finish my PhD?

I'm not going to reject the PhD position from Bristol, as it took me ages to get it and there is very little chance for me to get a studentship in the US at this point for September. But I know that my lab will send me to Boston to create a mice model with the a group in Harvard University for a collaboration project, will this make my CV look better?

Sorry in advance, I'm very confused as to what the real differences between a US and UK PhD are. And thanks for any advice people.

PhD study in the USA typically takes between 4 and 6 years, which is much longer than is possible in the UK, where most full time programmes take 3-4 years (at least officially).

Employment prospects in academia will depend on your subject area, publication record and the research group in which you studied. We are not aware that it is any more difficult to get a postdoc in the USA with a British PhD. Certainly working in a research group that has close connections to one in the US will improve your chances of making good contacts, which is a key factor in securing many postdoc jobs.

The US PhD has a taught component that most British PhDs do not. The traditional British PhD is "by research" with very little to no required time spent in being taught in a classroom. You just carry on with your chosen research project. In the US the first few years are generally in the classroom, and you must pass the classroom taught elements by a certain mark to progress. The idea of a pure research degree is basically unheard of in the US--but that is not to diminish its value in the market at all.

Thank you to those that have given the advice. They are much appreciated.

Although this post is a bit old I still want to reply. During my research of the programs US vs. UK I have found that the only major difference between the two is the amount of teaching available (and funding). In the US we either have a separate MA degree or combined in the PhD. It seems now many UK PhD's ask for an MA anyways so it seems to be equally distributed. The only concern is the teaching and publishing, which is something obviously done in the US but in the UK it seems on needs to seek these opportunities.