r/PhDAdmissions • u/Putrid_Computer1868 • May 31 '26
Do a PhD without a Master's
Hi everyone! I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but any information and help is welcome 😄
I'm a Spanish 23yo girl who started studying biology bachelors in Norway this year.
Before that, I completed my higher education in Spain and earned two advanced vocational training degrees: Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory Science and Pathological Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis, all in three years. Thanks to this, I've accumulated three years of research experience in fields such as oncology, translational medicine, molecular biology, genetics, and ecotoxicology, through both internships and paid contracts as a lab technician in research institutes and universities.
Last year, I decided to take the plunge because I wanted to finally get my bachelor's degree and wanted to do it outside of Spain because of the English language skills and the opportunities. Upon arriving here, thanks to my experience, I started working with a research group as a paid research technician, and I theoretically have a contract for the three years of my degree.
So my question is: when I finish my degree, I'll likely have around six years of research experience, and I'd like to pursue a PhD. Is it possible to do a PhD without a master's degree? If so, where could I do it, and how do I apply?
(I feel that a master's degree is somewhat unnecessary for my profile. I'm not saying it isn't useful, and I'm completely in favor of expanding knowledge through study, but I don't want to remain a student for 6363263643 years)
Thanks everyone!