• Question: How long would it take you to become a professional scientist

    Asked by anon-324151 to Yasmin, Matt, Georgia, Ali, Alex on 22 Mar 2022.
    • Photo: Alistair McShee

      Alistair McShee answered on 22 Mar 2022:

      You become a “qualified” scientist after a degree, or similar study; so for me it was after studying at university for four years to get my master’s degree, although if I wanted a bachelor’s degree I could have only studied for three years!

    • Photo: Matt Kasoar

      Matt Kasoar answered on 24 Mar 2022:

      Additionally for research positions in academia (i.e. at a university etc.) – as well as some industry/science consultancy roles – you may also need a PhD, which is a further 3-4 years of study (in the UK anyway, it can be longer abroad) but in return you lets you call yourself a doctor 😝 Also when you’re doing a PhD you’re producing cutting-edge research, so I would argue that you already are a scientist at that point, even if technically you’re still a student.

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