Just spoke with a university lecturer here in Sweden. He does not understand how any degree without a thesis would be accepted in Europe Anyone got any opinions on this.
I ran into this issue when I was applying for a doctorate program. I applied in Europe, and almost all required, or strongly used as a part of their weighting criteria a thesis. I understand the point, with all other things being equal, a thesis will show a substantal project, and could help assess the success of the program they are in. I was told in Europe that almost all master's have a thesis, and know that number is much lower in the US. I now tell my students (where there is an option of the thesis or oral defense), go with the thesis. You could offer up any research you have, or any substantial project in a particular class, it is not a thesis, but may help. Good luck.
Yes, he's talking about the current continental European magister degree. There's no problem whatsoever about having an undergraduate degree without a thesis in the the UK and Ireland. Also, whether the five or six year degree with a thesis remains the undergraduate standard on much of the continent is currently up for grabs. My understanding of the Bologna process is that the thesis element will almost certainly move into the Master's degree, which is where it lives in the Anglo-Saxon world. Anyway, you're not doing a European degree, you're doing a US degree, so what it has and hasn't as its components is none of his business. Angela
There is a difference between your degree being accepted by a potential employer and/or using it to pursue further education in Europe. The big 3 no doubt have about the same "acceptance rate" with employers in Europe as in the US. If you are interested in continuing your education in Europe then it is no doubt best to speak with the school you are interested in before finishing/completing your "big 3" (or any other US degree for that matter) degree. Each European country has different school systems, different prerequisites, different requirements etc. It is quite possible that after completing a US Bachelors you might need to complete some requirement (for instance a thesis) before being accepted into a European Graduate program. Just my .02 Brandon
