Where to go on a University Exchange in Europe?

Where should I go for graduate school: A top 20 US university ranked #1 in my field with really good facilities, collaborations and big shot scientists or the top university in Europe (assuming I get funded)?

• I've been accepted into a top 20 physics graduate school in the US. It's really well known in my field hosting a few Nobel Laureates and also has good collaborations with national labs. I would've loved to attend it but for the fact that I'm also being offered a Ph.D position at a top European University (Oxbridge). While the US school does have some good faculty I'd like to work with, I am a little concerned that it's not particularly well known outside my rather narrow field. However, I have heard that Ph.D degrees from Europe are not taken very seriously in the US. Plus I'll have to graduate within three years so I might not have as many publications in that time. I'd really like some help in deciding how much importance to give to each factor.

• Answer:

  I must admit it's quite hard to answer accurately without being told the schools. If you want to retain anonymity you can name them without that giving away anything. Broadly speaking it depends on your priorities, but I'll address the points each in turn. However, I have heard that Ph.D degrees from Europe are not taken very seriously in the US. This is garbage, and whoever told you that was wrong or exaggerating - especially if we're talking about an Oxbridge level school. The only reason they are shorter is because there is no taught element. We'll revisit the effects of this later, but remove that idea from your head. It's really well known in my field hosting a few Nobel Laureates and also has good collaborations with national labs. Depending on your supervisor, this could be true of Oxbridge as well. They are world-renowned after all. While the US school does have some good faculty I'd like to work with, I am a little concerned that it's not particularly well known outside my rather narrow field. Having faculty you want to work with is important, but you'll want to check they have tenure or are likely to get it. A good name school is also important, but this is less so for PhD - names and research quality are perhaps more important, but this is a varying factor depending on your career path (if you go outside academia, a 'brand name' school could be important). Plus I'll have to graduate within three years so I might not have as many publications in that time. This part is true, although bear in mind many folk in sciences can get 4 years funding total. It's actually 4 you have to graduate within, but you'll need to scrabble around for funding during the 4th if you need time to finish. Do you think you want to stay in academia? You'll likely publish more in the US school and when you're applying for competitive positions after you might have an edge. However, it is important to note that if you pursue Oxbridge then chances are you would do 1 or 2 year postdoc somewhere after you finish, where you would catch up on the publication gap. It also broadens your academic network if you move elsewhere for that. Basically, it actually makes little difference - it's not quite as different as you envisage. I would say the Oxford/Cambridge name would carry a lot of weight, and you should really think hard about that. Oxbridge is synonymous with academic excellence the world over. However, you can't discount the faculty you would like to work with at the US school. I would say go with Oxbridge, but having gone there myself I'm a tinge biased.