What are the advantages of staying in the same laboratory for a master’s degree?
The main advantage of staying in the same laboratory for a master’s degree is that you can build on the research topic, methods, equipment, and skills you developed as an undergraduate, which may make it easier to deepen your work sooner. You already know the supervisor, lab members, procedures, and research environment, so planning and consultation may be more straightforward. However, the same lab is not always the best option, so comparing other laboratories is also important.
Key points
- Undergraduate knowledge, techniques, and data may carry over into the master’s research.
- Familiarity with the equipment, procedures, supervisor, and lab members can reduce the adjustment period.
- Continuing an established topic and collaborating within the lab may be easier.
Things to check
- You should check whether the supervisor’s approach, research topic, facilities, and lab environment suit your goals.
- Progression requirements and whether a topic can be continued vary by university, faculty, and program, so confirm the details in official information and with the supervisor.