A PhD is a research degree and is the highest award available at universities in the UK. Study is based around a substantial research project on an area of academic interest, typically up to , words in length, written as a thesis which then must be defended in an oral examination in front of a panel of experts. Students are assigned a supervisor and the duration of a PhD is typically three years full-time and six years part-time.
Very few research degrees feature taught modules, and as such a student is expected to take more responsibility for their work and schedule. UK universities are free to admit anyone to a PhD programme, with admission generally conditional on the prospective student having successfully completed an undergraduate degree with at least upper second-class honours, as well as a masters degree. A research proposal example is required by all students when applying to study a PhD. The proposal should clearly address the research you wish to undertake, how you will do it, and why it is important.
The proposal must be accepted by a panel of experts before your programme can begin. If you wish to study a PhD, you may first need to begin an MPhil and then transfer to a PhD programme after months. An MPhil is also a qualification in its own right and is generally thesis-only, lasting one year full-time and two years part-time. Some question whether there are already too many PhDs and ask whether there are sufficient employment opportunities outside of the academic sector.
Several studies suggest that many PhD students continue to prefer academic employment , leading to harsh competition in the academic sector and frustrated ambitions. The existing evidence on PhD employment is, however, relatively limited, as PhDs have historically received far less attention than undergraduates.
Research suggests that PhD graduates enjoy both higher earnings and higher rates of skilled employment, but this varies significantly by field of study and national context. Developing a reliable evidence base for the UK context is therefore particularly important amid plans for further investment and growth.
Over the last decade, reports by Vitae have demonstrated that a diminishing proportion of PhD graduates will secure academic employment. In an effort to better understand the outcomes of PhDs, and especially what happens to those who leave the academic sector, this new study made use of the best available data on PhD employment in the UK.
Put simply, this allows PhD employment outcomes to be examined in relation to factors such as PhD subject and institution, prior qualifications, age, gender and ethnicity.
Considering first the promises of the knowledge economy, the Long DLHE offers some optimistic indicators. However, there are notable variations in earnings by the subject, with Arts and Humanities PhD holders earning significantly less than all other subject areas.
Turning to consider employment outcomes by sector, figure 1 demonstrates that the vast majority of UK PhD holders This distinction is admittedly problematic in that it conflates those employed with teaching-only contracts with those in more conventional academic positions combining teaching, research and administrative duties. Of those who have left academia, just over half Analysis of the data from and doctoral graduates suggests a fairly consistent pattern across occupational areas.
Although there are some flows in and out of these occupation areas over time, broadly these data show that:. There are significant variations in career destination according to research discipline. The table below demonstrates the position for doctoral graduates employed 3. Higher proportions of social sciences especially and arts and humanities doctoral graduates work in higher education than for other disciplines, but far fewer of them work in research outside higher education.
More physical science, engineering and biomedical science researchers work in common doctoral occupations in industry. It's worth noting that that the profile of doctoral researchers varies greatly by discipline; for example, many more of those in social sciences enter from employment rather than from prior study — so some will be returning to university jobs afterwards. The over-riding message is that a doctoral degree can prepare you well for employment in lots of different sectors and it is likely statistically that this might not be as an academic.
These opportunities will prove invaluable in my career going forwards, in academia. Just like any course, the benefits you'll get from a research degree depends on what you want to get out of it. When you're weighing up your options there are some important questions you should ask yourself to make sure it's right for you.
Studying a research degree is a multi-year time commitment. If you're excited by the idea of spending a significant period of time dedicated to one subject, that's a good sign you're ready. Research degrees often involve a lot of independent work, so if you're only partly interested in the subject, you might find yourself losing interest. That can make meeting your own expectations more difficult. Is learning about and working in this field something that you can see yourself in for the next years?
And where do you want to be in that timeframe? It's important not to study just so you can put off bigger life decisions. There are many different jobs or careers in every field. Not all of them require you to have a research Master's or PhD.
If you want to contribute to a specific industry or area, do you already have some skills and knowledge you can apply in it?
If not, what skills or knowledge will a research degree give you? If you've finished your Bachelor's or Master's degree and are looking at your next options, a research degree is an option that keeps things familiar.
For some students, if you've spent the last years studying you might want to try something different. It depends on who you are, what you care about and what you want to do with your life.
If you finished your degree and you're mostly relieved it's over then jumping right back into study may not be the best fit for you. Remember that you can always go to uni again later. Plenty of graduates spend a few years working before coming back to upskill, retrain or dive into their passion. In a lot of cases, what you've learned in your work experience will make you a better student when you go back to it.
Every research student has at least one supervisor. They're there to support and guide you as you develop your ideas and compile your research. Having the right supervisor can be the difference between making your research good, great or excellent. If they're running or part of a research centre or group you may have greater access to networks and resources.
It's best you explore supervisors you can work with , which might mean checking out multiple universities and reaching out to them directly. Usually, their profile will say if they're taking on new students and they're happy to get back to you by email.
As it is a PhD I have formed my course myself, but having a supervisor who is well-versed in my subject area is the most unique part of my work here, as no one else is approaching the subjects we look at in a similar way. If you're a UK national applying for an MPhil or MRes course, you might be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan which you can use to fund your tuition fees, living costs and other costs for a Master's course.
If you're an international student you'll need to plan out how you can cover your costs and fund yourself while you're studying.
If you're currently working you may need to adjust your working hours or potentially look for part-time work.
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