Anyone done a PhD?

[D D Danneh]

So I'm halfway through my MSc, looking forward to finishing and starting a career, but not so hot on the whole job hunt malarkey. I hadn't considered a PhD due to the workload and poor money, but I was just collared by my lecturer and asked whether I'd be interested in doing one. It's run by said lecturer, and it sounded like I'd have a good chance of getting it, mainly because it requires security clearance and I'm the only UK citizen on my course.

The pay is really good, on the higher-end of what I was hoping for out of a job post-tax, and it's in a field of study I'd like to be involved in, tied in with a company I'd like to work for, so I'm pretty much set on at least applying. I'm posting here simply to get thoughts and experiences from other people who did PhDs. How much IS the actual workload? What I'd like to know most as well, is how much direction and guidance are you given? I understand it's a far cry from being given tasks and deadlines, but I think I might be a little lost if I was just thrown a problem and told "Here, you have a year to find a solution and write a paper on it".

Any thoughts?

 

[D D Danneh]

I started one, quit it after 2 years, and went into IT. My other half has some corrections to do for hers but otherwise has one.

The experience can be pretty variable, but in general you'll be doing a more a regular job's worth of hours for less pay than is available elsewhere, in exchange for the certificate at the end.

Guidance is purely dependent on how good or bad a supervisor you get, and it's possible to get a PhD even with poor or no guidance, but it just takes longer and more work.

Bear in mind that if you still have work after your funding runs out (basically happens to everybody), you either have to get a job and complete a PhD part time (a lot of people never complete due to not seeing much value in the certificate after already having a job) or borrow whilst you complete your studies.

Ah, I hadn't considered there being work left after the 3 years, guess I'm too used to the standard "exams and you're done" model.

As far as pay, it's £21k/year tax free, with rolls royce, so pretty much on par, if not better pay than some graduate jobs, and means a pretty good standing for a job afterwards (assuming I don't drop the ball ).

There are three supervisors, one being my lecturer (all-round excellent guy), another being one of the uni academics I haven't met, and the other being the industrial supervisor who I've spoke to briefly. Hopefully this is a good thing, more people to push me in the right direction!

Cheers for your input

I'd recommend it, but as said above, make sure you'll be able to fund yourself for about 6 months after the funding runs out (usually 3 years). I don't know many people who were able to completely finish within 3 years (i.e., be able to start a job in the 1st month of the 4th year).

The workload is not significantly more than a job in industry, IF you're able to put in a solid day's work every day - which can be challenging to self-motivate yourself.

Good points, motivation I can manage if there's something to do, and I'll make sure to put away some of that stipend in case. Pretty excited to be honest, things just keep falling into my lap