Is a Full Time PhD 9 to 5?

spm_uk

spm_uk

spm_uk

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Hey all,

My PhD starts end of sept and its Full Time. Just wondering from anyone else who has done one, what Full Time is regarded as? At Uni it was a few times a week then work from home.

Cheers
 
Well, everyone I work with works 9-5 it absolutely ******* infuriates me - and it is noted by superiors. There is no way you can get a good PhD without working - or at least thinking - every second of everyday. It isn't a job.

Of course it depends on the subject and project. For instance, I'm barely in my office more than 1/2 the week. But I routinely work 18hr days+ to get publications out.
 
9-5 more like in your spare time too.

dont have the impression you just study at uni. its more independed study and research,
 
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Nitefly said:
Pretty much this.

It's full time as in you are not expected to take another job whilst completing it. There are probably no strict set hours - you work until your day is over.
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When I was offered a PHD position (Some real hardcore nerd logic) the guy advised me to keep a part-time job to bump up my earnings. After 6 or so months and had proved I was sticking it out they would offer me work with the uni.

And when I asked if it was 9-5 and if I would be monitored or not, the answer was I got laughed at. 4-6 hours a day, 4 days a week is the norm. Before a report, presentation, meeting, paper 80hours for a few weeks is not uncommon. They don't monitor you because you have to have meeting with them every few months where you have to submit progress reports.
 
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Another quick question. I'm looking at joining the RAuxAF Regiment which is mainly weekends and wednesday nights, It says in my contract that I am not aloud to work mor than six hours per week in another job, does this count towards the quota?
 
Doing a PhD is not, IMHO, anything like as hard work as a 9-5 job. Apart from attending the odd conference, doing a few talks, the odd meeting with supervisor, your time is your own. As someone mentioned, 4-6 hours a day for about 4 days a week would probably be the norm.

I have a strong feeling may PhD students make out it's a lot harder than it actually is.
 
Sparky__H said:
When I was offered a PHD position (Some real hardcore nerd logic) the guy advised me to keep a part-time job to bump up my earnings. After 6 or so months and had proved I was sticking it out they would offer me work with the uni.

And when I asked if it was 9-5 and if I would be monitored or not, the answer was I got laughed at. 4-6 hours a day, 4 days a week is the norm. Before a report, presentation, meeting, paper 80hours for a few weeks is not uncommon. They don't monitor you because you have to have meeting with them every few months where you have to submit progress reports.
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I guess it depends on your supervisor and project. I know that the guys in my old lab worked very hard indeed.
 
On a side note, I have also just applied for a PhD position at Swansea University, I have submitted my Application and Proposal and stated I would require funding (cant afford to take another loan).

My question, do I have to apply for funding manualy? or will the University automaticaly sort something out or provide me with further information. The website states the source of funding, but does not clarify how you approach the situation. :)
 
w11tho said:
Doing a PhD is not, IMHO, anything like as hard work as a 9-5 job. Apart from attending the odd conference, doing a few talks, the odd meeting with supervisor, your time is your own. As someone mentioned, 4-6 hours a day for about 4 days a week would probably be the norm.

I have a strong feeling may PhD students make out it's a lot harder than it actually is.
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Just out of interest have you done a Phd? :confused:

A Phd caused me and my wife to break up, she was out of the country close to 6 months a year and working 50-60 hrs most weeks she was in country. She had a permanent desk at Uni and regular meetings with her supervisor when she was around. It was stupidly lots more work than I currently do in a 9-5.30 job.

Obviously it's possible there are phd's where you don't do that much... but the few people I know and knew while they were doing them did WAY more than a normal desk job.
 
w11tho said:
Doing a PhD is not, IMHO, anything like as hard work as a 9-5 job. Apart from attending the odd conference, doing a few talks, the odd meeting with supervisor, your time is your own. As someone mentioned, 4-6 hours a day for about 4 days a week would probably be the norm.

I have a strong feeling may PhD students make out it's a lot harder than it actually is.
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I have guys working 10-12 hour days here on their projects
 
My sister's doing a PhD at the moment and I suspect she'd struggle to manage a part time job on top of it. She works pretty full days and is often "just nipping in" to the lab over a weekend.

Having said that, her's is a funded project and thus she doesn't really need to work
 
Ricochet J said:
I heard PhDs can vary from 2 - 3 years up to around 8 - 10 years, depending on the project you have chosen! :eek:
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3 years minimum, though back in 1994 we got £2million from the Wellcome Trust to pioneer the 4 year PhD program. Thesis have to be bound and handed into the faculty office by 1st October in the 4th year with no excuses. Most unis have been getting strict with the never ending student.
 
Bill101 said:
3 years minimum, though back in 1994 we got £2million from the Wellcome Trust to pioneer the 4 year PhD program. Thesis have to be bound and handed into the faculty office by 1st October in the 4th year with no excuses. Most unis have been getting strict with the never ending student.
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It's called a black mark student. The uni gets judged on how many "unsubmitted" PhDs they have on their books.

All non-WT students get 3yrs funded + 1yr available funding + optional 1yr to write up (usually unpaid). The last year causes the black marks.

WT students can have no black marks and they only get the 3yrs to finish (excluding rotation year 0). So, in effect, get short changed by at least a year. Tres difficult.

I too can work 12hr+ days. A month ago I was pulling 20hr days to pull 3 papers off at once.
 
It depends on your supervisor, and also your subject.

My supervisor was only really interested in the end result. I could work in the middle of the night if I wanted, so long as the results kept coming. Other supervisors are more strict. Also, in some fields you will need to work closely with technicians etc, so you will need to be around 9 - 5 at least some of the time.
 
w11tho said:
Doing a PhD is not, IMHO, anything like as hard work as a 9-5 job. Apart from attending the odd conference, doing a few talks, the odd meeting with supervisor, your time is your own. As someone mentioned, 4-6 hours a day for about 4 days a week would probably be the norm.

I have a strong feeling may PhD students make out it's a lot harder than it actually is.
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This.

I certainly don't work 9-5 solidly. The PhD offices here are empty until 10:30 or so. I've never been told that this is unacceptable, my publications have been accepted at "prestigious" conferences, and my progress reviews have all been more than satisfactory.

It's busy when a publication deadline is approacing and I've worked the odd evening and weekend when I've got a lot to write, but on balance I'd definitely say I do less hours than a 9-5 job.

Having said that, it's probably very much dependent on your project and your supervisors.
 
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