[Coldstream]

Hey everyone,

Last year I posted asking about the prospects of getting on to a PhD program given my 2.2 and MSc. (http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...075&p=31933994)

I made three applications and got two offers both from top 5 universities. (Yay!)

I will be starting a PhD in Computer Science (Computational physics/biology/stats) this October. I also have work experience in a strategy consultancy and in a scientific computing environment.

I would like a non academic job after I finish. My question is this:

Will I be able to get a job where a phd is the entry requirement (e.g. computer scientist/quant etc) despite not having a 2.1? Will they care given my MSc and PhD?

[evantej]

(Original post by Coldstream)
Hey everyone,

Last year I posted asking about the prospects of getting on to a PhD program given my 2.2 and MSc. (http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...075&p=31933994)

I made three applications and got two offers both from top 5 universities. (Yay!)

I will be starting a PhD in Computer Science (Computational physics/biology/stats) this October. I also have work experience in a strategy consultancy and in a scientific computing environment.

I would like a non academic job after I finish. My question is this:

Will I be able to get a job where a phd is the entry requirement (e.g. computer scientist/quant etc) despite not having a 2.1? Will they care given my MSc and PhD?

Having a masters degree and PhD will open up career paths unavailable to you as an undergraduate, but if you are talking about your bog-standard graduate programme then no you will still be 'discriminated' against. They want a 2.1 and that is all there is to it. The same goes for moronic recruiters who insist on a certain number of UCAS points as well as a 2.1. It is simply a method of reducing the number of candidates. You could have done terribly in your A levels but gotten a 2.1 or a first at undergraduate level (like me!), but it does not matter.

Speak to your supervisor about the kind of work you might be suitable for once you are finished, that is obviously not a graduate programme.

[poohat]

After a PhD I dont even bother listing my MSci grade on my CV (and it was higher than a 2:2). Assuming your PhD is from a good university its unlikely that your undergrad degree class will come up; HR might notice if you are going for a graduate scheme type job, but it shouldnt be an issue if you are going for less generic roles (which as a PhD you should be).

Your PhD sounds suitably technical that you would be applying for masters/PhD level jobs afterwards rather than grad schemes, but I agree you might want to double check with your advisor.

[gumball]

I agree with the above, I doubt it will particularly matter. If you start publishing papers, they speak for themselves, and require a) a decent understanding of whatever b) a completely different skillset to the now irrelevant undergraduate degree you did, on various subjects you don't particularly care about.

For an academic CV, you could always just put the titles of your respective courses, without grades if you fancied (BSc Computer stuff (University of Scotland), MSc Harder computer stuff (Uni. of blah), PhD computer physics (etc.)).