PhD

I am thinking about doing a PhD in clinical psychology and I'm not sure how important the university you attend is when getting the PhD. Does it effect how likely you are to be employed and does it make your doctorate less valid?

Cannot stress enough how little the institution matters relative to the actual supervisor. Find a great supervisor, regardless of where they are based.

What makes a supervisor 'great'?

The main two things are that they are capable and that you get on with them. A minimum of 3 years working hand-in-hand with someone is very hard if they are incompetent or a total arse, I have seen it kill people's enthusiasm and end careers before they started.

How would you know if you get on with them if you never emt them before or do you have to be someone you know well to do a PhD with them?I don't really know how it all works .

What makes a supervisor 'great'?

Experience, will respond to emails.

It is wise to go see them in person before you commit.

So when you pick supervisors is it like:

Well, sort of. But you might be invited by a supervisor to apply to work under them, or you might approach potential supervisors. It is ultimately their choice in the end and not yours.

So when you want to do a PhD do you just email people you would think you would want as a supervisor and then if they say yes -you're in and you're going to do a PhD or... (so how does one go about the application process..?)

You get in touch -- relatively formally, so no 'hiaaa, can I do a PhD, cheers...' -- and ask if they would be interested in and have time to supervise xyz PhD project. If they say yes, then you have to apply through their institution's process and satisfy the institutional criteria.

Alternatively you might be approached and asked, or you might apply for a set studentship with a project defined by a council etc. In all cases you need to apply to (and maybe then compete via) the institution's admissions people. You should get to know the potential supervisor(s) at least via email exchanges so that you can get a feel for them. Better to have met them at some point, in my experience. Makes judging it a little easier. I already knew my primary supervisor so it was painless enough for me.

So when you want to do a PhD do you just email people you would think you would want as a supervisor and then if they say yes -you're in and you're going to do a PhD or... (so how does one go about the application process..?)

Ofc I wouldn't write 'hey mate,do you want to be my phd supervisor or not', I was just simplifying the process .Thanks for the explanation,well explained.

Have you done a masters before this? or a degree related to this doctorate? if so I would contact the tutor as you would've formed some sort of partnership and may offer you a place