The Student Room Group

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Reply 1
drmoney89
anyone with any facts/experiences etc? persoanlly i hear its much more interesting and laid back than a masters of bachelors.

My bf did one and worked late into the night even at the weekends (and we only saw each other at weekends back then...) when he was writing up his thesis, it was a nightmare :rolleyes:. So it's a lot of hard work, from what I can gather...
Reply 2
From what I gather, like an incredibly stressful job, but the difference being that you can't clock off at 5pm.
Reply 3
drmoney89
anyone with any facts/experiences etc? persoanlly i hear its much more interesting and laid back than a masters of bachelors.



Laid back?! Ha.

It depends a lot on the specifics. Certain groups and supervisors are more laid back than others, and it also depends on how important and thus urgent is your research.

In some cases your research is completely useless and there is no pressure since no-one cares when you finish.

I can say that in my case it was not laid back at all. On the other hand most of the pressure can be self driven as opposed to courses where you have to take exams. In my case all of the pressure was not just internal because there were groups of people waiting for results from me on a weekly basis. On the other hand other people rarely have to interact with anyone besides their supervisor throughout the PhD.

In general it's hard work. Exactlly how stressful you find it depends on how determined you are to do a good job.
Reply 4
In management and business you'd only do a PhD if you wanted to be a lecturer, that's what it prepares you for. You end up doing teaching to undergrads or masters students, as well while your doing your PhD. A lot of it's learning about research methods.
Reply 5
oh i see. Im also unsure how the whole funding thing works..and how much it costs to undertake the research, etc. anyone with the answers?
Reply 6
Best thing is to look out for a studentship. Or a bursary from ESRC. Some Unis have money for good PhD students. UniS can get money for full studentships so you don't pay at all, and get a salary (about £10,000). I expect you do stuff like teaching undergrad tutorials or something as well as your PhD for that. So, look out for a studentship. There's not many bursaries for Masters but there's quite a lot for PhDs. But you have to make sure they are in your field and topic and then submit a proposal. You can also get help from the professor to write the proposal as well before you submit - they often expect the applicants to ask for guidance in writing the proposal.
If you don't get a studentship I have no idea how you pay the fees and where you get your income. Rich parents maybe
Reply 7
drmoney89
anyone with any facts/experiences etc? persoanlly i hear its much more interesting and laid back than a masters of bachelors.


More interesting - definitely. More laid back... erm - not in any way shape or form! My average day in the lab when I did my doctorate was 7am til 10pm, and I tended to do at least 10 hours over the weekend...
Jazzza
If you don't get a studentship I have no idea how you pay the fees and where you get your income. Rich parents maybe


Having your parents pay for you (even if you can afford it) really defeats the
object of doctoral study anyway (unless you're doing a PHd for fun - masochist!) because a major component of having an academic career is securing grants and funding for the University. You won't get many job offers if you can't prove you could secure funding for yourself.

I've heard it called a PhG (Papa hept Geldt). :biggrin:
Reply 9
PhD is definitely not for everyone. Some people I know would say that getting a PhD is absolute 'hell'. Personally it was a nice experience, but you need to the right attitude and motivations.

For nice PhD related comics to help you get through grad school (and procrastinate) see www.phdcomics.com really funny stuff and resembling reality for a fair number of grad student.
Reply 10
whats a studentship again? i didn't rlly understood alot of the words used.
Studentship = A university gives money to students doing phds and not only does the student do that, they may also teach and other connected duties for their supervisor, who will always be a top Prof.

Also, a PhD is just targeted research as far as I'm aware, so an interest in the subject will probably take you a long way.
I really like my PhD -it is a lot of work, but it doesnt have to be. I came to my phd with a masters in research methodology and a masters in my topic + research experience beforehand so I have a firm grounding in what Im doing anyway. There is a feeling of 'what the hell am I doing' since you are self-studying and researching for 3 years with the guidance of a supervisor every so often, but I like the space. Having and ESRC studentship helps too! Its a good way to continue being a student without messing about with exams, assignments, lectures and other malarky. Though in all fairness unless you are not at a uni where postgrads make up a significant part of the population, you may start to feel old.
If you love the subject and can stand reading endless literature, and if you like writing your thoughts down and developing theories then it can be great. If you dont have a clear topic and dont have funding and wonder why you are doing it, then it is hell (so im told from my peers).
Reply 14
The Boosh
Its a good way to continue being a student without messing about with exams, assignments, lectures and other malarky.


Have you done your transfer test/qualifying viva yet?

Don't forget the real viva at the end. Mine was 6.5 hours long. Nice.
Ive not had a real viva but presented at a few national and international conferences and it feels like 20 mins of hell when they dont like your ideas. I did a new route phd so didnt need to transfer from mphil to phd (if thats what you mean) - my msc qualification and dissertation was enough to get me on the 3 year phd. Im not looking foward to the viva - ive heard terrible stories.

what the hell did they ask for for over 6 hours?
Reply 16
The Boosh

what the hell did they ask for for over 6 hours?


Lots of stuff - after the first 2 hours we were only on page 10 of my introduction. I guess they were making sure that I really knew my background stuff....

Plus, I had the internal examiner from hell. ITV should make a programme on them!
Christ - poor you. I know my external examiner by reputation etc and I think she's going to be 'ok' - ill bring some flowers and a box of chocolates before the viva.

Did you have to make any adjustments?
Reply 18
The Boosh
Christ - poor you. I know my external examiner by reputation etc and I think she's going to be 'ok' - ill bring some flowers and a box of chocolates before the viva.

Did you have to make any adjustments?


My external was fine! Lovely guy. It was my internal who was a git. Not our original choice, last minute sub, and first D.Phil he had examined as an internal, so he was more than through.

I had some 'minor' corrections, but not many.
Good for you - I dont know who my internal is/might be. One of 3 people I guess, and they are not too keen on my ideas so we will see what happens.