Thinking of doing a PhD... help!
Ages ago, I wrote the following blog based on my experiences of a PhD. I was asked plenty questions by prospective students, so created said blog to help them.
http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net
1) Annual stipend for a funded PhD is roughly equivalent to minimum wage these days, but competition is hefty. I only got £8,000 a year when I did it. You may get an additional industrial sponsorship if a commecial organisation is interested in your project, though this may mean extra work on your part (i.e. regular reports and presentation of information).
2) I looked after various kit in my department and did some informal student supervision towards the end and into post-doc. This I did not get paid for as I elected not to formally do extra duties (tipped off not to due to workload).
3) Once properly underway, up until the end of the experimental period (science-based PhD) I guess ~9 hours a day (not including a little home-based work). However, this would increase if I was preparing for a conference or involved in paper preparation. During write-up I did some seriously long hours and I spent two years doing 12 to 16 hour days (weekends included - gaps in experimental work had to be filled in as well).
4) My supervisor normally saw me 4 or 5 times a week. He kept a close watch on projects, however, I got autonomy to push a substantial chunk of the project in a direction I thought would get substantial results. He went off on his own tangent and it all worked out quite well in the end.
5) I tried to join the athletics union, however, injury ended that plan. I also tried to take a German language course, however, workload ended that after the first year.
6) Initially, yes. I did a first post-doc in the department where I did my PhD (overlap of PhD into post-doc due to write-up - fairly normal). The second post-doc at another university saw that come off the rails (project leader had poor people skills) and because of the second post-doc, I appreciate the problems others have posted up on here (supervision, lack of direction, conflict with colleagues, etc.). I'm back in the real world at a lower level than before the PhD (the second post-doc did a lot of damage).
7) Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the PhD even though the hours were killers at times. I got to do things and use some cool pieces of equipment I never though I'd get the chance to. I would not do anything different if I had the time over again and would still do the PhD if placed back in time and offered the chance to reconsider my choices. I would, however, not have taken the second post-doc if I had my time over again. But that's hindsight for you.
8) Work to study (science-based role to PhD, not consultancy) was straight forward for me. The one real problem was changing my writing style to an academic one (i.e. short report with basic facts to extended report with reference information). Going back to the real world and a fast paced job after the second post-doc I'm finding harder. A PhD does affect your mindset and approach.
9) I overran by about a year. It is possible to finish on time if you're structured in approach with given predetermined goals reached by certain fixed deadlines. However, the nature of a PhD is you're very likely to change direction due to new findings as you go along and your projected time scales thus become meaningless. I would say more people overrun than don't. Bear in mind you don't get funded during the overrun period unless you start a post-doc whilst you're finishing (and you have that work to do as well as your PhD write-up).
I have heard of early submissions, however, if you hear of people passing with minor corrections after two years you almost certainly have to be talking about a certified genius. Some Universities forbid submission before two and a half years.
Hope that's of help to you.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Hi there.
I think a PhD is a great thing to do, but it is a commitment, and it's nothing like being an undergraduate, so do be aware that you won't be reliving your undergraduate days if you decide to do one!
My annual stipend is about £13,000 a year (tax free) - that's about £1100 a month. I originally applied for an EPSRC funded project, but at interview it became clear that the project wasn't quite right for me, so someone with more specific expertise got that funding and they offered me an additional place funded by the university (they loved the ideas I had for continuing research based on my Masters dissertation). In my first year I was teaching a couple of modules at another university (I'd been doing that for a couple of years before I started the PhD) but realised it was getting in the way of my PhD so I dropped that teaching at the end of my first year. There hasn't been an opportunity to do any other extra paid work since, and to be honest, I don't think I'd have had the time anyway.
I try to work 9 to 5, but some days I do less and some days I do a lot more. When I have a deadline I often work much longer hours, e.g. 14 hour days, and over weekends, but I think having time off and a life outside the PhD is important to recharge your batteries, be fresh and effective, and to maintain your sanity!
I see my supervisors for regular meetings, usually a couple of times a month for about an hour at a time, but more often if there's a particular need for it. I'm seeing them a little less often now than I did in the beginning (I'm in my third year now).
I'm not at all involved in the life of the university. I commute from another city to attend, so only go onto campus twice a week. PhD students in my department who live near campus do seem to spend more time mixing socially, but generally most people are not involved in societies or other uni things - they are much more for undergraduates, or for taught postgrads. Being a mature student makes things slightly different though. I was working for 15 years before I started my PhD. It's very different to work - took me ages to get used to the idea that I didn't need to justify what I was doing every day, or that I could attend or not attend, or take time off, as I saw fit. Otherwise, it's been sheer luxury - it feels like such freedom after being in proper employment!
I'm hoping to go on to a Post-doc in my department, but it all depends on funding bids being successful. If that doesn't come off I'm not sure what I'll do - look to other universities for work, hopefully nearby. I'd much rather stay in academia but I know it's very hard to find work, so if I have to I'll look at other kinds of jobs. Hopefully I'll find something where the PhD is beneficial but who knows! Overall, though, I love my PhD. There are times when it's frustrating, and hard work, and I'd rather be down the pub with my mates than working late into the night, of course, but overall this has been a stimulating and rewarding experience. My funding runs out in October and I'm really hoping to finish by then, possible submitting in the summer (and then spending the last few weeks writing journal articles while I prepare for viva) although things are taking slightly longer than I anticipated so that plan may have slipped slightly!
Hope these comments help you decide what you want to do!
Hi there,
I get £14000 as the Doctoral Training Centre is funded by the EPSRC.
Applicants are told after interview if they would get one of the 10 allocated places of fees paid and a stipend.
I do not have time to work on top of the PhD because...
...in my department we are expected to spend 10 hours per week day on our work.
we are expected to be in the office or lab for nine hours per week day.
I see my supervisor one to one once per week with a 30 minute time slot.
Group meeting is 1-2 hours per week for more general issues in the whole group and presentations.
I have a post-doc on hand for day to day queries, however my supervisor regularly has pointed out I can see her more if needed at times.
I try and join in time to time with uni out of work things but have a family so this limits me, however, others without partners or children join in loads of things.
Having seen how hard the academics work I am not sure if I want a career progression that is more hours per day than I am doing currently. No idea what I will do post PhD. Lots of opportunity to network, so if I do go post-doc route will have knowledge of other groups and suitable references.
On the whole I enjoy my PhD. The times I don't enjoy it are when things don't work and I wonder what on earth will go in the thesis at the end. I also find the work load a struggle - the last thing I want to do after 10 hours in the lab is an hour or two reading the latest papers at home.
I worked for many years before PhD. Going from a seven hour work day to a ten hour day was not easy. Gradually getting used to it now.
I see no reason why I shouldn't finish on time (or within 3 months of end). My supervisor is already following my work to ensure I will have suitable results to present in the thesis. I am already thinking about my thesis and how I will write up methods used so far, literature review in introduction (very rough drafts) etc. One reason people need extra time is because they leave the writing too late. Writing bits early gives practice and takes away some of the writers block (or having to remember what you did 18 months previous).
10 hour per weekday on work, 9 of those in the lab / office? To set arbitrary rules on students when the whole process is going to be stressful enough seems a bit strange to me. Workload will dictate hours anyway and the supervisors surely will realise who is doing the work and who is not without imposing what seems to me a lack of trust on their part for students to do their work .
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
