A couple of my tutors suggested I ought to do a postgraduate course - MA and/or PhD (Art/design related). It may be something I consider doing in the future, but I often wondered what is the value/purpose in doing a PhD?

I felt quite disheartened when I saw the results of the other poll on this website. It's incredibly sad I think that people feel as if they have to have a PhD to place themselves ahead of the rest of the field, when in the past, a bachelors degree would have done the same job. An example: the father of someone I used to know, who would be in his 50's, with an ordinary bachelors degree he landed himself a career with a major chemical firm and the result of which is that he is fairly loaded with cash now. But what would an ordinary degree get you nowadays? A silly MacDonalds uniform maybe? Quite unfair when you consider how much hard work and sacrifice goes into a first degree let alone a PhD. Can someone please tell me why the government intends that 50% of school-leavers to go into university education. It helps who exactly?

I think the value in doing a PhD is personal. It allows you to broaden your intellect, and increase exponentially your knowledge in a subject you enjoy. You are also able to contribute and give something back to an institution you like.
While your advisors are obviously complimenting your abilities, if it doesn't immediately grab you there is possibly no point in trying to find merits for a PhD

I thought that one of the reasons for doing a phd was to get a better career prospects. My undersatnding is that you can reach a certain glass celing if you don't have a phd esp in academia. If u work in industry do you need a phd for the more responsible jobs or can u work your way up?

The original intended use of the PhD programme was to prepare people for their careers in research. Nowadays however there seem to be more and more people with PhD's going into jobs outside of academia for which they could perform without a PhD. This is because there are more (bachelors) degree graduates every year than there are graduate jobs available.

You need a phd t get anywhere in industry. I know from expereince. I thought i could work my way up too but it didnt matter how good at my job i was - they would rather have a phd for the higher positions esp. management.

I know this to be the case from my experience too. I really can't see the logic behind it at all; why would anyone need to be trained in research to perform a managerial job? Surely for such positions within industry, it works better for the company and the employee if they have worked within the company for X number of years first. Furthermore, it really does add to students' burdens not only during their studenthood because longer study = a higher debt, but also when they are trying to establish a worthwhile career that pays accordingly.

The reasoning I was given off my boss is that they cant have a graduate in charge of another graduate or god forbid a phd. And as for higher research positions - they would rather have a phd level scientist on graduate salaries (which are significantly less than phd salaries).

I'm sorry to say this, but what an idiot your boss sounds! So, someone who has worked their way up the ladder over a number of years, and more importantly has the experience & the benefit of maturity behind them is less qualified to be in charge of a graduate than someone with a PhD who quite possibly has no experience of the outside world at all?!

Thats the way it works unfortunately and thats why i am now doing a phd. I am hoping one day i will be in a position where i can change things a bit

I hope so too! Good luck. :)

>has the experience
>....
>PhD who quite possibly has no experience of the outside world at all?!
I have 15 years of computing experience and was not given a managerial role because I did not have a PhD. O-tone. But it was in a University, I was always under the impression PhD's are not welcome in Industry (unless pharma, etc).

Maybe it's just good to be called Dr :-) too, besides all the interesting stuff you do.

I think the main reason to do a PhD is to put 'Dr.' on your bank card. Thats why Im doing it anyway!

As a feminist I have to agree that being called Dr. is better than Miss or Mrs. Blokes are always called Mr. despite their marrital status. This is unfair. Besides Ms just sounds silly