So I finished my Masters in English Literature with a pretty good grade. Along the way, I decided to teach, and now I'm interested in doing research into alternative schooling and stuff. Please tell me I don't need a B.Ed. for that. What options do I have at this point of time? Do something with English? Or do I have nothing to fear? I really want to do a PhD as quickly as possible, and get it out of the way. Lol.

Yes, I'm confused. Really. Where to from here? An MPhil? A BEd? A PhD?

I'm not sure but it might depend on what you mean by alternative schooling? To my mind that could fall under education and psychology. So I don't know what the exact expectations in terms of qualifications would be for going on to do a PhD. Some departments and supervisors might be fine with you not having a direct previous qualification and base it on the knowledge you have of teaching and the enthusiasm you have for the area.

I would imagine though that if research is your main aim that you would need some sort of research training, maybe as part of the PhD (PGC in research etc) or as a separate masters, maybe MRes.

PhD's are labours of love (and sometimes hate towards the end). You might be able to do it quickly and efficiently but that's still not guarantee it won't take long. They're not really the kind of thing you can breeze through really. Also :) It should be an interesting and enjoyable experience to a certain extent. The only reason I want my PhD out the way now is because I've got something else to move onto, not because I haven't enjoyed it (or that it was just a means to an end) if you see what I mean.

Could you talk to one of your Masters course academics for some advice? Sounds like a research degree (Mphil/PhD) might be the way to go if you are interested in pursuing a research career. Have you identified a research group who are working in a educational research field that you are interested in? If so, perhaps you could contact them to ask about any openings for research students. Good luck :-)

Hey thanks a bunch, Ann! I should really talk to my Masters professors. It's been like two years since I last met them. This would be a great opportunity to. What's this about research groups? (Yes, you can tell I'm totally confused about this.)


Thanks for your reply, peljam. I totally know what you mean about PhDs taking time. I've heard so much about people who do it for 25 years. :\ Have people done it in less than three years?

You're right about it being linked with education/psychology. I'm so glad you told me about the experience/enthusiasm bit, because I really want to do this, so perhaps there's a chance. *Fingers crossed*. But if it's going to require an education degree, that's a year wasted. I'm going to sound like a n00b here, but what are PGCs and MRes? Is that like an MPhil degree? And good luck with yours!

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It can be done in less than three but it's very rare. Especially if it's heavily research based. Sometimes things go wrong :( And as you'll essentially become an expert in whatever area you take on it can get quite in-depth at the write up.
Normally though, and there's a thread on it floating about, if you're doing it full time you research for about 3 years and then spend sometime writing up afterwards. I'm at the 3 year 2 month mark myself. But should be submitted next month, and sit the Viva in the new year.

MRes is a Masters in Research, so the equivalent level of an MPhil I think but the emphasis is on studying the methods and stats that go along with Research. PGC is a post graduate certificate and depending on the focus of your credits can be in different areas. Like a PGCE.

Good luck with it :D Deciding what to do and which way to go can be a research project in itself.