What it a ph.D course?

A ph.D course is an advanced and very specialised post-graduate course which involves candidates carrying out original research within their particular discipline. There are variations between exactly what a ph.D course involves between different disciplines and different countries. For example, some ph.D courses involve candidates teaching undergraduates and others involve ph.D students attending lectures. It is in fact very difficult to concisely define exactly what is involved in completing a Ph.D course. This is probably because candidates who complete a ph.D course do so to carry out new research within their discipline. Therefore the essence of the ph.D course is to do what has never been done before in order for the research to be relevant. Therefore to adopt a set formula for any ph.D course would be counter-productive and run against the very nature of the originality of thought and research demanded.

Once a candidate has completed a ph.D course they earn a doctorate within their discipline (for example doctor of law) and consequently earn the right to be known by the title of doctor. Earning the title of doctor at the completion of the ph.D course marks a seminal moment in the candidate’s academic career. The candidate has made the transition from student to doctor representing a change from being dependent upon academic guidance and support to being an independent scholar who possesses an outstanding knowledge of a chosen discipline capable of carrying out unique research.

Entrance requirements?

There will be minimum entrance requirements to gain access to any reputable ph.D course. Normally a minimum of a 2nd class honours degree will be needed. More than academic requirements however is the requirement to find a ph.D supervisor willing to supervise your research. Many academics will be unwilling to supervise a ph.D candidate regardless of their academic qualifications unless they exhibit an interest and enthusiasm for research in the discipline. Therefore candidates must ask themselves whether they are motivated and decidedly interested in their chosen subject area because simply having a good or even outstanding undergraduate qualification is not enough.

Why do a ph.D course?

There are many reasons why a student who has completed an undergraduate degree may wish to commit another three or even four years to complete a ph.D course. In the past the most common reason was the desire to go into academia within a particular discipline. Therefore mainly those students interested in becoming academics would complete ph.D courses and go on to a career of teaching and further research. Increasingly however more and more students are viewing the ph.D course as an opportunity to further their career prospects. With an ever increasing amount of candidates in the job market possessing undergraduate degrees there is a desire by some students to set themselves apart in the job market by completing more advanced qualifications. Undoubtedly completing a ph.D course demonstrates to any prospective employer that a person has: the ability to work alone and independently for extended period; an advanced knowledge in a chosen field and superb critical faculties; and an aptitude for hard work and the ability to see things through to completion.

Challenges to overcome?

The decision to stay on at university for a further three or four years should not be taken lightly regardless of any perceived advantages a student may have about improving their prospects in the job market. Anyone considering completing a ph.D course must keep in mind that the road ahead will be fraught with challenges, require long hours and demand unwavering commitment to the task at hand. In order to overcome these challenges candidates must possess a genuine interest and be passionate about the area of the discipline they will study in their ph.D course. For the first year candidates will often struggle with determining exactly which aspect of their discipline they will concentrate on for their thesis. In order to get the most out of the first year and help give direction to the ph.D course candidates should focus on completing the relevant background reading in their discipline.

A lot of this initial reading and foundation building will make things easier in years two and three when the candidate will decide upon a specific area of research to carry out. It is in this initial period that most ph.D candidates drop out because of the pressures of self reliance and self discipline. Although each ph.D student has a supervisor the direction of their research is very much determined by their own initiative and interest. A further difference between a ph.D course and undergraduate courses is that ph.D students are expected to keep abreast of all the latest publications and developments in their field. Furthermore, there are no general lectures to attend in ph.D courses because the nature of the ph.D is that of discovery and therefore the subject matter will not be well known.

Further considerations?

The funding for ph.D courses are normally available based on academic merit from university bursaries to corporate sponsorships. The funding can be quite modest and this is undeniably something that must be considered before taking a ph.D course especially if you have a lot of student debts from an undergraduate course to repay. Also it must be kept in mind that any corporate funding will almost inevitable come with conditions that give the corporation some ownership of any research, or patents that you discover. Considering the long working hours and the commitment required to make any ph.D course academically worthwhile the financial rewards are modest. Once again the commitment for the discipline and a passion for discovery and research must be possessed by any ph.D candidate because in the short term at least the financial rewards are bleak.

Should you have decide that a ph.D course is definitely the right choice for you, even after considering the challenges, hard work and sacrifice involved for very little immediate financial reward, the next step is to choose the correct institution for your discipline. The quality of the ph.D course that is on offer is most often judged by the quality of the supervisor involved because there is no formal grading involved. Therefore it is important to choose someone who is internationally well respected and recognised in the field of research you wish to study. Additional to this consideration is the working relationship that a prospective ph.D advisor will be prepared to have. Some supervisors are very distant whereas others are much more involved and supportive.