great PhDs for bright people
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PhD Funding and Application tips
PhD Funding Checklist
There are probably more funding opportunities for your PhD than you think. It is worth making sure you have investigated them all. Read on to find out more on PhD Funding.
7 PhD Application Tips
You may think from the title of this article that it will concentrate on how to prepare PhD application documents, but if that were the case then you would miss out on some vital stages of the process of applying for a PhD. Don’t miss out on vital stages, click to find out more.
Top ten PhD Interview questions and answers
Your PhD interview date is fast approaching. This article provides carefully chosen tips to help you prepare, the top ten PhD interview questions you should be ready to answer. Click to explore the Q&A.
Jumpstart your PhD
PhD Webinar
jobs.ac.uk partnered up with Dr Petra Boynton, Research Consultant and Social Psychologist, to bring you an exclusive webinar on ‘Getting started with your PhD’. View the Webinar summary and recording here.
When is the right time to apply for a PhD?
Are you considering applying for a studentship but have many questions? View our article and explore what a PhD is.
PhD Studentship
Pacing yourself during your PhD will help keep you on track with deadlines and goals and help you avoid getting overwhelmed. Explore this article and gain some top tips on how to keep yourself going at a steady and sensible pace during your studies.
Take the next step after your PhD
What jobs can you get with a PhD?
Having a PhD can open up many different career options if you know where to look and how to sell the skills that you have gained through your PhD. Explore what jobs you can get with a PhD.
Preparing for a postdoc role
Do you wonder if a postdoc role could be the right option for you and how you should apply? Explore this article for some key questions to ask yourself and help you decide if this may be the right career option for you.
What can you do with a PhD?
Are you thinking about a PhD as the next stage in your educational and professional development? It’s an exciting road to travel with many potential benefits and opportunities. Discover the different journeys you can travel with a PhD.
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What is a PhD?
A PhD is a postgraduate degree. It stands for ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and is one of the highest academic qualifications you can achieve.
Courses involve both research and academic learning where you take on a significant amount of independent work.
For most PhDs, you’ll research for, write and publish an extensive thesis on a specialist subject area.
How long is a PhD?
PhDs courses usually last between three to four years if you study full-time. Students often extend their thesis deadlines and finish the work in their fourth year. If you study part-time, courses can last six or seven years.
Courses can begin anytime throughout the year, though most studentships (doctorate scholarships) start in September or October.
What qualifications do you need for a PhD?
You usually need a good second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject area, or equivalent. Many courses also ask for a master’s degree.
When applying, you may need to demonstrate an ability to conduct research. This could be by showing your experience of independently working on a research project. You’ll probably also have to submit a research proposal that outlines what you’ll be studying.
How is a PhD taught?
There’s very little teaching involved in a PhD degree. Your course may begin with five or six hours per week of classes where you learn about research methods and techniques. Aside from this, you’re in control of your studies, though you’ll receive some guidance from an academic tutor.
How is a PhD assessed?
PhD students are assessed mainly by a thesis, and a closed oral examination where examiners ask questions about the thesis.
Degrees are usually graded as pass or fail.
What skills do you learn during a PhD?
As well as subject-specific skills, you develop transferable skills such as:
- Organisation
- Research
- Work habits
- Project management
- Critical thinking
- Written communication
- Presentation
How much does a PhD cost?
Fees vary widely between courses and institutions, but are commonly between £3,000 and £6,000 per year for UK students. International students often pay more.
Many degrees are partly or fully funded, and lots of students receive scholarships and bursaries. UK Research Councils provide universities with grants of around £4,000 per year for each funded PhD student.
PhD degree facts
Some new PhDs are more vocational and offer practical experiences as well as research. These are designed for those looking to advance their careers.
When applying for a PhD, you show the university that you’re the right person for an advertised position, or that you’d be suitable to complete your research proposal.
Popular PhD subjects
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How to fund your postgraduate course.
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How to fund a phd.
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