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The Pros and Cons of Getting a PhD

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by Charlotte King
In Courses , PHD

Are PhDs only for those looking to stay within the world of academia?

If you’re feeling unsure whether a PhD is the right route for you , then check out our list of pros and cons below...

Pros of Getting a PhD:

You can indulge in the luxury of having Dr as your title . Yes it may sound a little superficial, but some of us like that kind of thing!

You’ll learn how to be tough (mentally tough that is) from all the grilling, criticizing, and second guessing you will have to endure when you present your research proposal .

Your analytical skills will sky rocket. This really depends on the type of PhD you pursue, but it is a given that you will learn to sharpen your analytical skills, and will then be able to apply these skills to subsequent ventures.

It is the highest possible degree that you can achieve. If you strive for greatness, and nothing short of being the best will do, a PhD will definitely fulfil your intellectual satisfaction.

You will be a recognized expert in your field, and you will have a piece of paper to prove it. Who knows, you may even be lucky enough to win a Nobel Prize one day!

Some jobs actually require you to have a PhD or equivalent, and no, they are not all academic jobs .

You will be able to use your PhD experience to quickly learn new areas within your chosen field, as well as adapt to the differing demands of the workplace .

Confidence. Studying for a PhD is a surefire way to boost your self confidence and belief. You will finally get the chance to discover that there is no secret source of knowledge that you’re being denied access too.

The joy of learning. If you pick a field that you enjoy (which is always advisable) the love of the pursuit will be enough.

Cons of Getting a PhD :

A PhD won’t necessarily help you get a job, unless it is research related that is.

Living, breathing, and thinking of nothing but your field of study for a prolonged period of time can make you think that this is all there is too life.

All your friends and colleagues are already on their second or third promotion by the time you’ve finally finished studying for your PhD.

Prospective employers may view you as overqualified and under experienced, especially if you try to venture outside of your field of research.

You will need to have a partner that understands you will be not only physically but also mentally absent as you attempt to make a breakthrough in your chosen field of study.

You won’t have the luxury of a full time income , and once you graduate you will have a lot of catching up to do.

This blog was written using content from Jane Chin .

The ABCs of PhDs Applying for a PhD course Top tips for surviving a PhD

Terman Sept. 28, 2021, 8:12 p.m.

I am looking for a PhD by publication, where my published works are related with the medical physics (MP) or statistics applied to MP. I see many of universities with this type of programm are of UK. Can you help me in my search??

Charlotte King Oct. 13, 2021, 9:03 a.m.

Hi Terman – many of the the top UK universities such as UCL and University of Exeter offer this type of program. I recommend you research into the PhD supervisors at the universities that you're interested in to help narrow down your choice. Good luck.

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The Savvy Scientist

Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

The Benefits of Having a PhD

If you’re on the fence about whether to do a PhD it can be helpful to understand the benefits that come from having one. As someone who completed their PhD just over two years ago I’ve been starting to realise some of the potential benefits but also realise some of the things that having a PhD doesn’t help with!

In this post we’ll cover all of the key benefits to help you decide whether studying towards a PhD would be right for you.

You may also wish to check out my post on whether a PhD is worth it for info on the pros and cons of studying for a PhD. This post you’re reading is about the benefits of having a PhD while the other is about the work involved within a PhD.

Will Having a PhD Help You Financially?

Money, the obvious starting point!

On average someone with a PhD appears to typically earn more than someone without a PhD, in the US at least. Unemployment rates on average are also the lowest of all education levels:

Plot showing people with a PhD earn more than those with other qualifications

But, that doesn’t mean that this holds true for everyone in every scenario, and I’d urge caution against doing a PhD if your main motivation is financial.

If money is your main driving force and you’re highly motivated, it can often make better financial sense to land a graduate job straight after uni. In those years you’d otherwise be working towards a PhD you could be gaining industry-specific experience and climbing the career ladder. I’ve written much more about this in a few other places:

Here in the ‘Masters vs PhD: Which is Right For You?’ post
Here in the ‘Is a PhD Worth It? Should I Do a PhD?’ post

Bottom line: I don’t recommend doing a PhD for purely financial reasons. In fact, even if doing a PhD did always make sense from a purely financial perspective I’d still caution against it for a lot of people since the path to earning a PhD can be pretty involved.

What Are the Benefits of Having a PhD?

While a PhD won’t always necessarily land you a higher paying job, it does provide a series of other very tangible benefits.

For instance, gaining an incredibly in-depth knowledge of certain topics comes with the territory for PhDs. This knowledge can accelerate you towards becoming the world expert. Many PhD-holders use this knowledge, and the clout of having a PhD in it, to become domain experts who are called upon by news organisations, government agencies, and beyond to give opinion on topics of societal importance.

More widely, PhDs set you up for success by providing you with a series of transferable skills which can be applied to whichever career you choose.

In addition, having a doctoral degree can help you to stand out from other job candidates, giving you an edge for competitive positions. While your enhanced network can help you to find and secure such opportunities. Finally, having a PhD can also provide you with greater options, keeping more doors open for you to switch jobs in the future.

Spider diagram of the PhD benefits as covered in this post.

Let’s break down each of these benefits in more depth.

Domain Expertise

Having a PhD pretty much automatically makes you an expert in certain topics. How useful these expertise are really depends on what you chose to do your PhD in in the first place. Therefore don’t necessarily expect your new-found expertise to be regularly called upon by friends, family or even employers!

Nevertheless, being an expert clearly helps if it can be applied in a workplace or exploited to either help the world or make money (take your pick). Oftentimes in science and engineering this knowledge is valuable for companies. Providing consultancy to these companies could be a route to share your highly prized wisdom. We’ll come onto other skills you gain during a PhD shortly but I’ll mention them here too: even if your PhD is in a wacky niche seemingly of no use to employers, I’m sure you’ll have picked up loads of other skills which certainly are of value in the marketplace.

Furthermore, being an expert in something can bring responsibility and the power to shape public perception or drive forward policy. This is true for almost every PhD topic from energy to economics. PhD-holders in these domains, and many more, are often called upon by NGOs and governments.

If you want to demonstrate your expertise, you could do things such as publish papers or write content (think Medium or LinkedIn posts). If you’re in need of a helping hand, I have written a whole series of posts to help you write your first paper .

Stand Out in the Job Market

Having a PhD will help you to stand out from other job applicants when applying. This can make all the difference for sought after roles.

In addition to potential domain expertise and skills you’ve picked up, having a PhD demonstrates your commitment and capability to work independently which will be very valuable as an employee.

Can a PhD Ever Make it Harder to Get a Job?

I’ve occasionally seen comments online from people worrying that having a PhD may cause employers to reject them. I think the logic goes that due to having a PhD you may be unlikely to stick around for long in a position that doesn’t provide compensation reflecting that level of experience. Or that you may not be getting challenged enough intellectually.

Either way, I wouldn’t worry. Anecdotally my partner works for a large IT company and has met several people hired through their graduate scheme who have PhDs. Therefore, seemingly if a PhD doesn’t actively enhance your career progression at worst you’ll just be entering at the same level as recent graduates of undergraduate degrees.

I also wouldn’t worry that having a PhD would make you comparatively old since many people will work elsewhere before entering a grad scheme. My partner herself joined the grad scheme several years after leaving university.

While I can’t promise that every hiring manager will see a PhD as an asset, in general extra skills and experience should always be a bonus.

Many companies with grad schemes will use such schemes to find top talent with the hope that some will stick around to take on leading roles. There is therefore a large emphasis on your potential and having a PhD can demonstrate significant potential due to the skills we’ll cover next.

Gain Transferable Skills

Great researchers typically display the following characteristics, as covered in more depth here .

Organisational Skills
Open Mindedness
Determination & Persistence
Acting Logically
Trustworthiness – acting with integrity
Self-reliance
Co-operation

If you’re interested in working towards a PhD you probably display many of these characteristics already and through studying for a PhD you’ll hone skills pertaining to several others.

On top of these characteristics and “soft skills” such as networking and communicating, there are all of the other skills involved with a PhD such as research, data analysis and presentation.

These transferable skills will be an asset to whatever role you choose to go into.

Let’s cover five of these skills in more detail.

Critical Thinking

Displaying open mindedness, curiosity and acting logically will all help to develop your critical thinking skills. A good PhD supervisor will give you enough freedom and support to allow your critical thinking skills to grow throughout your PhD. By the end you should be thinking independently and critically about your research domain.

Communication

Working co-operatively with other researchers, writing papers and presenting will help to enhance your communication skills. As an introvert I understand that putting yourself forward for presentations doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but I’d really suggest getting out of your comfort zone to improve your communication skills. A PhD is a nice supportive opportunity to get better at communicating with very little risk.

Time Management

Learning to stay organised during your PhD will help you to build skills in time management. If you aren’t already good at managing your time a PhD pretty much forces you to get better. Unlike undergrad coursework there is no way that you can complete a PhD with a series of all nighters!

Perseverance

Related to the last point about time management, PhDs are a marathon not a sprint. In order to reach the end you will need to display determination, persistence and patience. Overcoming these challenges leaves you well equipped with the know-how and resilience to tackle any future obstacles, no matter which career path you take post-PhD.

Proactive Mindset

Working independently and being self-reliant during your PhD will provide you with a proactive mindset. You’ll know how to take the initiative to do a task without being asked and that will be a fantastic asset in your future career.

Greater Career Options

You may decide to leave research to pursue a career in industry and that’s completely fine. The majority of PhD graduates do end up leaving academia and often make use of the transferable skills mentioned above to be successful in industry.

But choosing to do a PhD gives you the option to choose either way and should you decide that you wish to progress towards being a lecturer, or even one day a professor, you’ll already have the necessary qualifications and foundations for the experience you’ll need.

It’s important to note that jobs in academia are highly competitive, so there’s no guarantee that pursuing a PhD will mean you will definitely get a job in academia, but it is a prerequisite should you wish to do so.

A PhD also sets you up well for becoming a subject matter expert if you’re keen to pursue a specialised career in a particular field.

Enhanced Network

Working towards a PhD provides a brilliant opportunity to grow your professional network. Whether you choose to stay in academia or take the leap into industry this can prove invaluable. PhD-holders tend to go on to a hugely varied range of careers so can make for useful contacts.

Personally I’ve known people who’ve become academics and started their own labs, formed companies, worked at NGOs and gone into politics, alongside the more traditional career paths within industry. Yes, this pretty much describes many of the people you could meet during other types of degree but it seems that PhDs can turbo-charge the potential for impact for many of the reasons we’ve already covered.

I know of friends who have secured internships, and even permanent roles, after reaching out to former lab-mates who were able to recommend positions at their new companies. A personal reference goes a long way towards a company taking a chance on you.

Some PhD students also work with industry partners during their studies which can open doors to future roles and opportunities.

PhD Benefits Summary

In conclusion, while a PhD may benefit you financially under certain conditions it does have a whole host of other benefits which everyone can realise:

Making you a subject matter expert with evidenced credibility
Stand out from other job candidates
Gain transferable skills
Keep your career options open
Grow your professional network

As for whether this makes studying a PhD worthwhile that will always be a personal choice.

For further insights I’d highly recommend having a read of my post ‘ Is a PhD Worth It?’ to learn the pros and cons of pursuing doctoral study.

Hopefully this post has helped you get one step closer to deciding whether to pursue a PhD. If you have any further queries on benefits of having a PhD just pop a comment below.

You can subscribe for more content here:

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4 Comments on “The Benefits of Having a PhD”

I am a teacher educator who have finished a BSc in science and a master in education management . What areas of topics are available for doing a phd in education and science related?

Thanks for your comment and interest in PhDs. I am sorry to say that I am not an expert in that field so do not know what exact topics may be available. They will of course vary a lot also depending on which supervisor, department and university you are interested in. My suggestion is to speak to the department where did your Masters to see what topics they suggest for a PhD as a starting point, and also to reach out to other universities and departments which may offer related degrees, for instance this one may be related to what you’re interested in? Although the course I link to is a Masters, they may know of supervisors who are looking for PhD students. I hope that helps. Best of luck

Hi I am an govt servent in Judicial Dept. I have completed BA MSW from KU Dharwad University. How the PhD helps if I’m pursuing….

Thanks for your comment Eranna. It is difficult to say for certain that a PhD will help with any particular job. Some job positions may require a PhD (which they will state in the job advert); Other positions may benefit from the skills acquired during the PhD (either technical or “soft” skills); Whilst for other positions the PhD may offer no benefit and time would be better spend gaining work experience. If career progression is the goal the person would be better off spending those 3-4 years working outside of academia rather than pursuing a PhD. So it really depends on the job and your career priorities. I hope this helps. Thanks, Jeff.

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Going Beyond the Status Quo with Your PhD!

Pursuing a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree is a long and challenging journey, but the rewards are numerous and can have a significant impact on one's personal and professional life. Now, you might wonder about the benefits of getting a PhD; there are actually many PhD benefits, and we are going to discuss just that! So, let's dive right into it!

What Is A PhD & What Are Its Requirements?

A PhD is the highest academic degree that can be achieved and demonstrates mastery of a subject area and expertise in research. It is a globally recognised postgraduate degree that is awarded to students who have submitted a thesis or dissertation based on thorough and original research in their field of choice. To apply for a PhD, here are it's general requirements.

1. Employment/academic references

2. Language proficiency

3. Personal Statements

4. PhD research topics and proposals (You have to explain everything about the topic of your PhD and how you will be doing your research)

If you want a roadmap on how to apply for a PhD, then here is a the perfect roadmap on how to apply for a PhD

Questions To Ask Yourself

Before you start finding your topic to apply for a PhD, there are a few questions that you need to ask yourself! If you don't ask these questions yourself, you might find yourself struggling to complete your PhD.

1. Am I passionate about it?

You need to remember that a PhD is a 3-4 year course, and if you are not passionate about it, then you will start struggling, but if you feel excited about spending 3-4 years on a particular subject, then you are ready for your PhD!

2. Am I ready for college again?

One question you need to ask yourself before applying for a PhD is whether you are ready to spend even more time in university since you have just completed your Bachelor's and Master's; attending university again can sound a bit dull and tiring since many prefer a change!

3. Can I afford it?

One final question that you need to ask yourself is whether you can afford to get a PhD since it can get a bit expensive, and if you are moving to a new country, things can become even more difficult. Fortunately, there are various scholarships available that help sponsor your PhD. Here are some of the best scholarships for PhD students !

What Are The Benefits Of Getting A PhD?

Holding a Doctorate can be a prestigious achievement for students and professionals working in their respective fields. Holding a PhD also gives you the prestige of adding the Dr tag in front of your name. To answer your question about the benefits of having a PhD, here are some of the best PhD benefits that you must know

1. Career advancement 2. Increased earning potential 3. Personal growth 4. Networking opportunities 5. Access to advanced research 6. Contributions to society 7. Increased knowledge and understanding 8. Improved critical thinking 9. Enhanced ability to conduct research 10. Helps you inherit transferable skills 11. Opens the door to career opportunities

1. Career Advancement

A PhD degree can greatly enhance your career prospects , particularly in academia, research, and science-related industries. The advanced skills and knowledge gained during the PhD program can make you a more competitive candidate for senior-level positions and can increase your earning potential. One of the main PhD benefits is career advancement. A PhD does not simply prepare you for careers in academia, as is a popular misperception, making it one of the best PhD benefits!

2. Increased Earning Potential

The majority of PhD students receive financial support for their research in the form of a three-year studentship that pays their tuition and provides them with a respectable living allowance. In this regard, pursuing a PhD is comparable to working for three years at a salary . In many industries, a PhD student earns an average of 20% more than those with a Master's degree. This increased earning potential is one of the major PhD benefits..

3. Personal Growth

Pursuing a PhD requires a great deal of hard work, determination, and self-discipline. The process of completing a PhD can be incredibly empowering and can help build self-confidence and increase your sense of self-worth. Personal growth is one of the important PhD benefits.

4. Networking Opportunities

The benefit of having a PhD is that it provides opportunities to meet and collaborate with other researchers, academics, and professionals in your field. Another of the PhD benefits is that it creates networking opportunities . Whether you are looking for a career or not, getting to know lecturers in your current or desired profession is a fantastic chance. These relationships can be valuable for future career advancement and can provide opportunities for ongoing collaboration and mentorship, making it one of the benefits of a PhD. You can read our blog to learn the best networking tips and tricks .

5. Access To Advanced Research

Another one on the list of PhD benefits is access to advanced research. By pursuing a PhD, you can make a major contribution to your field of study and to society as a whole. Research findings and insights can impact public policy and help to solve important social and scientific problems .

6. Contributions To Society

Pursuing a PhD provides a deep and comprehensive understanding of a particular subject. The research experience and training you gain during the PhD program can help you develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and it also helps develop creative solutions to complex challenges. This is one of the PhD benefits which contributes to society. The knowledge and expertise gained by studying can help you contribute to the greater humankind and society.

7. Increased Knowledge And Understanding

The research experience and training gained during a PhD program can improve your critical thinking and problem-solving skills . This can be valuable in both personal and professional settings. Gaining vast knowledge and competence in your profession is one of the benefits of a PhD. You can help others by imparting your knowledge , which is not merely theoretical but also helpful in problem-solving. Because you are an authority and specialist in your field of study, friends, coworkers, and even the media will greatly appreciate your informed opinion.

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8. Improved Critical Thinking

Pursuing a PhD provides advanced training in research methods and techniques, which can help to improve one's ability to conduct research effectively. This can be valuable in both academic and non-academic settings. Critical thinking is one of the PhD benefits which will help you professionally as well as personally.

9. Enhanced Ability To Conduct Research

One of the major benefits of getting a PhD is that it can provide opportunities for further education and career development, both within and outside of academia. It can also help to open up new opportunities for research, teaching, and mentorship. Enhanced ability to conduct research is indeed one of the important benefits of a PhD

10. Helps You Inherit Transferable Skills

One PhD benefit is that you will acquire transferable skills while pursuing your PhD in addition to specialised knowledge in your subject, which you can use for any career route you decide to choose. Learning effective research techniques and note-taking techniques is a crucial skill you can apply in most work settings.

Additionally, you will pick up crucial writing and presentation abilities, which is another benefit of a PhD. Candidates for jobs who excel at writing and who are at ease presenting the knowledge to coworkers are highly valued by employers. Every workplace demands effective communication, which consistently ranks among the top talents for successful workers.

11. Opens The Door To Career Opportunities

You will find that the benefit of having a PhD is that it offers prospects in industries or places where having an advanced degree is advised or necessary because it gives you credibility in the industry and incredibly valuable transferable abilities . Depending on the area of study you choose for your PhD, you could be prepared to start a career in any industry . You have the option to look at careers in your preferred industry or a higher-level job in your current profession, while you can still choose to pursue a career as a professor or researcher at a university, making it one of the best benefits of a PhD.

Benefits Of A PhDs Outside Of Academia

There are many benefits of doing a PhD outside academia as well! PhD benefits can be synonymous with academia, but here are some of the benefits of a PhD or life skills you can expect outside academia!

1. Learning From Failures

As a PhD student, you not only have to do research and experiments to get your answers, but on the journey of finding your answer, you fail multiple times but still get up and retry everything you have done to get the correct answer! This is easily applied in real life because failure is something you will face anywhere!

2. Ability To Deal With Negative People

This might be a surprise PhD benefit because a lot of people don't realise that while doing a PhD, there are chances you might encounter a negative professor who doesn't provide enough information or is plainly rude! Learning to deal with these people gives you a valuable life skill where you will be able to deal with negative people whenever you encounter one!

3. Knowing Uncertainty Is Alright

One major benefit of a PhD is that once you are done with your PhD is that you know that without uncertainty, there would be no discovery because you deal with uncertainty throughout your program since your thesis could be rejected at any time or if your project has an answer at the end or not! You learn that uncertainty is alright!

4. Ability To Create Information

As a PhD student, you have to add something new to a field and doing that is one of the most daunting tasks! Everyone can learn something and use that knowledge, but adding something new is often seen as something impossible because you have to create information to bring knowledge. This type of innovation and perseverance is something that is not seen every day, making it one of the best benefits of doing a PhD.

In conclusion, a PhD degree can have a significant impact on one's personal and professional life along with enhancing your student resume, and there are many advantages of a PhD. The advanced skills and knowledge gained during the PhD program can help to enhance one's career prospects, improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and provide opportunities for further education and career development.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why PhDs are good – for individuals, and for a country

Vice President of the Academy of Science of South Africa and DST-NRF SARChI chair in Fungal Genomics, Professor in Genetics, University of Pretoria, University of Pretoria

Disclosure statement

Brenda Wingfield receives funding from the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa as she holds a DST/NRF research chair. She is a Professor at a South African University and is the vice president of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

University of Pretoria provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

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What is the value of a PhD? Is there a need in a developing world country to undertake a PhD study? It’s expensive (around R1 million per graduate) and in many regards a luxury for students from poor families. Even for those who have better access to money there’s a very real cost in tuition, costs of the research as well as years lost with regards to climbing the career ladder. As students in the southern hemisphere consider their study options for next year, it’s worth revisiting the pros and cons of doing a PhD.

From an individual perspective, there are good and bad reasons to do a PhD.

The good reasons include achieving a significant goal in terms of a research output, publications and in many cases solving an important problem. Doing research towards a PhD allows one to be curious, literally every day.

It’s also the first step in becoming part of the global network of researchers. Becoming part of a global community can be very gratifying.

The bad reasons would include the assumption that having a PhD will earn you a larger salary. This is not always the case. Another is peer pressure which can lead students to register for a PhD. Sometimes the pressure comes from family. Another not so good reason is when people decide to do a PhD because they don’t like the job that they are doing.

Undertaking a PhD study should only be considered if you are really passionate about research and understand that it really takes a huge amount of time and energy. It is after all the ultimate degree – there are none higher.

The value of a PhD

The bottom line is that there is no magic about the qualification. It doesn’t make you a better or smarter person.

However, people who have PhDs have shown a certain capacity and tenacity and have the degree to prove it. Many other people might have the equivalent capacity and tenacity but without the degree it is less easy for employers to identify them.

The South African government has identified that producing people with a PhD degree is an important goal. The Department of Science and Innovation has suggested that universities need to increase their output of PhD graduates to 100 graduates per million people. At the moment South Africa has 46 doctoral graduates per million people, this is one tenth of the figure for Switzerland (465) and United Kingdom (409).

The new target would take the expected output to more than 5800 PhD graduates every year. In 2016 the number of PhD graduates in South Africa was just under 3000 .

The government’s argument is that the PhD degree can be seen as a driver of the academic pipeline. If we focus on getting more PhDs, universities will also increase other graduates in the pipeline. While I support the idea of PhDs being a driver, I think that the current targets cannot be achieved for many years.

One cannot easily change the PhD pipeline quite so rapidly. In 2001 there were 802 PhD graduates, in 2009 this had increased to 1380 and in 2017 this had increased to 3057 , which has been a remarkable achievement. This is especially the case given the current global and local economic climate.

All countries need strong comprehensive universities – institutions that do more than just train students to the bachelor degree level. To have a substantive research output a university must have academics with PhDs. Only people with PhDs can train PhD graduates.

That does indeed mean building a vibrant PhD graduate training programme to support strong research output. South Africa is short of people with the appropriate qualifications (PhDs) to do the training. And it cannot expect to import such graduates to support its economy, because without strong comprehensive universities a country cannot train the range of graduates with skills necessary for sustained economic growth and development.

Quite a bit has been written about an over supply of PhD graduates. But this isn’t a problem in a country like South Africa where I have trained 52 PhD graduates, all of whom have found jobs. Not all are in academic positions, not all are still doing research. None of them have ever suggested that doing a PhD was a waste of time.

We need to train more, not less.

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What is a PhD?

Types of Doctorates
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest globally recognized postgraduate degree that higher education institutions can award.
PhDs are awarded to candidates who undertake original and extensive research in a particular field of study.
Full time PhD programmes typically last three to four years, whilst part time PhD programmes typically last six to seven years.
A PhD can lead to an academia teaching role or a career in research. A PhD can also equip you with skills suitable for a wide range of jobs unrelated to your research topic or academia.

Definition of a PhD – A Doctor of Philosophy (commonly abbreviated to PhD , Ph.D or a DPhil ) is a university research degree awarded from across a broad range of academic disciplines; in most countries, it is a terminal degree, i.e. the highest academic degree possible.

PhDs differ from undergraduate and master’s degrees in that PhDs are entirely research-based rather than involving taught modules (although doctoral training centres (DTCs) offer programmes that start with a year of lecture-based teaching to help develop your research skills prior to starting your project).

In most English-speaking countries, those that complete a PhD use the title “Doctor” (typically abbreviated to Dr) in front of their names and are referred to as such within academic and/or research settings. Those that work in fields outside of academia may decide not to use the formal doctor title but use post-nominal letters (e.g. John Smith PhD); it’s unusual though for someone to use both the Doctor title and post-nominal letters in their name.

PhD vs Doctorate

A PhD and a professional doctorate are both research-based terminal degrees.

However, where a PhD focuses on original research mostly around theoretical concepts, a professional doctorate focuses on examining existing knowledge to solve real-life, practical problems.

While there is much crossover between the two, a PhD is generally better suited for an individual to wants to advance the knowledge and understanding in their field, and a professional doctorate degree is better suited to a working professional who wants to better be able to apply knowledge and understanding to their field.

What Are the Entry Requirements for a PhD?

To be accepted on to a PhD programme, students usually need to hold at least a high ( 2:1 and above ) undergraduate degree that is related to the field of research that they want to pursue. A PhD candidate may also be expected to hold a Master’s degree , however, this does not mean you must have one, as it is still possible to enrol into a PhD without a Master’s .

Self-funded courses may sometimes be more relaxed in relation to entry requirements. It may be possible to be accepted onto a self-funded PhD programme with lower grades, though these students typically demonstrate their suitability for the role through professional work experience.

Whilst a distance learning project is possible , most PhD candidates will carry out their research over at least three years based at their university, with regular contact with two academic supervisors (primary and secondary). This is particularly the case for lab-based projects, however, some PhD projects require spending time on-site away from university (e.g. at a specialist research lab or at a collaborating institution abroad).

How Long Does a PhD Take?

Typically, full-time PhDs last 3-4 years and part-time PhDs last 6-7 years. However, at the discretion of the university, the thesis writing-up period can be extended by up to four years.

Although most doctoral programmes start in September or October, they are generally much more flexible than taught-courses and can start at any time of the year.

How Much Does a PhD Cost?

Tuition fees for UK and EU students vary between £3,000 and £6,000 per year, with the average tuition fee of £4,712 per year for 2023/24 programmes.

Tuition fees increase considerably for international students, varying between £16,000 to £25,000 per year, with an average tuition fee of £19,600 per year .

Nonetheless, most students will secure PhD funding in the form of studentships, scholarships and bursaries to help pay for these fees. These funding opportunities can either be partial, which cover tuition fees only, or full, which cover both tuition fees and living expenses.

UK national students can also apply for Doctoral Loans from Student Finance England if they are unable to secure funding.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

What Does a PhD Involve?

To be awarded a PhD, a doctoral student is required to produce a substantial body of work that adds new knowledge to their chosen field.

A PhD programme will typically involve four key stages:

Stage 1: Literature Review

The first year of a PhD involves attending regular meetings with your supervisors and carrying out a search on previously published work in your subject area. This search will be used to produce a literature review which should set the context of the project by explaining the foundation of what is currently known within the field of research, what recent developments have occurred, and where the gaps in knowledge are. In most cases, this will be an extension of your research proposal should you have produced one as part of your application. The literature review should conclude by outlining the overarching aims and objectives of the research project. This stage of setting achievable goals which are original and contribute to the field of research is an essential first step in a successful PhD.

The supervisor is the main point of contact through the duration of a PhD – but remember: they are there to mentor, not to teach, or do it for you . It will be your responsibility to plan, execute and monitor your own work as well as to identify gaps in your own knowledge and address them.

Stage 2: Research

The second year (and prehapse some of your third year) is when you work on your research. Having identified novel research questions from your review of the literature, this is where you collect your data to help answer these questions. How you do this will depend on the nature of your doctoral research: for example, you may design and run experiments in a lab alongside other PhD students or visit excavation sites in remote regions of the world. You should check in regularly with your supervisors to update them and run any ideas or issues past them.

Have the structure and chapters of your thesis in mind as you develop and tackle your research questions. Working with a view of publishing your work will be very valuable later on.

Stage 3: Write up of Thesis

The next key stage of a PhD is writing a doctoral thesis , which typically takes from anywhere between three months to one year. A thesis is a substantial body of work that describes the work and outcomes of the research over the previous two to three years. It should tell a detailed story of the PhD project – focusing on:

The motivations for the research questions identified from the literature review.
The methodologies used, results obtained, and a comprehensive analysis and discussion of the findings.
A detailed discussion of the key findings with an emphasis on the original contributions made to your field of research and how this has been impactful.

There is no universal rule for the length of a PhD thesis, but general guidelines set the word count between 80,000 to 100,000 words.

For your thesis to be successful, it needs to adequately defend your argument and provide a unique or increased insight into your field that was not previously available.

Stage 4: Attending the Viva

A viva voce , most commonly referred to as just a ‘ viva ‘, is an interview-style examination where the PhD student is required to engage in a critical appraisal of their work and defend their thesis against at least two examiners. The examiners will ask questions to check the PhD student has an in-depth understanding of the ideas and theories proposed in their thesis, and whether they have developed the research skills that would be expected of them.

The viva is one of the final steps in achieving a PhD, and typically lasts at least two hours, but this duration can vary depending on the examiners, the university and the PhD project itself.

Once you have done the viva – you’re on the home stretch. You will typically be asked to make some amendments to your thesis based on the examiner’s feedback. You are then ready to submit your final thesis for either:

PhD – If you pass the requirements you will be awarded a PhD degree (most common outcome),
MPhil – If you failed to meet requirements for a PhD, you may be downgraded to an MPhil degree (uncommon outcome),
Fail – No award is given, typically for cases of plagiarism (extremely uncommon outcome).

What Is It Like to Undertake a PhD?

We’re often asked what it is like to undertake a PhD study. Unfortunately, this isn’t a simple answer to this question as every research project is different.

To help give insight into the life of a PhD student, we’ve interviewed PhD students at various stages of their programmes and put together a series of PhD Student Interviews . Check out the link to find out what a PhD is like and what advice they have to offer you.

What Are the Benefits of A PhD?

A PhD is the highest globally recognised postgraduate degree that higher education institutions can award. The degree, which is awarded to candidates who demonstrate original and independent research in a particular field of study, is not only invaluable in itself, but sets you up with invaluable skills and traits.

Career Opportunities

First, a PhD prepares you for a career in academia if you wish to continue in this area. This takes form as a career in the Higher Education sector, typically as a lecturer working their way to becoming a professor leading research on the subject you’ve studied and trained in.

Second, a PhD also enables the opportunity for landing a job in a research & development role outside of the academic environment. Examples of this include laboratory work for a private or third sector company, a governmental role and research for commercial and industrial applications.

Transferable Skills

Finally, in possessing a PhD degree, you can show to employers that you have vital skills that make you an asset to any company. Three examples of the transferable skills that you gain through a PhD are effective communication, time management, and report writing.

Communication – presenting your work in written and oral forms using journal papers and podium presentations, shows your ability to share complex ideas effectively and to those with less background knowledge than you. Communication is key in the professional environment, regardless of the job.
Time management – The ability to prioritise and organise tasks is a tremendous asset in the professional industry. A PhD holder can use their qualification to demonstrate that they are able to manage their time, arrange and follow a plan, and stick to deadlines.
Report writing – Condensing three years of work into a thesis demonstrates your ability to filter through massive amounts of information, identify the key points, and get these points across to the reader. The ability to ‘cut out the waffle’ or ‘get to the point’ is a huge asset in the professional industry.

Aside from the above, you also get to refer to yourself as a Doctor and add fancy initials after your name!

What Can I Do After a PhD?

One of the most desirable postdoctoral fields is working within independent Research and Development (R&D) labs and new emerging companies. Both industries, especially R&D labs, have dedicated groups of PhD graduates who lead research activities, design new products and take part in crucial strategic meetings. Not only is this a stimulating line of work, but the average salaries in R&D labs and emerging start-ups are lucrative. In comparison, an undergraduate with five years of experience within their given field will, on average, likely earn less than a new PhD graduate taking on a R&D position.

It’s a common misunderstanding that PhDs only opens the door for an academic career such as university lecturers and training providers. Although obtaining a PhD opens these doors, the opportunities extend far beyond educational roles. In fact, recent data from the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) indicates only 23% of PhD graduates take a position in educational roles . This low percentage is primarily because PhD graduates have a wide range of skills that make them suitable for a broad spectrum of roles. This is being seen first hand by the increasing number of PhD graduates who are entering alternative roles such as research, writing, law and investment banking.

How Do I Find a PhD?

We appreciate that finding a PhD programme to undertake can be a relatively daunting process. According to Higher Education Student Statistics , over 22,000 PhDs were awarded in 2016/17 within the United Kingdom alone. Clearly there are a huge number of PhD programmes available. This can sometimes be confusing for prospective doctorates, particularly when different programmes are advertised in different places. Often, it is difficult to know where to look or where to even start. We’ve put together a list of useful sources to find the latest PhD programmes:

A great place to start is with our comprehensive and up-to-date database of available PhD positions .
Assuming you are still at university, speak to an existing PhD supervisor within your department.
Attend as many postgraduate open days as you can. Whilst there, speak to current PhD students and career advisors to get an awareness of what PhDs are on offer.
Visit the postgraduate section of university websites and the PhD Research Council section of the UKRI website.

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PhD vs. Doctorate Degree: Benefits and Differences

Whether conducting studies to test the effectiveness of online teaching strategies or translating cutting-edge research into life-saving nursing practices, those with terminal degrees work at the top of their professions. As the pinnacle academic qualification offered within an area of study, terminal degrees prepare individuals to lead in their fields.

Considering whether to pursue a terminal degree, such as a Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)? It’s important to first understand the differences between a PhD and other doctorate degrees and the purpose that each serves.

What Are Doctorate Degrees, and Why Are They Beneficial?

A doctorate is a terminal degree that prepares individuals to take the knowledge they’ve developed in a subject area and apply it professionally. In other words, the degree focuses on helping professionals discover the practical applications of theory and research.

For example, a DNP can train individuals to translate medical research into improved nursing practices, which they then apply as nurse leaders. An EdD can empower people to take educational theories and integrate them into the curricula they develop or the teaching practices they use.

Those interested in pursuing doctorate degrees to level up their professional practice have many options. Today, many universities offer online doctorate degrees that allow professionals greater access and flexibility to achieve their goals.

For example, nursing professionals can select from various online DNP degrees designed to propel them to the top of their profession. These include programs for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners , adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners , pediatric nurse practitioners , and others.

What can you do with an EdD? Educators considering doctorate programs can explore degrees, such as an online EdD in Higher Education Leadership, that prepare graduates to excel as academic deans, education consultants, or university presidents.

Doctorate Degree Benefits

Earning a doctorate degree offers numerous benefits, starting with improved job security. The labor force participation rate of doctorate recipients was 86.8% in 2021, compared to the national average of about 62%, according to the National Science Foundation.

Doctorate degree holders can also have greater earning potential than their counterparts. BLS data indicates that those with a doctorate degree earned a median annual salary of about $100,000 in 2021. That’s about 21% more than the earnings of master’s degree holders and around 43% more than the earnings of bachelor’s degree holders.

In addition to enjoying job security and higher salaries, doctorate degree holders have credibility, which can translate into leadership roles and greater authority in their field.

What Is a PhD, and What Are Its Benefits?

A PhD degree is a type of doctorate degree that prepares individuals to conduct high-level research in a specific field. Typically associated with administration and academia, the PhD degree empowers individuals to conduct original research that contributes to the overall body of knowledge in a particular area.

University professors, researchers, and scholarly writers typically hold PhD degrees in fields ranging from the hard sciences to the humanities. In addition to training individuals to conduct original research, a PhD prepares scholars in a discipline to critically evaluate theories, locate gaps in bodies of research, and assess the validity of emerging ideas.

PhD Benefits

Like other doctorate degrees, a PhD offers excellent job security, earning potential, and credibility. Additionally, a PhD can equip individuals to be forward-thinking leaders, performing research that advances their field. It also positions individuals to make a significant impact in a discipline through teaching and mentoring the next generation of experts.

PhD vs. Doctorate Degree: The Differences

While the PhD and other doctorate terminal degrees share similar characteristics, they differ in notable ways.

To begin with, the degrees employ distinct methods of study. PhD programs focus on preparing candidates to conduct original research. Other doctorate programs include research but are much less intensive. Instead, these doctorate programs concentrate on cultivating subject matter expertise for practical application.

For example, PhD students in nursing could conduct research that seeks to answer questions or find solutions to problems in nursing care. This could involve conducting randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of a new method for dressing wounds after cardiac care.

In turn, DNP students could take the evidence from that research to develop a method for implementing the new wound dressing practice in clinical settings. The DNP students could also develop a process for assessing the effectiveness of that implementation.

Individuals who are interested in academics or research and are motivated by the prospect of making discoveries in their field will likely find PhD programs appealing. On the other hand, those inspired by opportunities to advance in their professional fields and put evidence into practice will likely find other doctorate degrees, such as an EdD or a DNP, a better fit.

Strive for the Top of Your Profession Today

Terminal degrees, such as a PhD or doctorate, are respected and prestigious. When planning your education and professional career path, understanding the distinctions between different terminal degrees and how they can each contribute to society’s body of knowledge and help it progress and thrive is important.

To learn more, explore the array of online degree programs at Maryville University , designed to support graduates reaching for the pinnacle of their professions.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Considering and Pursuing a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management, Professional PhD Degrees for Public Service

Indeed, What Is a Doctorate? (And How to Get One in 3 Steps)

National Science Foundation, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2021

Nursing in Critical Care, “Randomized Controlled Trials in Critical Care Nursing: Essential to Move Practice Forward”

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “What Is the Difference Between a PhD & Doctoral Degree?”

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “What Is the Difference Between a Terminal Degree & a Research Degree?”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Civilian labor force participation rate

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections

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Benefits of Doing a PhD

What is PhD?
What does a PhD entail?
Benefits of doing a PhD

You all must have heard about PhD and the value attached to a PhD. So, what is a PhD and why is it given so much weightage?

To begin with, a PhD is a research degree that confers the highest academic qualification on the person.

World over, a PhD is regarded as the highest degree in any academic field. PhD is an acronym for Doctor of Philosophy, and students who attain a PhD can attach Dr. before their names.

However, this does not mean that you can treat patients but means that you have attained a doctorate in the particular field of study.

What Does a PhD Entail?

A PhD usually takes up to three to four years to complete and includes an entire thesis and research work based on the field of work.

Students pursuing a PhD must contribute a new and original contribution in the particular area of study.

So, What Does It Take to Become a PhD?

If you intend to pursue a PhD in a particular area of study, then you must be willing to dedicate 4 to 5 years of committed learning and research in the field. Here is what you will have to do while pursuing a PhD

Thorough research and deep investigation into the subject matter
Critical and analytical analysis of research material
Development of new content to form original ideas and theories on the particular subject
Writing a thesis on your findings
Explanation of thesis through oral examinations with experts.

Pursuing a PhD is not an easy task. It requires years of research and investigation before the thesis is accepted.

Therefore, after years of hard work, it is a given that doing a PhD will have innumerable benefits. Let’s look at why earning a PhD is an advantage.

1. Improves Writing Skills

Pursuing a PhD improves writing skills. While doing your PhD you have to submit your thesis and dissertations on the particular subject.

Writing a thesis is not simple, It requires excellent writing skills and knowledge. As you do your PhD, you will be guided by mentors who will coach you on your special writing skills. These writing skills develop as you go along the way.

A PhD paper will be published for academic purposes, which is why having good writing skills is important.

2. Enhances Soft Skills

Soft skills are skills that are a requisite for life. Whether you are pursuing a career or not. Soft skills include communication skills, analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and teamwork among other skills.

While pursuing a PhD, these soft skills get honed. Doing a PhD means that a lot of your skills will be put to test. You will automatically hone your skills and be a master by the end of your PhD.

3. Personality Development

A PhD is a prestigious degree. It is the highest degree anyone can attain. So, it is a given that doing a PhD will require a lot of skills, hard work, and dedication .

These skills required to do a PhD also help to build a great personality. With all the knowledge you gain while researching for your PhD, you become more learned. This in turn develops your overall personality.

4. Gain Vast Knowledge

While pursuing a PhD, you will introduce yourself to a world of information. PhD entails years of research and long hours of deep-rooted investigations.

While doing this, you simultaneously expand the horizons of your knowledge power. The knowledge you gain while studying for a PhD is extensive.

This knowledge can be used at any stage in your life, for practical application , and while writing your thesis.

With more knowledge in your hands, you will be able to contribute your findings on various subjects.

5. In-Demand Jobs

PhD holders have vast knowledge of the subject matter which gives them a better advantage when it comes to securing a job of their choice .

A PhD degree benefit is that they will be in a better position to secure a job of their choice rather than to settle for what is given to them.

6. Great Deal of Respect

One of the benefits of doing a PhD is that it earns you a great deal of respect in society.

When people around you come to know that you are a PhD you automatically earn their respect because they are aware of the knowledge you have and the hard work you have put in to achieve the status.

7. Asset to The Country

Very few people are able to complete PhD degrees. This is because of the difficulty level and time taken to complete a PhD.

Therefore, if you are one of the few who are able to complete a PhD, then you will be considered a valuable asset to your country.

8. Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Another PhD advantage is that it allows you to develop critical thinking skills which is important in every walk of life, especially in your career.

Every job requires a workforce with exceptional critical thinking skills to be able to achieve the objectives or goals of the job. While pursuing a PhD, you hone your critical thinking skills throughout the whole process.

9. Large Network Base

One of the benefits of doing a PhD is that for research purposes you will acquaint yourself with innumerable people including scholars, mentors, peers, and guides. These acquaintances may be able to help you at any later point in your career.

During this process of obtaining your PhD your acquaintances may develop into stronger bonds that lead to business associations at a later stage.

10. Communication Skills

Communication is important when it comes to your career or life as a whole. As we all live in a society, it is important to communicate with otters in order to live a fulfilling and fruitful life.

As mentioned above, pursuing a PhD will introduce you to a host of people. Interacting, working and talking with these people will improve your communication skills .

Not only will you learn to communicate but will also learn to communicate effectively with different genres of people.

11. Increased Job Opportunities

Another reason why earning a PhD is an advantage is because it increases your chance of securing your dream job.

In a job interview where there are two or more than two candidates eyeing the job, the PhD holder will definitely make it as the top choice for the job, surpassing a master’s degree and even a candidate with years of experience.

12. Changes Your Perspective

A PhD holder has spent years trying to deeply understand theories and decipher new and original ideas for his/her thesis.

During this course, you spend hours and years in research. This time spent on research can change your perspective on certain issues and can even be a life-changer for some.

13. Matter of Pride

Attaching the symbol Dr. in front of your name can instill pride and honour to yourself. It is a matter of great honour to be referred to as Dr. in the society. That is why earning a PhD is of great advantage.

14. Contributes New Information to Society

While writing your thesis, you will be extensively researching on a particular subject matter. The thesis you write will cover new and original information which is not copied from other writers’ works.

Through your thesis, you will be giving society original and new information which has never been read before.

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15. Enough Finances to See You Through

A PhD can be taken up at any point in your life. There is no age limit for doing your PhD. Therefore, if you wish to pursue your PhD in the middle of your career, you do not have to worry about the continuation of your finances to feed your family.

PhD degrees are usually supported by the parent institute you are pursuing the PhD from. This support amount is usually enough to conduct all your research, write your thesis and live comfortably.

Pursuing a PhD may seem tough and a long process, but the benefits you get after completing the PhD is encouragement enough to pursue a PhD degree.

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Is a Ph.D Still Useful to Society?

One of my favorite movie lines comes from 10 Things I Hate About You . The father, Walter Stratford, is giving advice to his oldest daughter, Kat:

"You're 18, you don't know what you want. And you won't know what you want 'til you're 45, and even if you get it, you'll be too old to use it."

There is much wisdom in these words.

We ask students -- kids, really -- to make gigantic, life-altering decisions at the age of 18. Deciding which college to attend is important enough, but an even bigger decision is picking which field to major in. Kids who follow their head and major in business, engineering, or science are, more often than not, putting themselves on a track to success; kids who follow their heart and major in art history or music may be putting themselves on a track to pouring lattes at Starbucks for the next 10 years.

The reality is that we are asking young people to make decisions that will forever alter their life trajectories at an age that, as Walter Stratford would say, they don't really know what they want. Moreover, college students don't fully appreciate the consequences of their decisions 1 .

Something similar faces college graduates who are contemplating graduate school. At the tender age of 22 (or thereabouts), many smart students who don't feel quite ready to enter the workforce feel the pressure to do more -- get a master's degree or PhD. Many, like me, decide to go all in and spend the next six years (give or take a couple years) earning a doctorate.

Much of the time, that decision was based on very bad advice.

Should I Go to Graduate School?

Early in my undergraduate career, I decided that I was going to go to graduate school. Amazingly, I never put much thought into it. At 22, I didn't feel like I wanted to start a proper job. And many of my professors -- who were earnestly trying to offer me good advice -- told me I should go to grad school. Besides, I was told, not just by professors but by almost everybody, that once I got a PhD, I could do pretty much whatever I wanted to do. So I went.

Grad school was stressful but fine for the first three or four years. But, then things started to unravel. At the age of 26, I got married. My wife had a real job, and I wanted one, too. However, I was facing two more years of school. I could have dropped out and received a master's degree, but that felt like a terrible waste. So, I stuck it out for two more years and graduated with a PhD in 2010.

Just prior to graduation, reality hit me. I realized that I loved science, but that I didn't want to work in a laboratory. Unfortunately, I just spent the last six years preparing for a career in the laboratory. The advice that I could "do whatever I want with a PhD" was completely false. There just aren't many jobs for people with science PhDs who don't want to do research.

I started applying for jobs -- pretty much any job that interested me -- and my career path then took a very unconventional turn: I became a science writer. I really enjoyed writing, and I ended up being hired by RealClearPolitics to become the founding editor of RealClearScience. It was a good job, but not one that required a PhD. It was then that I started wondering if I had wasted six years of my life earning a degree that I didn't really need 2 .

A PhD Doesn't Prepare You for the Workforce

About five years into my six-year PhD training, I learned that I didn't want to do research. But graduate school doesn't prepare students for a world outside academia. All of the training is geared toward turning students into little clones of their professors.

The trouble with this is that there aren't enough jobs in academia. So even if I had wanted to stay in academia, my job prospects would have been terrible. One analysis in The Atlantic showed that only 19% of PhD's land an academic job upon graduation. Of those who do stay in academia, horror stories abound of an endless succession of " post-docs ." Essentially, PhD's become trapped in non-tenure track positions with low pay and little hope for becoming, as my mentor jokingly referred to himself, a "big-time professor at a major university."

Schools are well aware of this problem, but they are doing almost nothing to fix it. We're still admitting and graduating way too many PhD's. We keep luring students with the false hope that a PhD is a ticket to anywhere. And once they arrive, there is little if any training aimed at preparing students for a career outside academia.

Is a PhD Still Useful to Society?

Even after saying all that, I still believe that PhD's are useful to society. But there is a gigantic caveat: A PhD is only useful to a person who is 100% certain that a life at the research bench is what they want to do. If you aren't 100% certain that's what you want, then a PhD is probably not for you.

To me, it seems that the most important skill or character trait that a person can possess today is flexibility. Robots are taking over people's jobs. One day, robots might even take over my job as a science writer. (Yes, AI already can write very basic articles, like brief reports on the stock market.) Thus, being flexible -- i.e., being able to learn new skills in order to adapt to a rapidly changing workforce -- may be the most important characteristic a person can have.

A PhD, however, does not teach flexibility. In fact, it encourages the exact opposite. Earning a PhD requires a student to learn more and more about less and less. (That might seem paradoxical to those of you without PhD's, but every PhD will understand that perfectly.) For most people, this is not the sort of training that will lend itself to success in the 21st Century.

(1) It is for these reasons that I personally encourage high school graduates to take a year off before going to college. Get a job and think about what you want to do. Then go to college.

(2) As it turns out, I landed here at ACSH, where a PhD or MD is required. However, ACSH is the exception to the rule. Most science writers don't have PhD's, and most news outlets do not require science writers to have any scientific training at all. (It's not a coincidence, therefore, that most science journalism sucks.)

View the discussion thread.

By Alex Berezow, PhD

Former Vice President of Scientific Communications

Dr. Alex Berezow is a PhD microbiologist, science writer, and public speaker who specializes in the debunking of junk science for the American Council on Science and Health. He is also a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors and a featured speaker for The Insight Bureau . Formerly, he was the founding editor of RealClearScience.

Latest from Alex Berezow, PhD :

What are the benefits of earning a PhD or other doctorate level degree in management?

by Laura Perez | Feb 18, 2024 | Doctorate programs | 1 comment

A PhD in Management isn’t just about diving deep into academic concepts. It’s about developing the advanced skills and expertise sought after by top companies and organizations. You’ll hone your research prowess , becoming an authority in your chosen field. You’ll gain unparalleled critical thinking and problem-solving abilities , tackling complex challenges with confidence. And you’ll cultivate exceptional leadership qualities , inspiring and motivating teams to achieve their full potential.

The benefits of a PhD in Management (or a Doctorate in Business Administration, DBA) are well-documented. Here’s how it can impact prospects and earnings:

Career advancement:

Opens doors to top-level positions: A PhD often unlocks access to executive roles, senior leadership positions, and specialized consulting opportunities.expand_more These roles come with increased responsibility, influence, and visibility within organizations.
Expands job opportunities: You qualify for a wider range of jobs in academia, research, government, and the private sector. Many organizations value the deep research and analytical skills honed during a PhD program.
Strengthens expertise and specialization: Deep dives into specific management areas during your PhD equip you with advanced knowledge and specialized skills highly sought after in different industries.

Earnings potential:

Higher salaries: Studies consistently show a positive correlation between PhDs and higher earning potential. According to the Graduate Outcomes survey in the UK, PhD holders command salaries around 8% higher than those with Master’s degrees.
Increased salary negotiation power: Your advanced qualifications and specialized skills give you stronger leverage when negotiating salaries and compensation packages.
Opportunities for consulting and research income: Depending on your chosen path, you may earn additional income through consulting projects, research grants, or publications.

Specific data:

The numbers speak for themselves. Studies show that PhD graduates in business command significantly higher salaries compared to their Master’s-holding counterparts. And the demand for expert management professionals is projected to grow faster than average in the coming years.

A 2019 study by Georgetown University found that PhD graduates in business earn an average of $139,000 annually , compared to $95,000 for Master’s degree holders.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects management analyst positions, a common career path for PhDs in management, to grow by 14% between 2020-2030 , faster than the average for all occupations.
A study by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) found that 97% of DBA graduates receive a full-time job offer within six months of graduation .

Important considerations:

Time and cost commitment: Earning a PhD involves a significant time and financial investment.
Passion and career goals: It’s crucial to consider your career aspirations and ensure a PhD aligns with your long-term goals.
Alternative options: MBAs and specialized Master’s degrees can also offer career advancement and increased earning potential in some fields.

Check out our programme here: https://www.ssbr-edu.ch/phd-by-portfolio/

Investing in Your Future:

Yes, a PhD requires dedication and commitment. But the rewards are substantial. You’ll gain invaluable knowledge, unmatched skills, and a network of accomplished peers. You’ll position yourself as a thought leader in your field, attracting lucrative opportunities and achieving career fulfilment.

Ultimately, the decision to pursue a PhD in Management rests on your individual circumstances and career aspirations.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our PhD in Management program and discover how your leadership journey begins here.

Remember, a PhD isn’t just a degree; it’s an investment in your future, a passport to a world of possibilities, and a key to unlocking your true leadership potential.

At Swiss School of Business Research , we offer the opportunity for executives to earn their PhD without disrupting their career. The programmes are fully online and are designed to be done in conjunction with their actual work. The PhD by Portfolio by Swiss school of Business Research is especially designed for busy executive to leverage their experience and can be completed within ONE YEAR.

It’s also much cheaper than you think.

Check out the programme here: https://www.ssbr-edu.ch/phd-by-portfolio/

Your writing has a way of making complicated topics easier to understand It’s evident how much research and effort goes into each post

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Unlocking Possibilities: What Can You Do With a PhD in English?

The world of academia has long been associated with the pursuit of knowledge, scholarly research and teaching careers. For years, earning a PhD in English was almost synonymous with pursuing a career within academia. But, as the landscape of education and industry continues to evolve, so do the options available to English PhD graduates.

The assumption that an academic career is the sole path for English PhDs is shifting, revealing a multitude of exciting and rewarding alternatives.

Is a PhD in English on your to-do list? Get all the facts before you apply — find out if a humanities PhD is worth it for you!

Shifting Focus: the State of Employment in Academia

Traditionally, tenure-track positions were the ultimate goal for aspiring academics. But the job market has become increasingly competitive, leaving a limited number of academic jobs for English Phds seeking employment. Moreover, the rise of adjunct positions, which offer less stability and fewer benefits, has created an environment where job security in academia is more elusive than ever — even well-qualified English PhDs can find themselves navigating through a maze of adjunct positions and temporary contracts.

As a result, English PhDs are reconsidering the assumption that academia is their only option. This shift in academia’s landscape has sparked a conversation about the need to broaden career horizons and consider alternative paths that utilize the skills and knowledge gained during doctoral studies.

Exploring Alternatives: English PhD Jobs Outside of Academia

The desire for stability and a healthier work-life balance is a driving factor for many scholars leaving academia. The uncertainty surrounding tenure-track positions, coupled with the pressure to publish prolifically and compete for dwindling opportunities, has led many to seek alternatives in various industries and fields.

On the bright side, English PhDs are uniquely qualified to work in nearly any field and the skills acquired during their study are highly transferable. Critical thinking, research proficiency, effective communication and the ability to analyze complex narratives are all qualities that can be applied to a wide range of career options.

The Expansive Landscape of Non-Academic Careers

While tenure-track positions in academia are few and far between, the world outside the academy is teeming with opportunities that align with the skillset and passion of English PhDs. Here’s a glimpse into the exciting array of non-academic careers English PhDs are well suited for:

1. Content Strategist and Brand Storyteller:

English PhDs thrive in the realm of content strategy and brand storytelling. Their profound understanding of narratives and language nuances can transform English PhDs into sought-after content creators, crafting compelling stories that resonate with audiences across industries.

2. Media and Communication Specialist:

Mastery of language empowers English PhDs to excel in media and communication roles. Whether crafting press releases, managing social media content, or curating engaging digital campaigns, their ability to convey messages effectively is invaluable.

3. Technical Writer and Documentation Expert:

Navigating the world of technical writing, where clarity and precision reign, is second nature for many English PhDs. Their meticulous analysis and eloquent communication make them proficient creators of user manuals, guides and documentation for intricate subjects.

4. Cultural Critic and Reviewer:

English PhDs know how analytical prowess can shape cultural discourse. Becoming critics or reviewers for literature, art, film, or even pop culture is an avenue where English PhDs can use their insights to influence public opinion and shape trends.

5. Marketing Analyst and Consumer Insight Expert:

Armed with finely-tuned research skills, English PhDs are a good fit for market research. As marketing analysts, they decode consumer behavior, unearth market trends and offer strategic insights crucial for business growth.

6. Public Relations and Corporate Communications:

Their knack for persuasive language aligns English PhDs seamlessly with public relations and corporate communications. Managing reputation, crisis communication, and maintaining brand image become their forte.

7. Grant Writer and Nonprofit Advocate:

English PhDs who excel at persuasive writing to make a tangible impact may find their perfect home in the nonprofit space. By becoming a grant writer or working with nonprofits in other ways, English PhDs can contribute to social change and secure funding for noble causes.

8. Publishing Industry Specialist:

As editors, manuscript reviewers or content curators, English PhDs are well-suited to navigate the publishing world. Their discerning eye and deep understanding of literature can contribute to shaping literary landscapes.

9. Entrepreneurial Ventures:

Launching a blog, podcast, or digital platform allows English PhDs to blend their love for literature with modern technology, catering to niche audiences and carving a unique path.

10. Government and Policy Analyst:

The critical thinking skills gained in an English PhD program are assets in governmental or policy roles. Analyzing complex documents, articulating ideas succinctly, and contributing to informed decision-making are roles where an English PhD’s expertise shines.

Earning a PhD in English isn’t just about academics; it's about embracing a multifaceted world of opportunities. The journey you embark on equips you with skills that transcend traditional boundaries. As you step beyond the classroom, remember that your passion for language, critical thinking, and storytelling has the power to redefine industries and carve pathways less traveled. The possibilities are boundless, waiting for you to embrace them and make your mark in an ever-evolving professional landscape.

Learn more about what doctoral study in the humanities can do for you in our guide!

Are you intrigued by the diverse possibilities a PhD in English can unlock? Connect with us at SMU's Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies to explore how our program can pave the way for your journey into these exciting career realms. Your expertise has the potential to shape industries and redefine success.

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Career Feature
Published: 15 February 2023

Career feature

Retaining postdocs by recognizing their worth

Esra Yalcin ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1064-7989 1 , 2 , 3 na1 ,
Rosa Martinez-Corral 2 , 4 na1 &
Mayank Chugh ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5167-6890 2 , 4

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Data from a postdoc salary and benefits survey may assist in retaining PhD holders interested in academia but considering alternate options owing to financial considerations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Gary McDowell for providing valuable resources, personally communicating data, discussions and feedback on this manuscript. The authors also thank D. Khong, E. McKay, T. Sainburg, G. Romero, A. Cha and S. Nandagopal. They are grateful to J. Gould and M. Tally at the Office of Postdoctoral Fellows of the HMS for their unwavering support, funding and resources.

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These authors contributed equally: Esra Yalcin, Rosa Martinez-Corral.

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Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Esra Yalcin

Harvard Medical Postdoc Association, Boston, MA, USA

Esra Yalcin, Rosa Martinez-Corral & Mayank Chugh

Boston Postdoctoral Association, Boston, MA, USA

Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Rosa Martinez-Corral & Mayank Chugh

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R.M.C., E.Y. and M.C. conceived and designed the manuscript, and curated and interpreted the data. E.Y. acquired the data and R.M.C. analyzed it. M.C. wrote and supervised the manuscript. All authors read the manuscript.

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Discover the Scope and Benefits of PhD

by Tanu Bhatnagar
Published: May 13, 2023, 09:45 IST
Updated: May 12, 2023, 23:17 IST
Tanu Bhatnagar
May 13, 2023

Discover the Scope and Benefits of PhD in India

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is India’s highest academic degree. Those who want to further their careers in academia, research, or industry often pursue a PhD. The scope of PhD in India is broad. Engineering, humanities, social sciences, business, and management are common PhD programmes in India. These disciplines provide several specialised study areas.

PhDs in India may work at universities, research institutes, government agencies, commercial enterprises, and non-profits. Teaching, research, consulting, and management are other careers.

The scope of PhD programmes in India provides personal and intellectual rewards as well as career chances. PhD students undertake original research, acquire critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and become experts in their subjects.

PhD in India offers various personal and professional development chances. However, getting a PhD in India is difficult, time-consuming, and demands a lot of attention. In the article, we will Discover the Scope and Benefits of PhD to provide future scholars a bit of understanding.

Also, read PhD Coursework : Latest UGC Guidelines , Syllabus

SCOPE OF PHD IN INDIA

The government’s promotion of research and innovation has expanded the scope of PhD in India. The University Grants Commission (UGC), which oversees higher education in India, is working to boost research quality and PhD enrollment.

The UGC created the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) to identify high-quality academic publications and eliminate predatory ones. This ensures PhD students publish in reputable publications and boosts their academic reputation.

Several Indian government programmes encourage PhD candidates and promote research in numerous sectors. The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) funds PhD students’ science and technology research.

The ‘ Study in India’ programme also encourages international students to study in India, including PhDs. This strengthens the country’s economy and status as an academic and research centre.

TOP CAREERS AFTER PhD

PhD careers in India are varied. India’s top PhD job choices are:

Academic Careers : Many PhD holders in India seek academic careers as professors, researchers, or lecturers. Research institutes, government entities, and non-profits employ them.
Research Careers: PhDs might engage in scientific, business, social, and other research domains. They may partner with universities, research institutes, and enterprises in the public and private sectors.
Industry Careers: The scope of PhD may also work in healthcare, technology, finance, and other private sectors. They may consult and research in these fields.
Entrepreneurship : PhDs may create firms and startups based on their knowledge and skills. They work in technology, healthcare, education, and more.
Policymaking: PhDs may serve as policymakers in government, think tanks, and non-profits. They may influence policy in their field.

A PhD in India provides a broad career path with numerous personal and professional development chances. However, a PhD needs perseverance, commitment, and the capacity to perform original research and improve knowledge in the chosen profession. In addition, let’s discuss the advantages of PhD.

Also, read Difference between NTA UGC NET and JRF

BENEFITS OF PhD

Career Advancement : A PhD prepares people for senior-level roles and higher earnings. PhD holders earn 20% more than Master’s holders. PhD students get funding for their study, which is equivalent to three years of income.
Personal Growth : Working hard, being disciplined, and pursuing a PhD may boost self-confidence and self-worth. Grad School Hub
Networking : A PhD allows you to connect with other researchers, professors, and professionals in your area. These connections may lead to continuous mentoring and professional progress. US News
Advanced Research : A PhD may help one’s field and society. Research may influence public policy and address critical social and scientific issues. Grad School Hub
Benefits to Society : PhDs give in-depth knowledge of a topic. PhD research training may improve critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative problem-solving. This might benefit humanity. Grad School Hub
Knowledge and Understanding : PhD research and training may increase critical thinking and problem-solving. This is useful in personal and business contexts. Grad School Hub
Improved Critical Thinking: PhD training in research methodologies and strategies may enhance one’s research skills. This may benefit academic and non-academic situations. Grad School Hub
Improved Research Capability : A PhD may lead to job advancement and additional study. It may also enhance research, teaching, and mentoring. Top Universities
Transferable Skills: A PhD can teach you research, note-taking, writing, and presenting skills in addition to topic knowledge. Employers respect these talents in most employment environments.

In conclusion, in the article Discover the Scope and Benefits of PhD we can say earning a PhD may open many doors for ambitious professionals. The Scope of Phd drives Research, innovation and advancement in many areas, making a PhD degree wide and ever-expanding. A PhD may launch a successful career in academia or business and provide students with the skills and knowledge to make a difference. PhD studies are difficult, but the benefits are worth it. With India’s focus on research and development, this is a good moment to pursue a PhD and help the nation improve.

Also, read Predicted Hot Topics for UGC NET Management Subject 2023

Meet Tanu Bhatnagar, an educational expert with extensive experience in teaching, research and mentoring.With a decade in... (Full bio)

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IMAGES

12 Points to Explain Advantages for PhD Thesis Work
The Advantages Of Getting A PhD In 2024
What are the Benefits of Doing PhD? Benefits of PhD
Benefits of a PhD
The Benefits of Having a PhD
Masters Vs PhD: The Difference Between Masters & PhD/Doctorates 2023+

VIDEO

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A PHD HOLDER WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND 24 HOUR ECONOMY
there are lakhs of PhD holder #podcast #trending #ranveerallahbadia
What is the fastest way to do Adkar? #drmuhammadsalah
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COMMENTS

The Pros and Cons of Getting a PhD
Confidence. Studying for a PhD is a surefire way to boost your self confidence and belief. You will finally get the chance to discover that there is no secret source of knowledge that you're being denied access too. The joy of learning. If you pick a field that you enjoy (which is always advisable) the love of the pursuit will be enough.
The Benefits of Having a PhD
In conclusion, while a PhD may benefit you financially under certain conditions it does have a whole host of other benefits which everyone can realise: Making you a subject matter expert with evidenced credibility. Stand out from other job candidates. Gain transferable skills. Keep your career options open.
The Pros and Cons of Getting a PhD
Seeking advice from PhD holders, mentors, and career advisors can offer valuable insights in answering these questions. The decision to pursue a PhD is undoubtedly complex and multifaceted. It requires careful consideration of both the benefits of a doctorate degree and its potential disadvantages. Ultimately, though, it is a personal decision.
Three actions PhD-holders should take to land their next job
Most PhD-holders find that being proactive comes easily in an academic setting, such as approaching potential collaborators by e-mail or reviewing the literature before drafting a research-project ...
The Advantages Of Getting A PhD In 2024
Pursuing a PhD requires a great deal of hard work, determination, and self-discipline. The process of completing a PhD can be incredibly empowering and can help build self-confidence and increase your sense of self-worth. Personal growth is one of the important PhD benefits. 4. Networking Opportunities.
Why earning a PhD is an advantage in today's industry job market
Isaiah Hankel. Industry employers value candidates with PhDs because they are expert innovators. Credit: Thomas Barwick/Getty. "Companies don't want to hire PhDs because they're ...
Why PhDs are good
From an individual perspective, there are good and bad reasons to do a PhD. The good reasons include achieving a significant goal in terms of a research output, publications and in many cases ...
Benefits of a PhD
One of these options is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. A PhD, along with other types of doctoral degrees, is considered a terminal degree, meaning that they are the final step in academic achievement. For those interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, know that there are many benefits to completing this type of program.
Is Doing a PhD Worth It?
Possessing a PhD correlates to higher median salaries, and can aid career progression as a PhD holder can use their specialist skills to seek out unique opportunities in industry. These skills, combined with the new roles that open up for doctorate holders, such as working within innovative Research and Development teams, presents an exciting ...
What is a PhD?
Definition of a PhD - A Doctor of Philosophy (commonly abbreviated to PhD, Ph.D or a DPhil) is a university research degree awarded from across a broad range of academic disciplines; in most countries, it is a terminal degree, i.e. the highest academic degree possible. PhDs differ from undergraduate and master's degrees in that PhDs are ...
PhD vs. Doctorate Degree: Benefits and Differences
BLS data indicates that those with a doctorate degree earned a median annual salary of about $100,000 in 2021. That's about 21% more than the earnings of master's degree holders and around 43% more than the earnings of bachelor's degree holders. In addition to enjoying job security and higher salaries, doctorate degree holders have ...
The wider benefits of a PhD
PhD holders identified further benefits of doctoral education beyond acquiring specialised knowledge. Benefits include a set of transferable skills: problem-solving, critical reasoning, thinking in-depth and from different angles and perspectives. While these skills were emphasised by most respondents irrespective of their current workplace ...
PhD Employability and Earnings
Another factor you might think about when considering a doctorate is whether it'll improve your earning potential. Looking again at the Graduate Outcomes survey from HESA, it does seem that PhD holders are more likely to enjoy higher earnings than people with a Masters degree.. As you can see in the table below, those with a PhD are more likely to earn more than £30,000 per year than their ...
7 Advantages PhDs Have Over Other Job Candidates
A PhD offers you great advantages over other job candidates and over the population in general. 1. They know how to find answers. The top three desired skills for every industry position are critical thinking, complex problem solving, and correct decision-making. In other words, you have to be able to identify problems, find the right problem ...
Benefits of Doing a PhD: How It Helps Your Career?
One of the benefits of doing a PhD is that it earns you a great deal of respect in society. When people around you come to know that you are a PhD you automatically earn their respect because they are aware of the knowledge you have and the hard work you have put in to achieve the status. 7. Asset to The Country.
Is a Ph.D Still Useful to Society?
Even after saying all that, I still believe that PhD's are useful to society. But there is a gigantic caveat: A PhD is only useful to a person who is 100% certain that a life at the research bench is what they want to do. If you aren't 100% certain that's what you want, then a PhD is probably not for you. To me, it seems that the most important ...
What value do PhD graduates offer? An organizational case study
Employers. Firms may fail to recognize the benefits of the PhD (Cousten & Pignatel, Citation 2018), not believe a PhD adds value beyond a Master's (Kyvik & Olsen, Citation 2012, Norway), or be suspicious of PhDs (Cousten & Pignatel, Citation 2018; Kulkarni et al., Citation 2015: US).This may contribute to an unwillingness to invest the resources to ensure PhDs remain (Adams et al., Citation ...
What are the benefits of earning a PhD or other doctorate level degree
A 2019 study by Georgetown University found that PhD graduates in business earn an average of $139,000 annually, compared to $95,000 for Master's degree holders. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects management analyst positions, a common career path for PhDs in management, to grow by 14% between 2020-2030 , faster than the average for ...
Unlocking Possibilities: What Can You Do With a PhD in English?
Here's a glimpse into the exciting array of non-academic careers English PhDs are well suited for: 1. Content Strategist and Brand Storyteller: English PhDs thrive in the realm of content strategy and brand storytelling. Their profound understanding of narratives and language nuances can transform English PhDs into sought-after content ...
What Does 'PhD' Stand For?
A PhD is a terminal academic degree students typically pursue when they're interested in an academic or research career. A PhD is the highest possible academic degree a student can obtain. PhD stands for "Doctor of Philosophy," which refers to the immense knowledge a student gains when earning the degree. While you can actually get a PhD in ...
Retaining postdocs by recognizing their worth
Data from a postdoc salary and benefits survey may assist in retaining PhD holders interested in academia but considering alternate options owing to financial considerations.
Discover the Scope and Benefits of PhD
BENEFITS OF PhD. Career Advancement: A PhD prepares people for senior-level roles and higher earnings. PhD holders earn 20% more than Master's holders. PhD students get funding for their study, which is equivalent to three years of income. Personal Growth: Working hard, being disciplined, and pursuing a PhD may boost self-confidence and self ...
H-1B for PhD Holders & Students
The two most common green cards for H-1B holders are: EB-3: this green card is meant for those with bachelor's degrees as well as both skilled and unskilled workers. As a PhD holder, you are probably more than qualified for this green card. EB-2: To be considered eligible for this green card, you must either have an advanced degree or be able ...