should i do a phd uk

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10 things you need to know before starting a PhD degree

So you want to do a PhD degree, huh? Here we've got everything you need to know about getting started.

So you want to do a PhD degree, huh? Are you sure about that? It’s not going to be an easy decision, so I’ve put together a list of 10 things you need to know before starting a PhD degree. Oh, and don’t panic!

I have recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a PhD in Plant Sciences after four difficult, but enjoyable, years. During those four years, I often felt slightly lost – and there was more than one occasion on which I didn’t even want to imagine writing up my thesis in fear of delving into fits of panic.

On reflection, I realise that – to quote a colleague – commencing my PhD was like “jumping in the deep end with your eyes closed.” If only I’d known to take a deep breath.

1. Are you sure you want to do a PhD degree?

Let’s be under no false impressions, completing a PhD isn’t easy. There will be times when you feel like Wile E Coyote chasing after the Roadrunner – a little bit out of your depth a lot of the time. It’s four years of your life, so make sure it is what you really want to do.

If you want to pursue a career in science, a PhD isn’t always necessary.

It is possible to make great inroads into industry without a doctoral degree. That said, a PhD can also be a very useful qualification with many transferable skills to add to your CV.

By the time you’ll have finished, you can include essentials such as time management, organisational skills, prioritising workloads, attention to detail, writing skills, presenting to an audience – and most importantly – resilience, to name but a few.

2. Choose your project, and supervisor, wisely.

This is  very  important.

Time after time, our experienced scientists at EI, including Erik Van-Den-Bergh (and I agree) say, “ make sure you’re extremely passionate about exactly that subject. ” When I saw the PhD opening that I eventually was offered, I remember being demonstrably ecstatic about the project before I’d even started it.

I was always interested in calcium signalling and organised a meeting with my potential supervisor immediately, which (to quote Billy Connolly) I leapt into in a mood of gay abandon.

Not only does this help you to keep engaged with your project even through the painstakingly slow times, it also greatly enhances your ability to sell yourself in an interview. If you can show passion and enthusiasm about the project and the science then you’ll be that one step ahead of other candidates – which is all the more important now that many studentships are competitive.

You have to  be the best  out of many, often exceptional candidates.

However, as important as it is to be passionate about your project, make sure that the person who will be supervising you is worthy.

Does your potential supervisor have a prolific track record of publishing work? What is the community of scientists like in the lab you may be working in? Are there experienced post-doctoral scientists working in the lab? Who will your advisor be? Is your supervisor an expert in the field you are interested in? Is the work you will be doing ground-breaking and novel, or is it quite niche?

There is nothing more frustrating – and I know many PhD degree students with this problem – than having a supervisor who is rarely there to talk to, shows little interest in your work, and cannot help when you are struggling in the third year of your project and some guidance would be much appreciated.

Personally, and I was very lucky to have this, I think it’s incredibly useful to have two supervisors. My PhD degree was split between the University of Manchester and the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth. Between my supervisors, I had two people with expertise in different fields, who could give me some fantastic advice from different perspectives. This also meant that I had two people to check through my thesis chapters and provide useful comments on my drafts.

Make sure you are passionate about your subject before taking it to PhD level. And by passionate I mean  really  passionate.

For a start, you will most likely have to write a literature review in your first three months, which if done well will form the main bulk of your thesis introduction and will save you a lot of stress and strain when it comes to writing up.

At the end of your first year, you will have to write a continuation report, which is your proof that you deserve to carry on to the end of your three or four years. This doesn’t leave much time for lab work, which means time management is incredibly important. If you think you’ll be able to swan in at 11 and leave at 3, think again.

Fundamentally, never, ever rest on your laurels! As tempting as it may be to slack-off slightly in the second year of your four year PhD, don’t.

4. Be organised.

This is a no-brainer but still, it’s worth a mention. Take an hour on a Monday morning to come up with a list of short-term and long-term goals. You’ll probably have to present your work at regular lab meetings, so it’s always worth knowing what has to be done (lest you look a pillock in front of the lab when there’s nothing to show for your last two weeks.)

It’s always good to have a timeline of what will be done when. If you have a PCR, maybe you can squeeze in another experiment, read a few papers, start writing the introduction to your thesis, or even start collecting the data you already have into figures.

The more good use you make of your time, the easier it’ll be to finish your PhD in the long run. Plus, it’s lovely to sit back and look at actual graphs, rather than worry about having enough to put into a paper. Once you’ve typed up your data, you’ll realise you’ve done far more than you had anticipated and the next step forward will be entirely more apparent.

5. Embrace change – don’t get bogged down in the details.

Felix Shaw – one of our bioinformatics researchers at EI – put it best when he said, “ it felt like I was running into brick walls all the way through [my PhD]… you’d run into a brick wall, surmount it, only to run straight into another. ”

You’ll find that, often, experiments don’t work. What might seem like a great idea could turn out to be as bad as choosing to bat first on a fresh wicket on the first day of the third Ashes test at Edgbaston. (Yeah, we don't know what that means either - Ed).

Resilience is key while completing your PhD. Be open to change and embrace the chance to experiment in different ways. You might even end up with a thesis chapter including all of your failures, which at the very least is something interesting to discuss during your  viva voce .

6. Learn how to build, and use, your network.

As a PhD student, you are a complete novice in the world of science and most things in the lab will be – if not new to you – not exquisitely familiar. This matters not, if you take advantage of the people around you.

Firstly, there are lab technicians and research assistants, who have probably been using the technique you are learning for years and years. They are incredibly experienced at a number of techniques and are often very happy to help show you how things are done.

There are postdocs and other PhD students, too. Not only can they help you with day-to-day experiments, they can offer a unique perspective on how something is done and will probably have a handy back-catalogue of fancy new techniques to try.

There are also a bunch of PIs, not limited to your own, who are great to talk to. These people run labs of their own, have different ideas, and might even give you a job once you’ve completed your PhD.

Don’t limit yourself to the labs directly around you, however. There are a massive number of science conferences going on all around the world. Some of them, such as the Society of Biology Conference, take place every year at a similar time in different locations, attracting many of the leaders in their respective fields.

If you are terrified by the prospect of speaking at a full-blown science conference and having your work questioned by genuine skeptics, there are also many student-led conferences which will help you dangle your fresh toes in the murky waters of presenting your work.

One such conference, the Second Student Bioinformatics Symposium, which took place at Earlham Institute in October 2016, was a great place for candidates to share their projects with peers, who are often much more friendly than veteran researchers with 30 year careers to their name when it comes to the questions at the end of your talk.

Another great reason to attend conferences, of course, is the social-side too – make the most of this. You never know who you might meet and connect with over a few drinks once the talks are over and the party commences.

7. Keep your options open.

You should be aware that for every 200 PhD students,  only 7  will get a permanent academic post , so it’s  incredibly unlikely that you’ll become a Professor  – and even if you make PI, it probably won’t be until your mid-forties.

You may also, despite having commenced along the academic path, decide that actually, working in a lab environment isn’t for you. Most PhD graduates, eventually, will not pursue an academic career, but move on to a wide range of other vocations.

It might be that Science Communication is more up your street. This was certainly the case for me – and I made sure that I took part in as many public engagement events as possible while completing my PhD. Most Universities have an active public engagement profile, while organisations such as STEM can provide you with ample opportunities to interact with schools and the general public.

You might also consider entrepreneurship as a route away from academia, which might still allow you to use your expert scientific knowledge. There are a variety of competitions and workshops available to those with a business mind, a strong example being Biotechnology YES.

I, for example, took part in the Thought for Food Challenge, through which I have been able to attend events around the world and meet a vast array of like-minded individuals. Many of the participants from the challenge have gone on to set up successful businesses and have even found jobs as a result of the competition.

8. Balance.

Remember that you still have a life outside of your PhD degree – and that this can be one of the greatest opportunities to make amazing friends from around the world.

A science institute is usually home to the brightest students from a variety of countries and can provide a chance to experience a delightful range of different people and cultures. Don’t just stick to the people in your lab, go to events for postgraduate students and meet people from all over campus.

There are usually academic happy hours happening on Fridays after work where you can buy cheap beer, or some lucky institutions even have their own bar. At Norwich Research Park, we not only have the Rec Centre, along with bar, swimming pool, calcetto, samba classes, archery, and a range of other activities, but there are also biweekly “Postdoc pub clubs” which are very fun to join on a Tuesday evening.

Maintain your hobbies and keep up with friends outside of your PhD and you’ll probably find it’s not that gruelling a process after all.

Plus, the people you meet and become friends with might be able to help you out – or at least be able to offer a sympathetic shoulder.

9. Practical advice.

If, after reading all of this, you’re still going to march forth and claim your doctorhood, then this section should be rather useful.

Firstly, make sure your data is backed up. It’s amazing how many people don’t do this and you’d be bonkers not to. Keep your work saved on a shared drive, so that if your computer decides to spontaneously combust upon pressing the return key, you won’t have lost all of your precious work – or have to go through every one of your lab books and type it all up again.

Secondly, don’t leave your bag in the pub with your half-written thesis in it. I did this, the bag was fine, I was in a state of terror for at least half an hour before the kind person at Weatherspoons located said bag.

Thirdly, read. Read broadly, read anything and everything that’s closely related to your project – or completely unrelated. It’s sometimes amazing where you might find a stroke of inspiration, a new technique you hadn’t thought of … or even in idea of where you might like to go next.

Finally, ask questions – all of the time. No matter how stupid it might sound in your head, everyone’s probably been asked it before, and if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

You’ll probably look far less stupid if you just ask the person standing next to you how the gradient PCR function works on your thermal cycler rather than standing there randomly prodding buttons and looking flustered, anyway.

10. Savour the positives.

At the end of all of this, it has to be said that doing a PhD is absolutely brilliant. There’s no other time in your life that you’ll be this free to pursue your very own project and work almost completely independently. By the time you come to the end of your PhD, you will be the leading expert in the world on something. A real expert! Until the next PhD student comes along …

Related reading.

A PhD, is it worth it? Just ask our students

The realities of doing a PhD

My advice for PhD students? See what bites

COVID and my PhD: to lockdown and back

How does a PhD work and how to find the right one

Building the confidence to take on a PhD

PhD life, 10 things we learned in our first six months

What’s the third year of a PhD like? Tips for navigating your PhD

PhD by experience

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Reasons to do a PhD or research degree

Is research right for you?

Discover the benefits of getting a PhD or research degree and how it can boost your career.

Do you love learning, want to keep researching or hit the heights of your field of expertise?

PhDs and research degrees help you start or continue your research in a field you're passionate about. You can decide what you work on, how you work on it and how you get there, with support and guidance from a supervisory team.

Make a world-first discovery, create innovation with lasting impact or shine a new light on important topics.

Whether you've just finished your postgraduate degree, in the workforce or returning to uni after a break, a research degree gives you a lot of options.

Jump to section:

Questions to ask yourself.

Don’t just take our word for it – check out some of our Student Stories to see the great experience our students had at uni.

For me Portsmouth bridged the gap between academia and practical work, from leading my own firm (Alexandrite Decisions) to founding a charity organisation for cancer patients support.

Rania Azmi, Goal Programming Research Doctorate

1. Passion for research

If you simply love learning and have a passion for discovering new things then it's a good sign a research degree is for you.

You'll pick a topic you're interested in and have the freedom to dive deep into the heart of a problem.

Draw on the years of research in your field, forge your own findings or perspective and make your contribution to a body of exceptional research.

2. Become an expert in your field

Build on your knowledge from your Master's degree by engaging with complex topics in a more specialised field of your choice.

You'll be able to learn more about what you're passionate about and give you the tools to make meaningful contributions to specific research fields.

You'll dive into key areas and challenges in your field, developing your theoretical approach and applying it through your research.

Or you could look at conducting interdisciplinary research. Blend theories, approaches and expertise across fields and universities to create brand new, world-leading research.

3. Put your studies into practice

If you want to start applying what you learned in your studies then a research degree is a great way to do it.

You'll work independently in gathering resources and research. You'll develop sharp time management skills, share your findings with your peers and develop your work together.

You'll hone your communication skills so you can discuss complex topics both written and verbally to experts and everyday people alike.

You'll develop your interpersonal skills, working with professional staff, peers, academics and others. Become a master of taking on feedback as you refine your research.

Writing an extended report or essay takes time and skill. Identifying an objective, working in the lab or forging an argument and making your case with evidence takes talent. You'll end up a technical expert and writer no matter what field you're in.

4. Learn with engaged peers

During your research degree, you and your peers are all studying to get better at what you do. You'll learn with motivated researchers bringing their own perspectives and experiences to the same problems.

You'll build a solid study group to push and encourage each other to develop. You'll also gain new insights from your classmates that can help shape your learning.

5. Boost your career

A research degree is a great way to become a subject matter expert or researcher.

A research-based degree is the most direct pathway to an academic job at university. You'll get the skills you need to compete in the university sector. After you graduate you can look at becoming a tutor, researcher or lecturer. Most universities offer post-doctoral research fellowships where you can get paid to hone your skills, carry on researching and get your academic career rolling.

Some jobs require a Master's or PhD and generally pay very well in the private and public sector. You could:

• work in the public or private sector in industrial research and development
• advise on government policy to make an impact on your local region or country
• become a communications expert for your field and share complex research in clear, everyday fashion

6. Networking opportunities

PhDs and research degrees are a great chance to expand your network and meet diverse people with similar interests, knowledge and passion.

You'll have the chance to attend conferences, seminars and workshops in different cities or countries. Gain new insights and build connections with other researchers and experts across borders.

Networking with coursemates, colleagues and other academics helps expand your knowledge base and balance the solitude that can often come with a research life. Having a network is also incredibly helpful in finding and applying for funding and looking for work in the future.

7. New city, new experiences

Studying for a PhD or research degree might mean moving cities or even countries. If you've been wanting a change of setting along with your career path it's a great opportunity to give both a try.

If you're an international student, studying in a different country gives you the chance to graduate with both fantastic life experiences and a great qualification.

Portsmouth is a welcoming, student-friendly city – one where you'll meet people from all around the world, and have the chance to make connections with people in a whole new environment.

See why Portsmouth is a great place to live

Since starting my PhD, I have been lucky enough to publish twice and visit three different conferences, one of which was held at Cornell University. These opportunities will prove invaluable in my career going forwards, in academia.

Robert Lawrence, PhD Molecular Microbiology

Just like any course, the benefits you'll get from a research degree depends on what you want to get out of it. When you're weighing up your options there are some important questions you should ask yourself to make sure it's right for you.

1. Is this subject something I'm passionate about?

Studying a research degree is a multi-year time commitment. If you're excited by the idea of spending a significant period of time dedicated to one subject, that's a good sign you're ready.

Research degrees often involve a lot of independent work, so if you're only partly interested in the subject, you might find yourself losing interest. That can make meeting your own expectations more difficult.

Is learning about and working in this field something that you can see yourself in for the next 5-10 years? And where do you want to be in that timeframe? It's important not to study just so you can put off bigger life decisions.

2. Do I need a research degree to follow my passion?

There are many different jobs or careers in every field. Not all of them require you to have a research Master's or PhD.

If you want to contribute to a specific industry or area, do you already have some skills and knowledge you can apply in it? If not, what skills or knowledge will a research degree give you?

3. Am I ready for more uni?

If you've finished your Bachelor's or Master's degree and are looking at your next options, a research degree is an option that keeps things familiar. For some students, if you've spent the last 3-4 years studying you might want to try something different.

It depends on who you are, what you care about and what you want to do with your life. If you finished your degree and you're mostly relieved it's over then jumping right back into study may not be the best fit for you.

Remember that you can always go to uni again later. Plenty of graduates spend a few years working before coming back to upskill, retrain or dive into their passion. In a lot of cases, what you've learned in your work experience will make you a better student when you go back to it.

4. Have I found the right supervisor?

Every research student has at least one supervisor. They're there to support and guide you as you develop your ideas and compile your research

Having the right supervisor can be the difference between making your research good, great or excellent. If they're running or part of a research centre or group you may have greater access to networks and resources

It's best you explore supervisors you can work with , which might mean checking out multiple universities and reaching out to them directly. Usually, their profile will say if they're taking on new students and they're happy to get back to you by email.

As it is a PhD I have formed my course myself, but having a supervisor who is well-versed in my subject area is the most unique part of my work here, as no one else is approaching the subjects we look at in a similar way

Beatrice Ashton-Lelliott, PhD English Literature

5. Can I afford it?

Before you decide on a research degree it's important to think about the costs involved.

If you're a UK national applying for an MPhil or MRes course, you might be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan  which you can use to fund your tuition fees, living costs and other costs for a Master's course.

If you're an international student you'll need to plan out how you can cover your costs and fund yourself while you're studying.

When considering a PhD there are funded and non-funded options:

• If you've got an idea that aligns with an academic's field of expertise, you can contact them directly
• Look to external funding from the government or an independent research body
• Universities will offer funded PhD opportunities but these may be limited
• Start a PhD without funding support

If you're currently working you may need to adjust your working hours or potentially look for part-time work. You might have less money to play with if you're studying full-time and working on the side.

If you're moving cities or countries there are other costs you'll need to consider. You'll need to factor in things like the initial cost of moving and your deposit if you're renting a place.

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This page has been reproduced from the Vitae website (www.vitae.ac.uk). Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development.

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Is doctoral research for me?

Research degrees offer a rewarding and exciting opportunity to explore an issue in real depth. On completion of your degree you will be one of the world's leading experts in your (possibly narrow) field. You are likely to have had the opportunity to meet researchers from around the world and present your work to them. You will also have a qualification that is not common in the workforce, although it is not a passport to all jobs.

You should also be aware that doctoral research is a big commitment in time and energy and can be a roller-coaster ride. Research projects are highly challenging and can be frustrating at times but being prepared for this and understanding yourself and your motivations will increase your resilience and help you to maintain motivation.

First understand yourself...

In the UK a doctorate will take you at least three-years full-time and up to seven years part-time: in other countries it can be longer. You need to be really clear on your motivations for doing a doctorate, and that it is a positive career step. It's not advisable to start a doctorate because you're not sure what else to do next or simply because your professor has suggested it. A natural starting point is to reflect on your values, capabilities and expertise . Understanding the basic principles by which you live your life and make your personal decisions is important but it's easy to sideline - especially when our immediate concerns may be things like meeting financial or family responsibilities. However, if our day-to-day work does not fit with our values or motivations, we are likely to become demotivated and potentially disillusioned, or may not perform as well as we might. Committing to a doctoral research programme is a big decision, and there needs to be alignment of your personal attributes and capabilities with what is needed to undertake and succeed in obtaining a doctoral degree. You could take a look at the Vitae Researcher Development Framework to gain a sense of the areas in which you can develop throughout a research career.

Then take advice...

There is no better way to find out how or why current researchers decided to undertake a research degree than to talk to them. Ask what it's actually like doing research. You can also get some ideas by looking at our online researcher career stories and by reading online advice.

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How to apply for a PhD in the UK

Applying for a phd is not quite as daunting as you might think. a postgraduate student recruitment officer from the university of sussex shares his tips for putting together a phd application.

Ben Osborne

There are many different reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD – to move into an academic role at a university, to continue studying a subject you are passionate about or to further your career. 

Whatever your motivation, many students are now choosing to pursue a PhD abroad. This guide will help you understand how to apply for a PhD at a UK university and answer any questions you might have around doing PhDs.

How to apply for a PhD

Application rules and methods vary for each university. The number of courses that you can apply for in a year will vary. For example, at the University of Sussex , you can apply for up to three postgraduate courses per year using the postgraduate application system.

If you are applying for more than one degree, you must submit a research proposal/statement specific to each area of study you apply for.

You can also apply to different universities to improve your chances of being accepted to a PhD course of your choosing. 

What qualifications do I need?

Each PhD will have specific entry requirements and you will also need to meet a university’s general entry requirements.  This may be an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (2:1) or an equivalent international qualification. For some PhDs you may need a master’s qualification, and you may be asked to attend an interview.

International students may also be required to prove language proficiency. This will vary across institutions so do check what level universities expect before starting your application. 

Applicants should always check the specific entry requirements in a university’s online prospectus before making an application.

When should I start applying?

This will depend on when your term start date is. Most research degrees will start in September but some courses offer additional entry points in January or May.

You can apply all year round for research degrees starting in September, January and May, and the deadlines for applying are usually one month before the course start date for UK applicants, and three months before for international applicants.

If you’re applying for funding from an external organisation you’ll need to be aware that they may have different deadlines for the funding application. So give yourself plenty of time to research your funding options, and ensure you know how long the application process takes. 

Many universities offer a number of funded PhD opportunities and PhD scholarships for UK and international students, and it’s always worth investigating funding routes such as research councils and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas.

In some cases, it may be possible to study a PhD by distance which means you’ll be able to learn online and have virtual meetings with your supervisor.

If this is something you would be interested in doing you should check before applying whether your university can accommodate this option. 

Nine things to know before doing a PhD Starting a PhD during the pandemic Studying for a part-time PhD: the challenges and the benefits Is it possible to do a three-year PhD as an international student?

How should I look for a supervisor?

Usually if you are applying for a funded project, or to a research centre or group, you will normally be asked to provide a statement explaining your suitability for working in that area, and if successful you will be allocated a supervisor.

If you wish to propose your own area of research, you need to decide on a research topic, and you will be expected to write a research proposal. In some cases you may only be required to provide a summary of academic interests and this can be used to match you to a researcher that suits you.

If you are proposing your own research topic, there may be a research database at your university that you can search, or your university will match you with a supervisor during the assessment of your application. It may be possible to request supervision by a particular member of faculty – this will be considered but not all requests can be accommodated.

If you do find a potential supervisor who matches your research area, check their online profile for indications of their doctoral supervision capacity. If they are open to doctoral applications, you can contact them directly to check their availability for supervising you.

It is a good idea to draw up a shortlist of two to three potential supervisors, and take an in-depth look into their research history. You can also find out more about your potential supervisors by looking in the reference sections of academic textbooks and searching for articles in research databases and academic blogs.

When you contact your potential supervisor, it is important to tell them something interesting about yourself, and explain your research interests and how you feel your research proposal matches their expertise.

How do I write a research proposal?

If you are proposing your own research you will need to write a strong proposal that formulates a precise, interesting research question, and establishes the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking.

You’ll need to make sure your proposal describes the data or source material your research requires, and outlines a clear and practical methodology that enables you to answer the research question and that states clearly what you hope to discover at the end of your research, and what new areas it might open up.

The precise content and structure of your research proposal will depend on your subject area, and the University of Sussex has some helpful resources on our website to guide you through the process.

How long does the application process take?

Completing an application and writing a research proposal may take some time and should not be left until just before the application deadline.

It’s not easy to give a definite idea of how long it takes to hear if your application has been successful, as it will depend on when the application is made and the nature of the specific PhD, and you would need to meet any conditions contained within the offer before you can start the PhD.

What are the associated costs?

There won’t typically be an application fee for PhDs but there are tuition fees. If a university does charge application fees they will usually be between £50-£100.

The tuition fees for students studying in the UK are set by UK Research and Innovation . Fees for international students are £18,975 for non-lab-based subjects, and £22,975 for lab-based subjects per year.

You’ll also need to factor in living costs, but there are a number of funding routes you can apply for to help with this. As well as PhD scholarships and funded research projects there are research council awards, PhD loans for those eligible, and various organisations to which international students can apply for funding, such as The Gen Foundation and Open Society Foundations.

It’s important to be aware of the costs involved, but it’s also worth remembering that the educational, career and personal benefits of PhD study can be worth it.

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Experiences of a London PhD student and beyond

Is a PhD Worth It? Should I Do a PhD?

It’s been almost a year since I was officially awarded my PhD. How time flies! I figure now is a good time to reflect on the PhD and answer some of life’s big questions. Is a PhD worth it? Does having a PhD help your future job prospects? Am I pleased that I did a PhD and would I recommend that you do a PhD?

In this post I’ll walk through some of the main points to consider. We’ll touch on some pros and cons, explore the influence it could have on your career and finally attempt to answer the ultimate question. Is a PhD worth it?

Before we get into the details, if you’re considering applying for a PhD you may also want to check out a few other posts I’ve written:

• How Hard is a PhD?
• How Much Work is a PhD?
• How Much Does a PhD Student Earn? Comparing a PhD Stipend to Grad Salaries
• Characteristics of a Researcher

Are you seated comfortably? Great! Then we’ll begin.

The Pros and Cons of PhDs

When I have a difficult decision to make I like to write a pros and cons list. So let’s start by breaking down the good and bad sides of getting a PhD. Although I’ve tried to stay objective, do take into account that I have completed a PhD and enjoyed my project a lot!

These lists certainly aren’t exhaustive, so be sure to let me know if you can think of any other points to add!

The Good Parts: Reasons to Do a PhD

Life as a phd student.

• You get to work on something really interesting . Very few people outside of academia get to dive so deep into topics they enjoy. Plus, by conducting cutting edge research you’re contributing knowledge to a field.
• It can be fun! For example: solving challenges, building things, setting up collaborations and going to conferences.
• Being a PhD student can be a fantastic opportunity for personal growth : from giving presentations and thinking critically through to making the most of being a student such as trying new sports.
• You are getting paid to be a student : I mean come on, that’s pretty good! Flexible hours, socialising and getting paid to learn can all be perks. Do make sure you consciously make the most of it!

Life As A PhD Graduate

• The main one: Having a PhD may open doors . For certain fields, such as academia itself, a PhD may be a necesity. Whilst in others having a PhD can help demonstrate expertise or competency, opening doors or helping you to leapfrog to higher positions. Your mileage may vary!
• You survived a PhD: this accomplishment can be a big confidence booster .
• You’ve got a doctorate and you can use the title Dr. Certainly not enough justification on it’s own to do a PhD, but for some people it helps!

The Bad Parts: Potential Reasons Not to Do a PhD

• It can be tough to complete a PhD! There are lots of challenges . Unless you’re careful and take good care of yourself it can take a mental and physical toll on your well being.
• A PhD can be lonely ( though doesn’t have to be ), and PhD supervisors aren’t always as supportive as you’d like them to be.
• Additionally, in particular now during the pandemic, you might not be able to get as much support from your supervisor, see your peers or even access the equipment and technical support as easily as in normal times.
• You might find that having a PhD may not bring the riches you were expecting . Have a certain career you’re looking to pursue? Consider trying to find out whether or not having a PhD actually helps.
• Getting a job with a PhD can still be tough . Let’s say you want to go for a career where having a PhD is required, even once you’ve got a PhD it might not be easy to find employment. Case in point are academic positions.
• Even though you’ve put in the work you may want to use your Dr title sparingly , it certain industries a PhD may be seen as pretencious. Also, use your title sparingly to avoid getting mistaken for a medic (unless of course you’re one of them too!)

Is a PhD Good For Your Career?

If you’re wondering “Should I do a PhD?”, part of your motivation for considering gaining a PhD may be your career prospects. Therefore I want to now dive deeper into whether or not a PhD could help with future employment.

It is difficult to give definitive answers because whether or not a PhD helps will ultimately depend a lot upon what kind of career you’re hoping to have. Anyway, let’s discuss a few specific questions.

Does a PhD Help You Get a Job?

For certain industries having a PhD may either be a requirement or a strong positive.

Some professions may require a PhD such as academia or research in certain industries like pharma. Others will see your qualification as evidence that you’re competent which could give you an edge. Of course if you’re aiming to go into a career using similar skills to your PhD then you’ll stand a better chance of your future employer appreciating the PhD.

In contrast, for other roles your PhD may not be much help in securing a job. Having a PhD may not be valued and instead your time may be better spent getting experience in a job. Even so, a PhD likely won’t have been completely useless.

When I worked at an engineering consultancy the recruitment team suggested that four years of a PhD would be considered comparable to two or three years of experience in industry. In those instances, the employer may actively prefer candidates who spent those years gaining experience on the job but still appreciates the value of a PhD.

Conclusion: Sometimes a PhD will help you get a job, othertimes it wont. Not all employers may appreciate your PhD though few employers will actively mark you down for having a PhD.

Does a PhD Increase Salary? Will it Allow You to Start at a Higher Level?

This question is very much relates to the previous one so my answer will sound slightly similar.

It’ll ultimately depend upon whether or not the industry and company value the skills or knowledge you’ve gained throughout your PhD.

I want to say from the start that none of us PhD-holders should feel entitled and above certain types of position in every profession just for having a PhD. Not all fields will appreciate your PhD and it may offer no advantage. It is better to realise this now.

Some professions will appreciate that with a PhD you’ll have developed a certain detail-orientated mindset, specialised knowledge or skills that are worth paying more for. Even if the position doesn’t really demand a PhD, it is sometimes the case that having someone with a PhD in that position is a useful badge for the company to wave at customers or competitors. Under these circumstances PhD-holders may by default be offered slightly higher starting positions than other new-starters will lower degree qualifications.

To play devil’s advocate, you could be spending those 3-4 (or more) years progressing in the job. Let’s look at a few concrete examples.

PhD Graduate Salaries in Academia

Let’s cut to the chase: currently as a postdoc at a decent university my salary is £33,787, which isn’t great. With a PhD there is potential to possibly climb the academic ladder but it’s certainly not easy. If I were still working in London I’d be earning more, and if I were speficially still working at Imperial in London I’d be earning a lot more. Browse Imperial’s pay scales here . But how much is it possible to earn with a PhD compared to not having one?

For comparison to research staff with and without PhDs:

As of 2023 research assistants (so a member of staff conducting research but with no PhD) at Imperial earn £38,194 – £ 4 1,388 and postdoctoral research associates earn £43,093 – £50,834 . Not only do you earn £5000 or more a year higher with a PhD, but without a PhD you simply can’t progress up the ladder to research fellow or tenure track positions.

Therefore in academia it pays to have a PhD, not just for the extra cash but for the potential to progress your career.

PhD Graduate Salaries in Industry

For jobs in industry, it is difficult to give a definitive answer since the variety of jobs are so wide ranging.

Certain industries will greatly reward PhD-holders with higher salaries than those without PhDs. Again it ultimately depends on how valuable your skills are. I’ve known PhD holders to do very well going into banking, science consultancy, technology and such forth.

You might not necessarily earn more money with a PhD in industry, but it might open more doors to switch industries or try new things. This doesn’t necessarily mean gaining a higher salary: I have known PhD-holders to go for graduate schemes which are open to grads with bachelors or masters degrees. Perhaps there is an argument that you’re more employable and therefore it encourages you to make more risky career moves which someone with fewer qualifications may make?

You can of course also use your PhD skills to start your own company. Compensation at a start-up varies wildly, especially if you’re a founder so it is hardly worth discussing. One example I can’t resist though is Magic Pony. The company was co-founded by a Imperial PhD graduate who applied expertise from his PhD to another domain. He sold the company two years later to Twitter for $150 million . Yes, including this example is of course taking cherry-picking to the extreme! The point stands though that you can potentially pick up some very lucrative skills during your PhD.

Conclusion: Like the previous question, not all industries will reward your PhD. Depending on what you want to go and do afterward your PhD, it isn’t always worth doing a PhD just for career progression. For professions that don’t specifically value a PhD (which is likely the majority of them!) don’t expect for your PhD to necessarily be your ticket to a higher position in the organisation.

Is a PhD Worth it?

What is “it”.

When we’re asking the question “is a PhD worth it?” it is a good idea to touch on what “it” actually is. What exactly are PhD students sacrificing in gaining a PhD? Here is my take:

• Time . 3-5 (more more) years of your life. For more see my post: how long a PhD takes .
• Energy. There is no doubt that a PhD can be mentally and physically draining, often more so than typical grad jobs. Not many of us PhD students often stick to normal office hours, though I do encourage you to !
• Money. Thankfully most of us, at least in STEM, are on funded PhD projects with tax free stipends. You can also earn some money on the side quite easily and without paying tax for a while. Even so, over the course of a PhD you are realistically likely to earn more in a grad job. For more details on how PhD stipends compare to grad salaries read my full analysis .
• Potential loss of opportunities . If you weren’t doing a PhD, what else could you be doing? As a side note, if you do go on to do a PhD, do make sure you to take advantage of the opportunities as a PhD student !

When a PhD Could Be Worth It

1. passion for a topic and sheer joy of research.

The contribution you make to progressing research is valuable in it’s own right. If you enjoy research, can get funding and are passionate about a subject by all means go and do the PhD and I doubt you’ll regret it.

2. Learning skills

If there is something really specific you want to spend three year or more years learning then a PhD can be a great opportunity. They’re also great for building soft skills such as independence, team work, presenting and making decisions.

Do be aware though that PhD projects can and do evolve so you can’t always guarantee your project will pan out as expected.

If there is the option to go into a career without a PhD I’d bet that in a lot of cases you’d learn more, faster, and with better support in industry. The speed of academic research can be painstakingly slow. There are upsides to learning skills in academia though, such as freedom and the low amount of responsibility for things outside your project and of course if you’re interested in something which hasn’t yet reached industry.

3. Helping with your career

See the section further up the page, this only applies for certain jobs. It is rare though that having a PhD would actively look bad on your CV.

When a PhD May Not Be Worth It

1. just because you can’t find another job.

Doing a PhD simply because you can’t find a job isn’t a great reason for starting one. In these circumstances having a PhD likely isn’t worth it.

2. Badge collecting

Tempted by a PhD simply to have a doctorate, or to out-do someone? Not only may you struggle with motivation but you likely won’t find the experience particularly satisfying. Sure, it can be the icing on the cake but I reckon you could lose interest pretty quickly if it is your only motivation for gaining a PhD.

Do I Feel That My Own PhD Was Worth It?

When I finished my undergrad I’d been tempted by a PhD but I wasn’t exactly sure about it. Largely I was worried about picking the wrong topic.

I spent a bit of time apprehensively applying, never being sure how I’d find the experience. Now that I’ve finished it I’m very pleased to have got my PhD!

Here are my main reasons:

• I enjoyed the research and felt relatively well fulfilled with the outcomes
• Having the opportunity to learn lots of some new things was great, and felt like time well spent
• I made new friends and generally enjoyed my time at the university
• Since I’d been interested in research and doing a PhD for so long, I feel like if I’d not done it I’d be left wondering about it and potentially end up regretting it.

In Summary, Is a PhD Worth It?

I’ve interviewed many PhD students and graduates and asked each one of them whether the PhD was worth it . The resounding answer is yes! Now of course there is some selection bias but even an interviewee who had dropped out of their PhD said that the experience had been valueable.

If you’ve got this far in the post and are still a little on the fence about whether or not a PhD is worth it, my advice is to look at the bigger picture. In comparison to your lifetime as a whole, a PhD doesn’t really take long:

People graduating now likely won’t retire until they’re in their 70s: what is 3-4 years out of a half century long career?

So Should I Do a PhD?

Whether a PhD is worth all the time and energy ultimately comes down to why you’re doing one in the first place.

There are many great reasons for wanting to do a PhD, from the sheer enjoyment of a subject through to wanting to open up new career opportunities.

Nevertheless, it is worth pointing out that practically every PhD student encounters difficult periods. Unsurprisingly, completing a PhD can be challenging and mentally draining. You’ll want to ensure you’re able to remind yourself of all the reasons why it is worth it to provide motivation to continue.

If you’re interested, here were my own reasons for wanting a PhD.

Why I decided to pursue a PhD

Saying that, if you’re interested in doing a PhD I think you should at least apply. I can’t think of any circumstances where having a PhD would be a hindrance.

It can take a while to find the right project (with funding ) so I suggest submitting some applications and see how they go. If you get interesting job offers in the meantime you don’t need to commit to the PhD. Even if you start the PhD and find you don’t enjoy it, there is no shame in leaving and you can often still walk away with a master’s degree.

My advice is that if you’re at all tempted by a PhD: go for it!

I hope this post helped you to understand if a PhD is worth it for you personally. If it is then best of luck with your application!

Considering doing a PhD? I have lots of other posts covering everything about funding , how much PhD students earn , choosing a project and the interview process through to many posts about what the life of a PhD student and graduate is like . Be sure to subscribe below!

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4 Comments on “Is a PhD Worth It? Should I Do a PhD?”

Hi Thanks for the post . I have been struggling to make a decision regarding doing a PhD or doing a second masters . I’m currently doing an msc civil engineering online (because of covid) so for my research I am not able to conduct lab experiments. Therefore my research is more of a literature review / inductive research. So I feel I’ll be at a disadvantage if I were to apply for a phd program especially at high ranking universities like oxford , imperial etc What are your thoughts?

Hey Esther,

I completely appreciate that it’s not an ideal situation at the moment so thanks for reaching out, it’s a great question. A few thoughts I have:

• If you are already tempted by a PhD and would do a second masters simply to gain lab experience, there is no harm in applying for the PhD now. At the very least I suggest considering reaching out to potential supervisors to discuss the situation with them. The universities realise that current applicants won’t have been able to gain as much research experience as normal over the last year. Practical lab experience has halted for so many people so don’t let it put you off applying!

• If you don’t get in on the first go, I don’t believe it looks bad to apply again with more experience. I applied for PhDs for three years, it doesn’t need to take this long but the point is that there’s not much reason to give it a go this year and stand a chance of getting accepted.

• Although we can be optimistic, even if you were to do a second masters it may not be guaranteed that you can gain as much lab experience as you’d like during it: even more reason to start the ball rolling now.

I hope that helps, let me know if you’d like any other further advice.

Best of luck. 🙂

Funny, every one i have talked to as well as myself when we asked ourselves and others whether the PhD was worth it is a resounding ‘No.’

I guess it comes down to a Blue or Red Pill, LoL.

Hi Joe, thanks for sharing this. I’ve spent enough time on the PhD subreddit to see many other people who haven’t had good experiences either! On the flipside many people do have positive experiences, myself included. There is perhaps an element of luck as to what your research environment turns out to be like which could somewhat dictate the PhD experience, but ultimately I do think that answering whether or not a PhD has been worth it really depends a lot on why someone is pursuing a PhD in the first place. I’m keen to make sure people don’t have unrealistic expectations for what it could bring them. I really welcome hearing about different experiences and if you’d fancy sharing your perspective for the PhD profiles series I’d love to hear from you.

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Is PhD for me

Why a UK PhD is totally worth it for international Students?

Table of contents, 1. international phd students get paid to do a phd, 2. phd in uk may take less time, 3. phd may be easier if you are proactive, 4. a uk phd may turnout useful, faqs about is a phd worth it in uk.

In short, doing a PhD in the UK is totally worth it.

• First, a UK PhD is shorter in time span but not less in value. You get rigorous academic training meeting highest standards of research internationally.
• Second, as an international PhD student in UK you have multiple options to fund your PhD. The PhD stipend is usually enough to survive as a single person during your PhD years.
• Third, you get a lot of opportunities e.g., ICASE studentships, PhD in industry and industry impact programs by UK universities. Such programs can help you gain an industry experience during your PhD.
• Finally, the graduate work visa options allows you to explore reliable employment opportunities, and further settle in UK.

In this post I will explain why a UK PhD is still worth it. As an international student you may have multiple questions regarding the value of a UK PhD. Also, you may also be concerned about funding opportunities available to you in UK. Let me explain these one by one.

There are many options for international students to do a funded PhD in UK . (a) First, the UK research council (UKRI) allow 30% of funds to be allocated to international PhD students. It is a good amount of funding to fund thousands of students. (b) Second, the International PhD students can apply for independent/ third party scholarships like Commonwealth and many others . (c) Third, in some cases PhD students are funded by industry . In such contract an employer in the UK contact the university to hire a PhD student and sponsor him for the for a specific PhD project. 

International PhD students can also apply for university funds that are allocated to supervisors or any other grant money of the supervisor. However, with such funding PhD students may need to full fill some attached obligations such as assistantship work.

A PhD in industry is very lucrative because (a) PhD stipend offered by the employers offer a higher PhD stipend than university grant, (b) it helps in getting an industry experience during your PhD, and (c) a PhD in the industry extend your network for post PhD employment opportunities.

Usually a PhD take 3 years in the UK. However, there are some cases when PhD students have to extend their contract. If you are an international PhD student this may create problem for you. You are often dependent on your PhD funding. Usually this funding last for 3 years.

In UK, universities often extend their financial support to international PhD students. Anything that is taking longer than that may put you in a financial struggle.

There are some exceptions to 3 year PhD funding duration. Some universities offer an integrated one-year masters program before the start of PhD in UK. This can lengthen the duration as well as funding of your PhD.

Yes, a PhD in UK is a tough job. This is because it takes a lot more effort on average then your Masters or bachelors. A PhD is an independent project and much different than the course work you took during your undergraduate years.

In fact a PhD is a kind of training to make you an independent researcher. Keep in mind that academic research is hard no matter what your field is. That said, a PhD in STEM science can be much harder than a PhD in education or history, for example.

Usually a PhD can feel harder not because of the subject matter of study but it can be challenging in presence of some issues like supervisor and student relationship, the terms of funding, academic culture etc.

Benefits of a PhD in UK. On the other hand, a PhD can benefit you for settling in UK after your PhD. This happen due to the availability of post-graduate work visa which is usually allotted for three years to PhD graduates. On average, three years is a good enough time for a successful PhD graduate to develop a professional network and find an employer that can sponsor them for a skilled worker visa. A skilled worker visa is is a good path to permanent residency in UK which is named as indefinite leave to remain.

Deep Dive: What should I do after doing a PhD in the UK?

PhD in UK can give you many benefits.  On average a PhD student in UK earn a higher salary than an average employee. PhD can also increase your long term earning potential and growth.

Academic career in UK after PhD. If your intention is to pursue a career in academia after PhD than odds might be against you. The reasons are highly competitive UK academic market as well as precarious academic job contracts.

Furthermore, UK PhD graduates are usually not welcomed as post-docs in their own university. For their post-doc, they are expected to move to another institution. This might mean they may have to move out of country. This might be an issue for you if you want to settle in UK after your PhD.

Industry Career in UK after PhD. On the other hand, if you intend to join industry after PhD in UK . Your chances to get good work opportunities and eventually a stable academic career are much higher than academia.

An academic career is always competitive in developed countries because of large supply and low demand of PhD graduates in academia. Academia can only employ so many PhD holders. Thus, more and more universities are focusing on creating an industry impact program for their PhD students. These programs can help PhD graduates to align themselves to UK industry environment.

Further, a PhD is also positively valued by employers in UK, thus, giving you an edge over other applicants, especially in the case of complex and cognitive work opportunities.

Is PhD in UK worth it?

A PhD in UK is surely worth it. First, anyone coming from developing countries or struggling economies will get a fully-funded PhD in UK. Second, it also depend upon your final goals of what you want from your PhD. If you want to move further in academia than make sure your field is not saturated in the UK and good job contracts are available. If you intend to work in industry after your PhD make sure to search about what you are trying to achieve because you may get that industry position with your masters and investing your peak years in PhD might not be a good idea. Finally, a PhD cannot be a magic solution to all of your problems. Remember, PhD is just a training for specific purposes. You should only do the PhD if you intend to achieve those purposes. Otherwise you may regret investing your time in a 3-4 year project which may or may not be financially worthwhile for you.

Is a PhD in UK fully funded for international students?

  Yes, international students are usually paid in UK. International PhD students who received PhD scholarship are usually offered 3 year guaranteed funding for their PhD studies. This means they will get (a) a financial support to survive in UK as well as (b) their tuition fee will be waived. To be eligible for PhD student visa you need to prove your own funds or show a full sponsorship documentation from a grant provider. PhD is usually funded by UK research Council (UKRI), universities, PhD advisor’s grants, independent funding offers for PhD, and scholarships offered by industry employers.

Does a PhD guarantee a job in UK?

  A PhD can boost your chances of getting hired in UK because (a) PhD holders have less employment rate then average industry worker in UK, (b) more and more universities are offering some hybrid form of PhD-including both an academic as well as an industry training component, and (c) UK employers usually do not discriminate PhD holders when hiring.

How competitive are PhD programs UK? 

Getting in a PhD program in UK is fairly competitive or we can say fiercely competitive. However if you are prepared to go extra mile in your application then you can make to a PhD program in UK. To be a successful applicant for a PhD in UK (a) you might need a good score in your masters, (b) a good score in your English proficiency test, (c) a good research proposal, and some other records and online proofs that you are an active student and you can participate in university activities such as teaching assistantships and research conferences.

Can I do PhD after Masters in UK?

In UK, a masters degree is often required for PhD application. In short, you need good grades in masters and an appealing research proposal to be considered for a PhD position in UK. There are exceptions to this when some programs offer an integrated PhD approach. In an integrated PhD international applicants can apply based on their bachelors. This means they need to complete a 1 year research masters training before pursuing their PhD project.

What are the benefits of doing PhD in UK?

There are many benefits of doing PhD in UK . First, you get the opportunity to pursue your research career in a well-structured and a develop academic system of UK. Second,  you are likely to get an industry experience as a postgraduate student. This may benefit you in getting hired after PhD. Third, your PhD will most likely be funded in UK this means you may not have to worry about your monthly expenses or your tuition fee during PhD years. Lastly, a PhD in UK can benefit you to work and settle in UK. Generous visa options like graduate work visa can help you to look for stable employment and apply for permanent residency.

Is it easy to get a PhD in UK?

A PhD is surely a tough journey. In fact, a majority of PhD students report it to be the toughest experience. It is likely to be harder than your undergraduate, masters or any job. In a PhD, you are solely responsible for your PhD project, its progress and success. The thing that makes a PhD harder is not the subject matter you study but the uncertainty on many levels. As a PhD student you are uncertain about the success of your research projects, funding, advisor and peer support as well as about the worth of you degree later.

Which PhDs are in most demand in UK?

In UK, almost all PhD graduates are in demand . Less than 2% people have PhD in UK. This makes the PhD a highly coveted degree. In particular, most of the PhDs in STEM, Business, finance and IT are in great demand by universities as well as industry employers.

Is a 3 year PhD from a UK university considered less valuable than a 5-6 year PhD from a US university?

Well, this depends on what you consider valuable. A UK PhD is shorter, require a masters qualification from you to start, and provide the opportunity to get into job market quickly. For 3 year PhD graduates, post-doc training is considered as a norm to acquire further research competence. On the other hand, a US/ Canadian PhD is longer (takes 7 years on average to complete), do not require a masters qualification from you and provide you an ample time to explore your research area. This may means entering in job market late or with more expertise in your subject.

Why are PhD students paid so little in UK?

Unlike many other European regions, PhD students in the UK are considered as students and not the employees of the university. This makes them eligible for a financial support package during their PhD studies. Financial support is not considered as a salary and is usually tax free. The purpose of a PhD stipend in UK is to just support a single PhD student. 

What should I do after PhD in UK?

After PhD, you are allowed to stay in UK on a graduate work visa. This visa is usually valid for 3 years after PhD. You can pursue post-doc (the next step in an academic career in UK), serve as lecturer, seek out non-teaching jobs, apply for a job in the industry, or start a a business if you are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Is PhD losing its value in UK?

No, a PhD is not losing its value in UK. A PhD is a research degree and it is intended for a specific purpose that is to make you and independent researchers. Although fierce competition and low funding in academia may drown PhDs in low-paying and precarious postdoctoral contracts. Still, a UK PhD can be an asset for highly cognitive jobs, research and development roles and consulting in the industry. Despite stereotypes of the ivory tower, more and more hiring managers are realizing the potential of PhD graduates. This means industry in UK is recognizing that PhD holders can survive and thrive in fast pacing industry.

Is doing a PhD tough in UK?

Doing a PhD in UK is tough. First, the selection criteria is tough. At minimum, you need (a) appealing grades-usually strong upper second class masters degree. (b) a compelling research proposal-aligned with your prospective supervisor’s research as well as with PhD grant provider’s goals. (c) high English proficiency scores-usually more than 7.0 band overall in IELTS or equal in other acceptable tests by UK institutions to even meet the minimum requirements. Second, to complete your PhD in a short span for three years you need to be (a) able to execute and manage your research project independently. No body will spoon feed you like the undergraduate years. Consider it as a job and you PhD supervisor as a supervisor (not a teacher). (b) able to perform other assistantship duties assigned to you efficiently. The part-time on campus work may be consider mandatory for the financial support you get as an international student in UK. Balancing your own PhD project with other academic responsibilities might be tough. Third, PhD that’s worth is tough in UK. To make your PhD worthwhile in UK you need to (a) complete you PhD project as soon as possible-usually 3 years. This is because your PhD funding may run out after that. (b) get some industry experience during your PhD in UK. As more and more students are switching to industry after PhD-to get a stable career, work permit and eventually settle in UK.

Is a PhD Worth it UK

• Maisie Dadswell
• September 6, 2023

If you are wondering if it is worth doing a PhD in the UK the answer is yes! Whether you want to become a PhD candidate through an unquenchable thirst for knowledge in any given field or to further your career by becoming more employable, PhDs are highly valuable in the UK. 

PhDs provide candidates with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue research in an area of interest. When candidates reach the writing-up stage, they are genuine experts in their field. Once your thesis has been submitted and the viva examination has been passed, your intellectual prestige will be on par with the academic panel, which possesses the authority to award you your doctorate title. Naturally, PhDs can improve your standing in academia and outside of it. 

The only qualification higher than a PhD is a Doctor of Science degree, which makes it one of the most well-respected qualifications you can strive to gain. Whether you want to continue your career inside academia or research or outside of it, a PhD can help to prepare you for a range of high-paying and desirable professional positions. 

In addition to contributing creative knowledge to your field, you will also obtain a range of other valuable skills that will look great on your CV! These transferable skills that are valued by employers and institutions across innumerable sectors and industries include public speaking, professional networking, research capabilities, academic writing, and project management. 

It is only natural that students wonder if a PhD is worth it in the UK before they commit the time, money and energy to pursue their doctorate title. Thankfully, there is solid evidence available which proves that even if your PhD takes four to eight years to complete, it will be worth it in the long run. The increased earnings a PhD can provide you with can also easily reimburse you for your investment in time.

A PhD or Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest level of degree that you can earn in any field. It typically takes several years of study, and involves original research that contributes new knowledge to your chosen field. You can learn more about PhD here . 

Employability After Obtaining a PhD in the UK

Is it worth doing a PhD in terms of future employability? In 2023, data provided by the UK government outlined that, in comparison to students who only hold Masters postgraduate degrees, the rates of employment for PhD graduates are far higher. This data came from the Graduate Outcomes survey conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) after they looked at the career paths of graduates from the 2019 – 2020 academic year, 15 months after they completed their Masters degree or PhD courses. The information outlined below is a great way to gauge your future career prospects after graduating; it is not a guarantee that the benefits you will enjoy will be the same – you could end up in a far higher-paying position, depending on which way you decide to go with your career, along with several other factors, including age, location, and experience.

After completing a taught Masters degree, 62% of graduates from the 2019 – 2020 academic year were in full-time employment, 9% were in part-time employment; a further 8% were employed and participating in further study, and 1% were solely focused on additional higher education. As for the graduates who had completed their doctoral research and passed, 71% were in full-time employment, 9% were employed part-time, 10% decided to further their studies around employment and 1% stayed committed to studying. Meaning that doctoral researchers are, on average, 7% more likely to hold a full-time position. 7% is a slim margin, but this quantitative data doesn’t allude to the seniority of job roles following graduation or how much they are earning, which are the main reasons people undertake doctoral research if their motivators revolve around career advancement. 

Job Opportunities After Obtaining a PhD in the UK

Obtaining a PhD in the UK won’t only ensure that you can find full-time work; according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the majority of PhD graduates boast professional occupations. Regardless of your field of study, if you have a PhD, you have an 8% advantage over graduates with a taught Masters title when it comes to being offered a professional tole. From the surveyed 2019 – 2020 graduates, 83% of PhD students had a professional occupation 15 months after their study, as opposed to 64% of postgraduates holding Masters degrees.

Do UK PhDs Increase Salaries?

As a hattrick of employability benefits, PhDs can also improve earning potential. After writing up their dissertation and earning their title, PhD students in the UK are far more likely to earn over £30,000 a year. While many PhD graduates earn significantly more after they enter the postgrad workforce, HESA showed that 43% of Masters graduates earn over £30,000 a year, compared to 87% of their PhD counterparts. This makes the £30,000 figure an excellent benchmark for earnings success after completing a PhD. 

The HMRC also provides valuable data on PhD graduate salaries. As the statistics don’t solely rely on the information shared by a sample of graduates surveyed, it is infinitely more reflective of the earnings and employability outcomes that PhD candidates can expect when they finish their doctoral research. One, two, three, five and ten years after graduation, the median annual salary for PhD students was £33,200, £37,000, £39,200, and £43,000, respectively. For Masters graduates, the figures were £26,700, £31,500, £33,700, and £35,900, respectively. Once again, remember that these median averages aren’t the limits of your income potential after graduation. Nor do they account for your previous experience or how in demand your freshly acquired skills are in your respective field.

Preferential Professions for PhD Students in the UK

Though it is far from the only option, many PhD students, after completing their thesis and being awarded their doctorate title, become professors. To 3 – 4 years after finishing their programme, 20% of PhD-holders are higher education teaching professionals; a further 10% remain in academia through involvement with research. 

Modern PhDs, in all fields, are very versatile qualifications with the ability to develop a vast array of transferrable skills in candidates. Many UK universities, such as UWS London, also work with PhD candidates to create highly employable PhD graduates, meaning that the job market for doctoral researchers is a diverse landscape – you certainly won’t be scrambling for the same professional teaching and research roles as the rest of your PhD peers! Other desirable roles in higher education for PhD graduates include administration and leadership positions. But if you want to look beyond academia, your options won’t be limited.

How to Assess the Value of a UK PhD for You

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, is a PhD worth it in the UK, as this will very much depend on your plans and aspirations after you have submitted your thesis and performed your oral examination. It is common for PhD candidates to enrol on a research course with no particular academic career in mind – they are simply inspired by the fields their undergraduate and postgraduate studies allowed them to graze in before they found the inspiration to dig a little deeper and plant their own seeds of creative knowledge.

If you don’t share this same passion for knowledge, even if you are tempted by the promise of a certain career, a PhD may not be for you. However, if you have read this far, you likely possess the drive and determination to see your doctoral research through to the end with the world-class supervisors at UWS London. If the cost of your PhD is one of the major factors in why you are questioning the value of a PhD, you will be relieved to learn that undertaking doctoral research is cheaper than you think. In UK universities, PhD fees are far lower than the cost of acquiring an undergraduate degree and typically below the cost of a taught Masters degree. However, you will need to take into account more than just the tuition fees – you must also consider how you will support yourself for the three+ years while you are studying. 

The good news is that funding is available for researchers participating in pre-funded projects. Doctoral loans and individual scholarships are also available to qualifying students. Before deciding to become a PhD candidate, always take the time to research what funding options are available; this process can automatically add value to your doctoral research!

Other Benefits of Obtaining a PhD in the UK

If money and employment status aren’t your main motivators and you are driven by intellectual curiosity and academic achievement, PhDs are still valuable for home and international students in the UK. Through studying for and writing your PhD thesis, you will research topics and phenomena that no one has ever conducted before to make a distinctive contribution to your field of interest. 

Making a contribution to the sum of all human knowledge is a massive achievement in itself, that is before accounting where your new title can take you in the professional realm. Furthermore, you will hold a prestigious title that has only been granted to a tiny fraction of the global population. A 2022 study outlined that, globally, only 25 – 64-year-olds have a PhD. In the UK, the figure is slightly higher at 2%, and the figure is growing yearly as more potential PhD candidates see the value in participating in doctoral research.

What can a PhD lead to?

Naturally, you’ll be thinking about what you can do with a PhD , but the potential career paths for students after completing their PhD will depend on the nature of their research and previous experience and skills. While we can’t outline every possible employment option, just know that many different avenues and institutions typically only welcome employees with specialised knowledge and advanced higher education statuses.

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What Can You Do With a PhD?

Why Do a PhD? Benefits and Career Directions

Are you thinking about a PhD as the next stage in your educational and professional development? It’s an exciting road to travel with many potential benefits and opportunities. But you have to earn it first so considering what’s involved is important.

Requirements for a PhD award vary greatly globally and from institution to institution. PhD applicants are expected to have gained at least an Honours degree and sometimes a Master’s degree to be eligible to apply for a PhD programme.

It’s best to find out as much as possible about not only what you can expect during the PhD process but also what will be expected of you. Will the commitments in terms of time, effort and money prove worthwhile? Identifying the pros and cons will help you to weigh up whether this is the right step for you.

The on-going impacts of COVID -19 have to be taken into account. Not only have teaching and learning practices altered in Higher Education but so have ways of working and connecting with each other as technological change advances more rapidly. Sudden shifts and uncertainties mean that flexibility must be factored into any PhD planning, such as supervision or research having to be carried out online.

This article will outline possible career paths and prospects that can follow on from having a PhD as well as the benefits during the process.

First of all ask yourself- Is a PhD right for me?

Do some self-assessment:.

• what your educational experiences and achievements are up to now
• identify what you liked and disliked
• what you were good/skilled at, what you found difficult

Talk to others

Whilst there is no ‘typical’ PhD experience as everyone’s paths differ, it’s helpful to talk to those who have done or are doing a PhD about what is involved. You can make contacts through networks and online forums and find out more about their experience. Read articles and other relevant documents including university publications plus online sources. There is a wide range of websites offering case studies of career stories from what people have done with their PhD.

What parts of doing a PhD appeal to you?

It could be spending time in libraries and archives, fieldwork and interviews, running experiments, analysing data, problem-solving, creative thinking, writing and communicating your findings to others. It’s just as important to ask yourself which parts of it don’t appeal and consider how you would handle those aspects.

Once you’ve done this assessment you can think more about what a PhD might lead to.

Benefits of the PhD experience

The skills you gain and improve during a PhD are transferable and applicable to a wide range of careers. Prospective employers look for those with experience of doing research and a PhD is a research-based degree. What you researched might be directly related to jobs you apply for but it doesn’t need to be: it’s the fact that you have research experience that counts.

Employers also look for those with good written and spoken communication skills (online and face to face) and who can plan and deliver presentations. These could be for team meetings, conferences or sales pitches. Whilst doing a PhD, you will be networking not just within your university but in other areas. In recent years, networking skills have become more important in the work environment. Having networking experience, whether it’s ‘working the room’ at a conference or meeting or attending an online event will boost your potential and help you stand out.

You can develop your networks by attending conferences, talks and other events apart from regular contact with other students and tutors. These may be online given COVID restrictions but opportunities for face- to- face events have increased in the second half of 2021. These contacts can provide useful support and also share work opportunities. There are many online study and research forums  that can help you through your PhD and also offer opportunities for  finding work whilst you are studying  and post-graduation. Some of these online forums may be arranging small-scale physical meet-ups.

Considering Career Possibilities

Whilst a PhD is often seen as professional training for academia, this is just one possibility. In the UK less than half of PhD graduates become academics and this figure can lower in other countries.

As with any career ambitions, assessment of all that is involved. Academics are expected to do much more than research, teach and supervise students.

If this is what you’re aiming for, start preparing by taking up opportunities for  part-time teaching  that might fit into your schedule. This is valuable work experience even if you later decide not to go into academia.

Outside Academia

There are many options in the professions, business and management, public sector and more. From small and local, to large and global, many companies and institutions seek highly qualified personnel. Think about the  types of organisations  you could work for: everything from large multinationals, NGOs, charities, local and national government, regulatory bodies and agencies, SMEs (small to medium enterprises with under 250 employees). The vast majority of companies in the UK are SMEs and offer excellent career progression opportunities.

Different employment sectors have their specific features but increasingly overlap as economic, technological and political changes come into play. Whilst we can distinguish the public and private sectors these have shown degrees of convergence in recent years.

The Professions

These typically involve prolonged training and formal qualifications such as accountancy, civil service, law and medicine. Having a PhD is considered to be  indicative of professional development  but additional training may be required for your chosen area.

Self-employment

This category encompasses all forms of working for yourself, whether setting up a small business by yourself or with others, doing consultancy work or a mix of these.

The self-employed account for around 15% of the labour force in the UK.

There are possibilities of freelance working within academia as well as in other areas, by packaging and selling your expertise and skills. The advantages include being ‘your own boss’, taking on work you choose and being free of the 9 to 5 routine.

There are also challenges, with responsibilities for legal compliance and taxation. There may be long working hours without the ‘cushion’ of secure monthly income and paid holidays.

In the past decade, digital entrepreneurship has rapidly expanded with new start-ups coming online all the time. This trend has increased over the past 18 months as more people lost jobs and decided to set up their own businesses from home.

It’s likely that the gig economy will continue to develop and you may consider if you want to enter this as a sole proprietor or as an employee if self-employment is not your preferred career route.

Not-For-Profit

This includes charities, NGOs and community interest companies. As in other sectors, some are small and local whilst others are global, eg. Oxfam. NGOs might focus on one area or multiple parts of the world but a specific theme such as human rights or the environment. There are openings at different levels and whilst they may rely on volunteers they do have paid positions in fund-raising, advocacy, administration, marketing and management.

The skills and experience gained by a PhD graduate can certainly be applied elsewhere, particularly if you keep an open mind and your eyes on the jobs market from the early days of your  doctoral journey . You can upgrade your employability profile by networking and taking advantage of your university’s employability support and opportunities including gaining some work experience. This is always a big bonus and increasingly required by employers.

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Dr. Ruth Cherrington

Ruth Cherrington has a long record as a higher education professional. She has been a lecturer, trainer and employability adviser both in the UK and abroad. Ruth has always been committed to maximizing the professional development of those she works with. Another strand to her career is as a writer, with a wide range of publications to her name. Ruth enjoys travelling to meet former students and colleagues across the world. LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthcherringtonnumber7/

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12th March 2021 at 11:16 pm

I am an environmental chemist working in the waste management industry. I have an MSci degree, and hope to stay in this industry. I am curious if pursuing a PhD will improve my job prospects later down the line, or would working towards a chartership be more valuable?

3rd February 2023 at 2:47 pm

Pursuing a Ph.D. doesn’t only polish your skills, But also gives you a new form of understanding the demand for knowledgeable people required by industries. If you look outside towards different companies offering you more money and benefits, Ph.D. works as fuel to reach higher posts. In the education sector, there is a demand for Ph.D. professors. If you have an industry experience with a Ph.D. your hourly wage varies from around £70 to £100 an hour. I wish you best of luck

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Should I do a PhD? You asked Google – here's the answer

Every day millions of people ask Google life’s most difficult questions. Our writers answer some of the commonest queries

T here are lots of good reasons for deciding to do a PhD. Deepening your knowledge of a subject you love is an excellent one. Wondering what to do with the next three years of your life and finding out your university will pay you to stay isn’t so bad either. But seeing it as a fast track to a cushy academic job probably shouldn’t be one of them.

PhDs are often glamourised in popular culture. If you grew up watching Friends, you might recall Ross Geller celebrating getting tenure at New York University. Getting tenure in a US university means you are virtually impossible to fire. Your university trusts in your intellectual brilliance to the extent that it’s willing to give you total academic freedom to research what you want. In short, it sounds like a dream.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what it is. If Ross were a real person and not a fictional character, he wouldn’t have been celebrating getting tenure aged about 30 years old – unless he were a palaeontology prodigy. Instead, he’d be on his first or second postdoc, possibly in underpaid, insecure employment. He would also probably be so busy writing research grant applications he’d have no time to hang around in a coffee shop. If – in a decade’s time – he eventually secured a permanent academic position, he’d be one of only 3.5% of his science PhD cohort who did.

The problem with the academic dream is that the pipeline is broken . Employing lots of PhD students is a great deal for universities – they’re a source of inexpensive academic labour for research and teaching. But it’s not such a great deal for the students themselves. The oversupply of PhDs perpetuates the illusion that there are a lot of academic jobs around. There aren’t – and competition for the few that there are is fierce .

The oversupply of early career researchers means they often feel exploited by their universities. According to the University and College Union, which represents lecturers, more than three-quarters of junior academics are on precarious or zero-hours contracts . Meanwhile, competition for research funding and power-imbalanced relationships between supervisors and junior researchers can make labs and libraries ripe for bullying .

The result, according to recent research from the Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust, is that academia is one of the worst careers for stress. Nearly four in 10 academics have reported experiencing mental health conditions.

So why do so many intelligent people who would probably do fantastically well in alternative careers, put themselves through this? Because being an academic can be one of the world’s best jobs . You might get to push the boundaries of knowledge in an area you’re passionate about, work in international teams comprising the world’s greatest minds, and produce work with visible social impact – whether that’s through lecturing students or seeing your research inform policy.

But is it worth it for the majority of PhD students, who’ll never become academics? In some countries, such as the US and Germany , PhDs are increasingly seen not just as a conveyor belt to an academic job, but as an important high-level qualification that leads to a diverse range of careers. In certain industries in the UK, such as science and pharmaceuticals, demand for PhD graduates is growing as their emphasis on research increases.

But at present, a PhD qualification isn’t essential for most jobs . In some industries, a PhD might even set you back, as business leaders often see them as driving a largely pointless three-year wedge between an undergraduate degree and an entry-level position. This is often compounded by unhelpful careers advice from academic supervisors disinterested in the world outside academia .

But doing a PhD in most cases might not hinder your career either. And, if you’re an undergraduate, you certainly won’t be the only one to drift into a three-year stipend while you work out what comes next. Even if you’re not willing to slog it out in pursuit of a professorship, in some subjects more than others, there’s evidence of an earnings premium . In 2010, 3.5 years after graduation, 72% of doctoral graduate respondents were earning more than £30,000 compared with 22% of first-degree graduates.

If you are going to do a PhD, choose wisely – dropout rates are high . Karin Bodewits, a PhD graduate who’s written a book about her experience, says she rushed into hers. “At the end, I was a disillusioned and defeated doctor, without any future plans, to whom a degree from a famous university means marginally less than a Girl Guides’ camping badge,” she says.

Make sure you pick your supervisor for the right reasons . Don’t be swayed by a star-studded academic track record – a supervisor who makes time for their students rather than occasionally texting from their project in Polynesia is worth their weight in gold. Equally, choose a subject you really love: three (often four) years of your life is a long time. It will probably help your career, since the best researchers are those motivated by a passion for their field, and if it doesn’t lead to a glittering professorship, at least you’ll know you spent that time doing something worthwhile.

If you’re still not sure, just take Albert Einstein’s word for it: “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?”

Rachel Hall is the editor of the Guardian Higher Education Network

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What is a PhD?

A PhD is a postgraduate degree. It stands for ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and is one of the highest academic qualifications you can achieve.

Courses involve both research and academic learning where you take on a significant amount of independent work.

For most PhDs, you’ll research for, write and publish an extensive thesis on a specialist subject area.

How long is a PhD? 

PhDs courses usually last between three to four years if you study full-time. Students often extend their thesis deadlines and finish the work in their fourth year. If you study part-time, courses can last six or seven years. 

Courses can begin anytime throughout the year, though most studentships (doctorate scholarships) start in September or October.

What qualifications do you need for a PhD?

You usually need a good second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject area, or equivalent. Many courses also ask for a master’s degree. 

When applying, you may need to demonstrate an ability to conduct research. This could be by showing your experience of independently working on a research project. You’ll probably also have to submit a research proposal that outlines what you’ll be studying.

How is a PhD taught?

There’s very little teaching involved in a PhD degree. Your course may begin with five or six hours per week of classes where you learn about research methods and techniques. Aside from this, you’re in control of your studies, though you’ll receive some guidance from an academic tutor.

How is a PhD assessed?

PhD students are assessed mainly by a thesis, and a closed oral examination where examiners ask questions about the thesis. 

Degrees are usually graded as pass or fail.

What skills do you learn during a PhD?

As well as subject-specific skills, you develop transferable skills such as: 

• Organisation 
• Research 
• Work habits 
• Project management 
• Critical thinking 
• Written communication 
• Presentation

How much does a PhD cost? 

Fees vary widely between courses and institutions, but are commonly between £3,000 and £6,000 per year for UK students. International students often pay more. 

Many degrees are partly or fully funded, and lots of students receive scholarships and bursaries. UK Research Councils provide universities with grants of around £4,000 per year for each funded PhD student.

PhD degree facts

Some new PhDs are more vocational and offer practical experiences as well as research. These are designed for those looking to advance their careers. 

When applying for a PhD, you show the university that you’re the right person for an advertised position, or that you’d be suitable to complete your research proposal. 

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Your PhD, what next?

Those who've completed a Doctorate are finding more opportunities to work outside of academia than ever before - discover the types of PhD jobs available and what other PhD graduates go on to do

What jobs can I do with a PhD?

The most common roles for PhD graduates are:

• teaching professionals
• natural and social science professionals
• research and development (R&D) and other research professionals
• therapy professionals
• business, research and administrative professionals.

Although getting an academic job is a natural step for many PhD graduates, a greater number of opportunities exist outside of teaching and education .

For instance, a significant amount of PhD graduates work in healthcare (14.9%), and construction , engineering and research and development (11.1%). This has perhaps been helped by private sector companies becoming more research-orientated in recent years.

As well as the medical profession, research scientists can also specialise in life sciences , maths and physical sciences .

If you've aspirations to become a clinical or educational psychologist , you'll need to have studied a specific taught Doctorate in either clinical (DClinPsy or ClinPsyD) or educational (DEdPsy) psychology.

How do I get started in academia?

Those graduating with a PhD often struggle to secure a permanent academic job immediately. To give yourself the best chance, contact as many other academics as possible in your specialist field.

You may then be presented with the opportunity to become a teaching or research fellow, though this is likely to be on a short-term contract with a view to permanent employment.

You may find opportunities on individual university websites or at Jobs.ac.uk . You can also read about getting an academic job for more information and advice.

Can I get a non-academic job?

There are many ways to boost your chances of landing non-academic PhD jobs. You should:

• build a network of contacts to help you unearth 'hidden' job vacancies
• gain relevant work experience in your chosen field
• search for graduate jobs
• use social media to join in discussions with like-minded academics and share your research and opinions.

It's also worth regularly checking sector-specific websites and publications for job adverts, such as:

• Nature Careers
• New Scientist Jobs
• Science Careers
• Technojobs - PhD jobs
• The Economist
• The Psychologist (The British Psychological Society)

How do I sell my PhD to employers?

When applying for non-academic PhD jobs, you must demonstrate how your knowledge and expertise will benefit the employer. Focus on the transferable skills that the PhD has helped to enhance, such as:

• communication skills - you'll have given many presentations , lectures or seminars
• creative thinking - PhD students are often asked to think outside the box
• management ability - as well as managing your own time and workload, you may have managed a small team of research assistants or mentored undergraduate students
• problem-solving skills - during your PhD, you'll have tackled and solved numerous research problems.

For more guidance, see applying for jobs .

What do other PhD graduates do?

Of the PhD graduates in employment 15 months after graduation in 2020/21, just over a fifth (21.3%) found work in education - as higher and secondary education teaching professionals. The majority therefore chose to pursue non-academic careers.

PhD destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

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Study PhD in UK: Complete Guide for International Students

“How to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK?” is a common question asked by International students.

Are you one of them, exploring the prospects of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK in 2024? Then look no further! The UK boasts renowned research-intensive universities with exceptional infrastructure, offering fully funded Ph.D. opportunities to international students. Whether you're aiming for a comprehensive guide on Ph.D. courses, universities, costs, or the prerequisites to embark on this academic journey, we've got you covered! Delve into the details and insights to discover more about pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK.

If you are looking for Ph.D. opportunities in the UK, Yocket is here to guide you through everything. And by everything, we mean - cost breakdowns to admission requirements, university shortlisting to visa interviews. Explore the comprehensive guide you need for your academic aspirations in 2024. For personalized assistance, connect with Yocket counselors right now!

An Overview of the PhD Program in UK

Embarking on a Ph.D. journey in the UK means diving into an immersive research experience that combines top-tier academic standards with industrial partnerships. Generally spanning three years, the UK's Ph.D. programs culminate with a thesis submission, often completed 12 months before the official program conclusion. While individual universities may tailor their programs, the key advantages of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK are significant and multifaceted:

Making decisions about shortlisting universities for your Ph.D. can be quite a challenge, but worry not, we're here to simplify the process for you! Whether you're swaying between a "Yes," "No," or "Maybe," our experts can guide you through this critical phase of your academic journey, offering personalized advice to help you find the perfect match among the top Ph.D. programs in the UK

Why Study PhD in the UK?

The decision to pursue a Ph.D. in a UK university carries substantial benefits and opportunities, making it a highly favored destination for international students, especially for those from India. Let's dive into the reasons that make the UK an ideal choice for a doctoral degree:

• Academic Excellence: With over 10 universities in the top 100 worldwide, the UK is a prestigious hub for academic excellence, offering superior research facilities and quality education.
• Supportive Government Initiatives: The UK government's introduction of a 3-year post-study work visa and extended studentships for international researchers seeking Ph.D. is a promising development that supports and encourages global scholars.
• Cultural Diversity: Engaging in a Ph.D. program in the UK grants students the chance to immerse themselves in a rich and diverse cultural milieu, creating an enriching and vibrant academic experience.
• Vast Career Opportunities: Upon completing a Ph.D. from globally recognized universities in the UK, students gain access to a wide array of career prospects, spanning commercial research, academic pursuits, and business-oriented roles.

The UK stands as a beacon of academic brilliance, offering a wealth of possibilities for international scholars, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to excel in their doctoral pursuits.

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Further, let’s check the top PhD courses in UK through this infographic.

Moving on, here is a quick look at the types of PhDs a student can pursue in UK.

Types of PhD Programs in UK

Exploring the types of Ph.D. programs in the UK opens up a range of options for international students seeking advanced research and academic pursuits:

• Standard Ph.D.: This foundational type involves the student proposing, conducting, and documenting research in the form of a thesis. It's widely available across many UK universities.
• Integrated Ph.D.: Combining a one-year Master of Research (MRes) with a subsequent three-year standard Ph.D., the Integrated Ph.D. offers students numerous educational prospects and is offered in over 30 UK universities.
• Professional Ph.D.: Geared towards providing extensive employment opportunities, the professional Ph.D., primarily in engineering, science, and medical fields, is highly sought after by international students.
• Distance Learning Ph.D.: Tailored for part-time or busy international students, this program accommodates flexible schedules and can typically be completed within 5-6 years.
• Ph.D. by Publication: This unique Ph.D. type is often available to a university's alumni, enabling students to submit their own published works or articles, with word counts ranging between 5,000-20,000 each.

To embark on a Ph.D. journey in the UK, international students must meet specific admission criteria, which vary among institutions. Understanding these requirements is crucial for a successful application.

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Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study PhD in the UK

What is the Ph.D. eligibility in the UK? The admission requirements for a Ph.D. in the UK for Indian students differ between the universities and the course you wish to pursue. Let us check out the basic requirements to apply at Ph.D. universities in the UK:

• A master's degree
• Research proposal
• English proficiency test scores
• Additional documents like SOPs , LORs , and CV /Resume.

Let us now talk about these Ph.D. requirements UK briefly!

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Masters Degree and Academic Transcripts

The most basic requirement to apply for a Ph.D. in the UK is to have a master's degree in a related field, with academic transcripts for each level of study. Some universities may ask for only a bachelor's degree, which entirely depends on a case-by-case basis.

Research Proposal

A research proposal is a document that is asked by a majority of universities admitting students for their Ph.D. programs. A research proposal should have the topic you wish to research, the intention of the research, and a plan on how the research would be conducted.

English Proficiency Test Scores

It is essential for you, as an international student, to have English proficiency proof in terms of IELTS , TOEFL , PTE , or other tests. The minimum IELTS requirement for a Ph.D. in the UK for Indian students is a score of 7.0 or above.

Additional Documents

Additional documents like the statement of purpose, work experience, and recommendation letters will add more value to your overall application.

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Now that you are aware of the requirements, let us take a quick look at the application process for Ph.D. in the UK.

Application Process for PhD in UK

How to apply for a Ph.D. in the UK? The application process for Ph.D. admission in the UK is quite simple to pursue. Here is a quick look at the steps you need to follow:

• Choose your discipline and a university to start your research in the UK.
• Submit the application form along with the application fee.
• Submit all the required documents and requirements asked by the particular university.
• Create a research proposal to be submitted along with all the documents.
• Find a supervisor to start your doctoral degree.
• Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university.
• Wait for the admission decision.

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Another important factor that impacts your decision to study abroad is Ph.D. fees in UK. So, let us briefly take a look at the cost of studying for and Ph.D. Scholarships UK.

Cost of Purusing PhD in the UK

The cost of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK varies for domestic, EU, and international students. The annual cost for Domestic or EU students generally comes around £6,000 (INR 5,30,964) , while for international students it is typically between £16,000 (14,15,904)to £24,000 (INR 21,23,856) per year .

In addition to tuition fees, students need to account for living expenses . On average, monthly living costs for students in the UK fall within the range of £1,100 (INR 97,343) to £1,300 (1,15,042). The actual expenses fluctuate based on individual lifestyle choices and the city of residence.

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For international students, scholarships, bursaries, and studentships are common forms of financial assistance provided by various UK universities. These financial aids significantly ease the financial load for students pursuing Ph.D. programs in the UK.

Scholarships to Study PhD in UK for International Students

To assist Indian students aiming for a Ph.D. in the UK, numerous scholarships are available. These scholarships play a pivotal role in supporting their academic endeavors and minimizing the financial burden. Our compiled list encompasses these prestigious scholarship opportunities, empowering students with crucial financial aid options

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Now that we have all the details regarding studying Ph.D. in the UK, let us take a look at the top universities in the UK for the program.

Top 5 Universities in UK for Ph.D.

The UK, being a nation known for its high standards in the field of research, is very much preferred by international students. Most of the Ph.D. universities in the UK are renowned for their research outputs. We have curated a list of the top Ph.D. universities for you below:

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College London
• University College London
• University of Edinburgh

Let us check out the details about these universities:

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has received innumerable accolades for various parameters in groundbreaking research, innovation, and academic excellence. The university provides international students willing to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK with an environment that is extremely beneficial and highly valuable across nations.

2. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is known for its research practices around the globe. The majority of international applicants receive Ph.D. scholarships in the UK through the University of Cambridge. Besides, this university also offers funded research projects to international students.

3. Imperial College London

The Imperial College London is known to focus exclusively on subjects like sciences, business, medicine, and engineering. Having research impact as the top priority since 1907, Imperial College London should be one of your top choices for a fully funded Ph.D. in the UK for international students.

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4. University College London

Greatest industrial contacts, excellent collaborations, partnerships with nations across the world, and top-class research infrastructure is what sums up my Ph.D. at University College London . Home to more than 20,000 graduate students from around 150 countries, UCL is also known internationally for its employment opportunities after research.

5. University of Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh is ranked 4th in UK for research and is one of the best universities offering several fully funded Ph.D. UK programs. With various partnerships across the globe, it offers numerous career opportunities for students completing their Ph.D... Students can opt for a pre-defined Ph.D. project or develop their own research idea.

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Studying at these top universities in UK will ensure that you have a promising future. Let us take a look at the career opportunities after a Ph.D. in the UK.

Career Opportunities after Pursuing PhD in the UK

Though the Ph.D. cost UK is quite high, so are the returns. Ph.D. graduates from the UK are seen performing commercial research post-graduation in various fields like education, science, technology, medicine, and others. Students are also seen working in the private sector performing research for business organisations, apart from working for academia or pursuing even higher research.

For a better understanding of what careers post Ph.D. in UK look like, we have tabulated the salaries for various Ph.D. job profiles below:

The United Kingdom, with an average salary of £49,825 (INR 44,09,213) , remains a premier destination for pursuing a Ph.D. Its allure isn't solely based on the promising financial returns but also on the accessibility of numerous scholarships for international students. The UK consistently stands at the pinnacle of choices for those seeking a rewarding academic future. For additional guidance and personalized support on your study abroad journey, our counselors are available through Yocket premium subscription – ensuring you're equipped with the best resources for your educational endeavors.

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From the Desk of Yocket

For international students aspiring to pursue a Ph.D. in the UK, navigating the educational landscape and requirements can be complex. At Yocket, we've meticulously crafted a comprehensive guide to assist students in understanding the intricacies of pursuing a Ph.D. in the UK. Our aim is to provide valuable insights into the UK's educational system, requirements, and potential opportunities for international students. This guide is tailored to support and assist students in making well-informed decisions throughout their Ph.D. journey in the UK.

Embarking on your Ph.D. journey in the UK? It's not too late for 2024. Dive into our comprehensive guide, tailored for international students aiming for a successful Ph.D. in the UK. Apply with Yocket now to secure your spot for 2024 and seize invaluable insights on academic requirements, opportunities, and more. Trust Yocket to be your guiding light through this crucial academic pursuit and set the stage for your Ph.D. aspirations in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions about PhD in UK

Which are the top universities for PhD in UK?

The top universities for PhD in UK are: 1) University of Oxford 2) Imperial College London 3) University College London

How much does a PhD in UK cost?

PhD in the UK costs in the range of £15,000 to £20,000 per annum on an average for international students.

Is it easy to get a job after pursuing a PhD in UK?

Yes! PhD graduates can very easily grab an average salary of £49,825 per annum post graduation.

What are the popular courses to pursue PhD in UK?

The most popular courses are clinical psychology, physics, mathematics, immunology, and medicine.

What is the minimum average grade requirement for masters to pursue PhD in UK?

The minimum score a student must achieve to pursue PhD in UK is 60% in both taught course units and dissertation.

Rohan Deshmukh

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Entry requirements for UK applicants

We are looking for bright, enthusiastic and dedicated students to join our research community. We accept research applications from across the world.

General entry requirements for UK students 

At Sussex, our usual entry requirements for UK and international students are: 

• at least an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate honours degree 
• a Masters degree if you are applying for research degrees in the arts or social sciences.

We will also consider candidates who can demonstrate appropriate alternative learning such as experience gained in the workplace or professional qualifications.

If you are an international student see the international qualifications we accept .

Specific entry requirements for UK students

You must also meet our specific entry requirements for each research programme. These are listed with each PhD degree .

Check: 

• the grade required for your PhD
• if you need to have a Masters qualification. 

Interviews 

For some research degrees we may ask you to attend an interview. 

If you are an international student, you may be interviewed over the phone or via Skype.

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• student support
• tips for applying for a PhD
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