Why do a PhD

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Why do a PhD?
Anne Benson / Rebecca Wyand Careers
Advisers Careers Centre
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Outline

• Reasons for doing a PhD?
• What does happen to Arts / Humanities / Social
• Science PGs?
• What skills might you develop through doing PhD?
  
• How much will it cost?
• Possible sources of funding?

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Reasons for doing a PhD?

• Interest in a particular subject
• Necessity to enter specific career e.g. academia
• Recommended by tutor
• Improve employability?
• Dont know what to do?

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Destinations of Arts / Humanities / Social
Science PhDs.

• 75.3 (480) AH and 88.2 (445) SSC in
  employment
• in UK
• 4 AH and 2 SSC unemployed
• (below national rate and below rate for
  graduates at other
• levels e.g. first degree or masters)
• 6 AH and 3 SSC working or studying abroad
• (Data for PhD graduates from 2003)

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Destinations of Arts / Humanities / Social
Science PhDs.
AH
15 postdoctoral researchers
30 university lecturers 5 FE lecturers 5
secondary school teachers 4 university teaching
assistants 1 other teaching posts
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Destinations of Arts / Humanities / Social
Science PhDs.
SSC
14 postdoctoral researchers
39 university lecturers
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Destinations of Arts / Humanities / Social
Science PhDs.

• UEA AH / SSC PhD graduates 2004 (Known
  destinations
• Total 15 FT 11 PT)
• Examples destinations
• University lecturer (4) tutor
• Lecturer, Suffolk College, Ipswich
• Teacher, Wymondham college
• Director research policy, Farm Africa, London
• Hospital organisational development officer,
  London
• Museum curator, St Albans
• Environment Manager, Norfolk County Council
• Head of religious studies, Suffolk County Council

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And why are they so employable?

• Research skills techniques
• critical thinking
• critically analyse evaluate
• summarise, document, report reflect
• Research management
• project management
• IT skills
• Personal effectiveness
• willingness ability to learn acquire
  knowledge
• flexibility open-mindedness
• self-discipline, initiative, motivation
• Communication skills
• Networking team working

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How to choose? How to go about securing a place?

• Identify institutions www.prospects.ac.uk
• Academic entry requirements
• Talk to people in your School
• Contact departments especially potential
  supervisors
• Number being supervised / ratio
• Possibilities of funding
• Opportunity to teach undergraduates?
• Reputation - Research rating (RAE), submission
  rate, employers, check journals
• Location
• Future prospects

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Cost of a PhD?
Fees Home / EEA Base fee at UEA is 3010 for
all Postgraduate courses Contact the appropriate
School to confirm the total cost. Non-EEA
8,200 Cost of living 6,500
min.
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Funding from UEA International PG prospectus

• UEA PhD Studentships Offered on a competitive
  basis, some fully-funded PhD
• studentships for EU scholars
• UK Research Councils EU students may be able to
  receive funding from UK research councils.
  Contact School.
• Hobsons International Scholarships For EU
  students to further their education in the UK.
• Other Scholarship Information for international
  students Contact British Council office and/or
  Ministry of Education in home country.

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Funding from Prospects PG Funding Guide

• Timing some Research Councils funding
  organised through institution AHRC advertise
  Oct/Nov closing date May ESRC Feb to May
• Institutional scholarships /support / hardship
  schemes
• Specialised funding schemes
• Trustees and charities
• Funding through employment
• Other forms of finance including Career
  Development Loans
• Portfolio funding

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Research Councils

• Value of award includes
• Some or all tuition fees (UK EU)
• Maintenance grant (stipend 12,000min. 05/6.
  Only UK students)
• Contribution to travel other course related
  expenses
• Additional allowances for students with
  disabilities sole financial responsibility for
  young dependants
• Eligibility
• Ordinarily resident in UK 3 years prior to
  application
• Normally first-class or upper second-class from
  UK institution

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Research Councils

• Arts Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
  www.ahrc.ac.uk
• Economic Social Research Council (ESRC)
  www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk
• - also joint Natural Environment Research
  Council (NERC) www.nerc.ac.uk
• - also joint Medical Research Council (MRC)
  www.mrc.ac.uk

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Funding?

• www.ncl.ac.uk
• www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/ukino/uk
• Funder finder
• Moneysearch
• The Grants Register
• The Directory of Grant Making Trusts
• DFES
• ESF
• LSC

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Help available from Careers Centre www.uea.ac.uk/c
areers

• Information Room
• - Take away information includes Prospects PG
  Funding
• Guides www.prospects.ac.uk
• - Reference books include The Grants Register
• Drop in / CV check
• Booked appointments with Careers Adviser linked
  with your School