PhD 101 What you Need to Know Before You Apply Professor Su Taylor Dean of Research Engineering & Physical Sciences Queen’s University Belfast

What will you achieve with a PhD? The highest level of academic qualification, that proves your abilities as an independent researcher capable of making an original contribution to knowledge in your field. Working closely with your supervisors’ or project leads’ guidance, you will produce scholarship that is worthy of publication in a learned journal. Types of doctoral (PhD) programme: Standard PhD (3-4 years full time, 6-8 years part time) PhD with Integrated Study (minimum 4 years full time) Professional doctorates (e.gs: DClinPsy; EngD; ForenPsyD; EdD; DBA) Standard PhD: Regular supervisions/team meetings to check progress. Examined by written thesis (usually of between 50,000–80,000 words, depending on your discipline) and spoken viva voce exam (‘defence’). Some institutions offer distance learning. Integrated study: Combines taught modules (usually in year one) and coursework with a research thesis – sometimes referred to as the ‘new route PhD’. Professional doctorates: These degrees prepare researchers to practice or enhance their practice in their chosen area. Psychology doctorates often involve a number of professional placements as well as research. The EngD involves working closely with industry to carry out a research project. The EdD is for education professionals to develop and research their own special interests.

Contribution to Knowledge Why do a PhD? Career Academia Industry Subject Passion You love it You are good at it Contribution to Knowledge ‘The advanced knowledge and capability of postgraduates are highly prized by businesses and the public sector. The skills of postgraduates, especially researchers, are critical for tackling major business challenges and driving innovation and growth.’ Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Career: Pre-requisite for the best academic jobs. ‘Industry’ examples include: product development, NGOs, policy-making. Transferable skills: A wide variety of sectors prefer to hire doctoral graduates and value their subject-specific skills, their research and technical skills, and their critical and analytical approach to problem-solving.

Why choose a Russell Group university? All 24 Russell Group institutions are ranked among the top 200 universities worldwide (QS 2019) Graduates from Russell Group universities earn on average around 10% more than graduates of other universities over a lifetime 68% of the total quality-related teaching income from UK Research Councils 70% and 71% of international and EU grants and contacts 60% of all UK doctorates (PhDs) awarded – a strong PhD community You will work alongside academics who are leaders in their field, contributing to research at the forefront of discovery and innovation This is all despite the fact that Russell Group universities constitute only 15% of the UK’s higher education institutions. Stats based on REF 2014 and taken from Russell Group website. Source: Russell Group Profile, updated June 2017 (available on RG website): http://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5524/rg_text_june2017_updated.pdf

Meeting the entry requirements Academic requirements Arts, humanities and social sciences: usually a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) and a Masters in a relevant discipline Sciences (including medical sciences) and technology: usually a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject Find out more online – see your Roadshow guide for web addresses English language requirements If English is not your first language, and you do not have a degree from a UK university, then you will need to take a test (e.g. IELTS).  

Show commitment to your research area! Routes into a PhD Option 1: Formulate your own project Option 2: Find an advertised project Research chosen area Search online listings Formulate outline proposal Apply (like job application) Identify supervisor, contact Develop, refine proposal Option 1 tends to be popular with Humanities and Social Sciences; Option 2 is more common with Science and Technology, and sometimes in Psychology and Social Sciences Option 1 (repeat caveat): Process may not be neat, and will differ between departments. Read specific guidelines first. Option 2: Online listings include FindAPhD; PostgraduateStudentships; Jobs.ac.uk; and individual academic department pages See inside of Roadshow pack Apply for funding Show commitment to your research area!

PhD proposal: What to include Always check first what your academic department requires. In the first instance some departments will ask for a simple expression of interest. However, at some stage you will be required to consider: Research topic and literature review: Situate your proposed research topic within the relevant literature, show awareness of previous research and explain how your research will make an original contribution. Research objectives: Explain what you are intending to achieve. You might use: Hypotheses: an assumed relationship between two or more variables Propositions: statements that explain likely phenomena Research questions or objectives Problems: identify existing unsatisfactory conditions and propose a solution Caveat: always check what your academic department requires. Some want a fully-developed research proposal, but others want a simple expression of interest (so you can discuss and develop your ideas at an early stage with your potential supervisors).

Research strategy: Explain your research strategy or method, and outline how you plan to collect your data (if any). Anticipated results: Consider what you might expect to find, your modes of analysis, and any potential data-collection problems you will need to address. Schedule and budget: Plan resource requirements; detail stages of the research and timescale. References & bibliography: Detail references to literature used to prepare your proposal.

Funding Doctoral Government Loan Borrow up to £25,000 for your whole course The loan will be divided equally across each year of your course Whether or not you qualify depends on course, age, nationality or residency status The course must be a full, standalone doctoral course that started on or after August 1st https://www.gov.uk/doctoral-loan/eligibility Research Council funding typically open to UK (full awards) and EU (fees only). University scholarships have different eligibility requirements, with streams open to both international and Home/EU

Funding UK Research Councils Government-funded organisations Awards cover fees, a maintenance grant and extra research costs (such as bench fees) Highly competitive and prestigious www.rcuk.ac.uk University scholarships Central, departments, schools, faculties (check each page) From tuition fee awards to full funding Each scholarship will have its own criteria and duration Selection is usually based on academic excellence; competition is intense Research Council funding typically open to UK (full awards) and EU (fees only). University scholarships have different eligibility requirements, with streams open to both international and Home/EU

Other sources of funding Scholarships from external organisations, e.g. British Academy Sponsorship from industry (usually linked to an advertised PhD project) Sponsorship from your current employer A number of charities, trusts and foundations offer non-repayable financial support to PhD researchers – check the Grants Register Part-time work, including teaching in the department Opportunity to include details of graduate teaching assistantships or on-campus work as applicable to the host institution.

Next steps Talk to the representatives here today and join their mailing lists to gain access to updates on research projects and funding Think about what you want to research and start to search for an advertised project (e.gs, www.findaphd.com ; www.jobs.ac.uk) or for a potential supervisor whose research interests match your own Make a note of the deadlines for advertised projects/scholarships and start to get everything together for your application (e.gs, www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk ; www.scholarship-search.org.uk) Speak to current PhD students to ask their advice