Final year PhD student - do I have any options?

lomosity

Hi,

I am a final year PhD student (Neuroscience). I worked full time for 3 years and studied part time, during this period I saved in various accounts. Once my employment contract ended I switched to full time study and lived from the savings (This was the plan from the start, it was always just going to be a three year employment contract).

Will I think I should have enough savings, I'm not sure. Are there any options for me to get a loan? Would any bank give a career development loan to a final year Neuroscience PhD student? Are there any other student loan options available to me?

Thanks :-)

Tixy

Might be worth a read of this to see if you would be eligible for a CDL http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/DG_10033237

or you could possibly look at this board Student Money Saving to see if anyone can suggest anything suitable.

Clive_Woody

lomosity wrote: »

Hi,

I am a final year PhD student (Neuroscience). I worked full time for 3 years and studied part time, during this period I saved in various accounts. Once my employment contract ended I switched to full time study and lived from the savings (This was the plan from the start, it was always just going to be a three year employment contract).

Will I think I should have enough savings, I'm not sure. Are there any options for me to get a loan? Would any bank give a career development loan to a final year Neuroscience PhD student? Are there any other student loan options available to me?

Thanks :-)

Almost 12 years ago I found myself in the same situation as you (my PhD focussed on epilepsy and stroke).

I suspect the chances of you getting a loan are remote as you have no obvious way of repaying this. I also do not think you qualify for a student loan....well I didn't but that was a long while ago so rules may be different. Somebody at your student union may be able to advise.

My best advice would be to start writing up your thesis now and start looking for jobs. I went straight from finishing my research to working for a pharma company (well there was a brief period on job seekers allowance and housng benefit). Other option is to look for post-doc positions, UK or abroad (my wife did a post doc in New England after finishing her neuroscience PhD).

Do you have long term plans on what you would like to do when you PhD is completed?

lomosity

Thanks for your replies.

I'm looking into postdocs and would also consider jobs in industry, anywhere in the world really. However there doesn't seem too much available.

I'm a bit panicky that there doesn't seem to be the option of a loan, so when the money is gone that's it gone...

Good tip about the student union.

Clive_Woody

lomosity wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

I'm looking into postdocs and would also consider jobs in industry, anywhere in the world really. However there doesn't seem too much available.

I'm a bit panicky that there doesn't seem to be the option of a loan, so when the money is gone that's it gone...

Good tip about the student union.

Do a google for Pharma jobs then get in touch with every recruitment agency you can to look for suitable jobs. I can't remember how many jobs I applied for after completing my PhD, but it was loads before I finally got an interview.

http://www.primepharmapeople.com/jobs/Neuroscience

I worked in the labs for 5 years after my PhD, but then moved into clinical trials and have never regretted it. From personal experience I would say go straight for clinical roles, look for a CRA role then go progress into project management of CNS clinical trials (obviously do your research first and see if this suits what you want to do).

VfM4meplse

Reading these posts affirms my decision to quit and appreciate the career I built up!

Clive_Woody

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Reading these posts affirms my decision to quit and appreciate the career I built up!

Different things suit different people. Sounds like you are happy with your lot, me too, completing my PhD was one of the best things I ever did.

lomosity

Clive_Woody wrote: »

I worked in the labs for 5 years after my PhD, but then moved into clinical trials and have never regretted it. From personal experience I would say go straight for clinical roles, look for a CRA role then go progress into project management of CNS clinical trials (obviously do your research first and see if this suits what you want to do).

Thanks for your reply and that link, it looks useful.

Initially I was only looking at postdocs, but have now started looking at companies such as Charles River and pharmaceuticals and will explore this further.