How to do a PhD?

elisebutt65

Ok this may seem like a really stupid question but how do you do a PhD???

I'm doing my PGCE PCE currently and am starting my Masters in Tourism and Hospitality next year, part time over 2 years. I'm going to be teaching at an FE college 3 days a week to fund my way through this. But the field I'm in - travel and tourism(Business Management) is really limited for courses - universities in my area etc.

I really want to go further in my field and teach/lecture and research at uni level. Ideally I want to do a PhD but have not got a clue how to do it - LOL I've had a look at some sites but they all go on about research posts, proposals, supervisers etc. No one explains how to do it step by step.

Any help peeps????
TIA

Gingernutmeg

It's probably not much help but when I was considering doing an MA, my tutors tended to assume that if you did a PhD, you'd do it in the same place - certainly the PhD students I knew were staying on from MA courses. When I was discussing the MA with them, they kind of 'assumed' that if I did an MA there I'd go on to do the PhD and inferred that I'd be supported, there wasn't much 'asking' to do a PhD involved ... My tutors also suggested that PhD students are worth money to the university, so if they've got a potential one, they'll try and hang on to you (cynical but probably true lol).

I'd imagine that staying on somewhere is the best idea, as the application process seems very convoluted and you'd benefit from being somewhere where you're 'known' and can get the support from the staff, in terms of references etc. I think the best step is to let it be known that you're interested, and ask staff members for help and guidance - for me, the beginning bits of applying (getting the info etc) seemed very informal, there was no set way of doing it.

demented_2

Hi, This is probably not going to help you much, but have you tried Google ing
PHD? If thats not any help to you, i have a friend that has done a phd and i will ask her for any tips for you. My daughter is doing a masters at Leeds this year, she has paid for everything herself. Not a phd yet but she does want to do one eventually. Good luck in your quest and get back to me if you need my friends help. The advice that Gingernutmeg has just given is very good advice, I have just remembered that one of my daughters friends who did a degree with her at Manchester, is now doing his phd in the same uni, so that was good advice, my daughter decided that she wanted to do her Master's in a different Uni, hence Leeds. So ask about PHDs at the place that your doing your masters. Phew i hope that you can understand my rambling, it's late and i am tired. lol.

elisebutt65

thanks - i did try googling - which is why I'm now confused - LOL!!!

The place I'm going - Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative studies - soon to be University of etc etc doesn't have a PhD programme in place - they only have a couple of Dr's working there anyway but who knows now they've been granted degree awarding status - they may start doing so.

I think the closest research centre for tourism studies is probably going to be Bournemouth which is totally unfeasible for me with 2 kiddy winks unless i can do it long distance IYSWIM?

Hahaha - Edited cos I just found a perfect project there as well!!!! "eTOURISM: SOCIAL NETWORKING ONLINE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TOURISM (WEB 2.0-TRAVEL 2.0)" Masters is Desirable but not necessary - i got a 1st and just finishing my PGCE so I may well apply for it to see what happens. The superviser is a red hit author that I used a lot for my dissertation in technology and tourism and I would so love to work for him!!!!!


What does it mean when they say that the research position is fully funded - do they pay me???? or is to pay the uni fees -i'm so confused!!!!

Ignite

Hi,

I would say that it is worth contacting Bournemouth and getting more details. I think you might find that it is more flexible than you think. A friend of mine is doing a PHD at the moment and she has just had a baby so is a bit tied up with that, so if she can have a baby whilst doing the PHD that doesn't rule it out for you.

Oldernotwiser

Doing a PHD is not like studying at undergraduate level in that you don't have classes and your main attendance would be for occasional supervision sessions. What you will need is access to an academic library which need not be that of the institution you're registered with. When I was teaching T&T in FE, very few university lecturers in the subject had PHDs. Perhaps you should wait until you've started your Master's to see how you get on? Where are you doing it?

By the way, this site is excellent and might answer most of your questions.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Postgrad_study_main_menu/p!eFpclp

elisebutt65

Thanks for the link - i think I'd checked that one out previously but it's always good to go over stuff again.

The thing is that the PhD isn't so I can teach - the teaching is the means to the end IYSWIM - just a way of supporting myself whilst I get my qualifications. I really want to go into research and writing, maybe some consultancy later on, so if i can skip the 2 years that the Masters will take then that's a bonus.

I've emailed the supervisor of the Research Project in Bournemouth for some more information. I don't see why I can't do it long distance as indicated by Ignite - after all the project is all about technology - LOL

Tipustyger

Hi, what exactly do you need info on? I've just completed a PhD and am now a research fellow and here are some thoughts:

Choice of institution
To do a PhD you obviously need to be registered as a student and a higher education establishment. How you are admitted depends on where you want to study. First of all you need to know where you want to go. Take a look at websites, go to open days or ring people up and ask for a institutional prospectus.

Admission
If you know where you want to go, just get on the website and see if they have sections on how to apply or special sections relating to graduates. If you don't have any luck there just ring them up and ask. There should be a general number or one for an admissions office. They may ask for work, an interview or just references so be prepared. If you are asked to an interview make sure you have done your homework on the institution and course.

Supervisor
Related to the admissions process, is finding someone who is willing to supervise you. This is quite an important decision as you need to be able to work with the person and they need to have some knowledge of what you are doing so that they can guide you throughout your study. I would suggest that if you know where you want to study, you look at the webpages for the staff. Teaching staff often have a dedicated webpage which lists their research interests and topics on which they are willing to supervise. Once you have found someone just email them and ask some preliminary questions. They may even be willing to meet up/advise on a possible topic or funding application. This is certainly what I would do as a teacher. Alternatively, you may already know who you want to work with (this was my case) in which case just get in touch directly and find out what institution they are at. I think it would be worth getting a CV together to show potential supervisors too so that they can see what your background is etc.

Funding
The funding available varies widely depending on the course you are doing. For example, if you are doing a humanities Phd you would probably apply to the AHRC (arts and humanities research council). To find out more about funding you can ask the institution you are applying too (for instance, students may always apply to the same body), ask current students on the same course, visit a local careers office or google for PhD funding. Your eligibility will depend on all sorts of things like your citizenship, course and if you are full time or not and, of course, what funding bodies you apply too. You will almost certainly need references for funding applications and will probably need to provide some kind of outline as to what you want to do your research on.

Proposed topic
The key to getting funding and completing a Phd is to make your topic manageable and here you will almost certainly need some input from someone who has a knowledge of the academic field you are interested in. Far to many Phd students think they will conquer the world by doing some ground breaking research but that is rarely the case. You need to make your topic interesting, original (ie. don't pick something that has already been done), doable in 3 years and which contributes something to the field you are in. This is easier than it sounds. For example: in business there may be a management model that is used all the time but which hasn't much research done on its efficacy. Here you would be doing something original with direct applicability in the real world. However, this is very much an abstract and vague possibility because I am a historian.

PhD
Once you've completed all the hurdles you need to actually get on with it. The thing to bear in mind is that this isn't a taught course and you need a lot of self-motivation and self-discipline. You won't have a timetable with lectures but will have to organise your own reading, writing and research. It can be a lonely business and you need to be committed. It really helps if you are genuinely interested and stimulated by your topic. It is hard work but I think mine was worth everything I put into it. There were times before I finished I thought it would never get done but that is something every doctoral student goes through.

I hope these thoughts are of some help, do ask more if you want. And finally, good luck!

Tipustyger

I forgot to add funding can vary a great deal as to what they provide. If you are fully funded that would mean you get an allowance, often tax free, and your fees paid. You may also get funding that only covers fees or subsistence. This will all depend on what body you are applying.

Tipustyger

Since you are working on Business etc I imagine the most relevant funding body for you would be the ESRC

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/

You are well placed to apply as you have a first and want to go into an academic career. The form is a long one and needs to be in very early (I think the Feb/Mar of the year you want to start research) but if you were successful you may well get full funding.

DrFluffy

Try looking here: http://www.findaphd.com/students/faqs.asp