How to do a PhD?

cupid_s

Voyager2002 wrote: »

The lack of money when you are so close to the end is indeed a problem, but much less of a problem than many of the hurdles that must be overcome in order to get to this point.

I completely agree. I am just writing up now, having had to work in the lab for just over three months without any money. But that was nothing compared to what I'd been through in the three years previously. My PhD was so hard and the hours so long I was really unprepared for it. Often I've been working 15 hours a day, 7 days a week. People I know, especially in their final year of funding have no family life whatsoever and this is completely expected by our supervisors who seem to think anything short of a 90 hour week just isn't trying!

If I did my PhD again I'd probably do it part time and work part time. Would this be an option for you? because with kids to look after and support I'm sure you'd find the time demands more difficult than most.

Oh and voyager, thanks for the info about JSA. I am looking for a job now but was told I wouldn't be eligible for JSA. I might pop along to my job centre and ask about it now though.

Voyager2002

cupid_s wrote: »

I completely agree. I am just writing up now, having had to work in the lab for just over three months without any money. But that was nothing compared to what I'd been through in the three years previously. My PhD was so hard and the hours so long I was really unprepared for it. Often I've been working 15 hours a day, 7 days a week. People I know, especially in their final year of funding have no family life whatsoever and this is completely expected by our supervisors who seem to think anything short of a 90 hour week just isn't trying!

If I did my PhD again I'd probably do it part time and work part time. Would this be an option for you? because with kids to look after and support I'm sure you'd find the time demands more difficult than most.

Oh and voyager, thanks for the info about JSA. I am looking for a job now but was told I wouldn't be eligible for JSA. I might pop along to my job centre and ask about it now though.

I think that doing a PhD in a lab-based science is particularly tough in terms of long hours. The challenges in other subjects are different: in terms of the social sciences most of the difficulties are pleasant to overcome. A great deal of stamina is essential, of course.

For most subjects, doing a part-time PhD is really difficult. There is just so much work to do each week, if you have to earn a living as well you will just never get it done.

As for JSA: don't ask, because they will try to save tax-payers' money by saying no if there is any doubt. Just go along and make a claim: say that you have finished studying and are now looking for work. You will have to describe what you are doing to find a job, but presumably you are applying for academic post-doc things, and those efforts are enough for you to qualify. But you will need to sign a statement each fortnight stating that you are available for work and willing to accept any suitable job.