What is a Scholarship PhD Project?
Project based PhDs are not normally an open call for projects, academic staff will offer specific and clearly delimited PhD proposals which the successful candidates will be expected to carry out. These PhD projects will normally include some direction around: aim and objectives, theoretical and contextual literature, and data collection plan (including access to data). With a fully funded three year full-time PhD Scholarship, you could expect to see included: PhD fees; maintenance allowance which are often tax and national insurance exempt and is expected to cover normal living expenses; a contribution towards conference attendance, and additional funding may be available for research training. Research training is central to the PhD process and any training necessary to undertake a PhD will be delivered through a variety of means including attendance courses, sometimes in the form of a PGDip in Research Methods, supervised and directed training, even external courses as appropriate.
Why are these Scholarships offered?
Research project need researchers, and PhD students play an important part in the academic life of any department / faculty / school / college. Originally universities were established with advanced degrees being offered in the vocations of medicine, law, and theology. Over time, the universities have adapted to accommodate changing economic and social structures and demand for skills. Indeed, Whitehead (1932, p. 138f) in an essay welcoming the opening of the Harvard Business School observed,
“The universities are schools of education and schools of research. But the primary reason for their existence is not to be found either in the mere knowledge conveyed to the students or in the mere opportunities for research afforded to the members of the faculty… The justification for a university is that it preserves the connection between knowledge and the zest for life, by uniting the young and the old in the imaginative consideration of learning…”
When the Harvard Business School began, the university was the learning environment and some compromise had been reached between the idealist liberal vision and what Cardinal Newman called “the disciples of a low utilitarianism”. However, there is no such thing as a free lunch (although free food is the easiest way to get PhD students to turn up things) you are normally expect to do some teaching (or equivalent) over the academic year and contribute to the life of the department.
How do I spend three years?
I recommend to my PhD students they spend their time doing four different things during the three years, but always have the goal of finishing within the three years! So this is my very rough plan for how I get my students to divide up their time:
These four components (PhD, Teaching, Publishing and raising some Funding) will make you eminently employable in an academic post at the end of three year. That said the singularly most important advice I can give, is always follow the advice of your supervisor, as every project is different, for example, there might be the requirement for an industry report, depending who the sponsor is.
What do I need to be considered?
Well, every project is different and different skill set may be needed, however, amongst other things we are looking for someone who:
- has the potential (and will realistically expect) to achieve a 1st Class Honours degree or a distinction at MSc level
- wants to undertake a prolonged period of research
- could contribute to the life of the department
- has an aptitude to teach
- can work independently with good time management skills
- bright, witty and would make a good colleague!
Make sure you know what you are getting into, remember these are fixed projects with specified outcomes, make sure you are interested in actually doing that project or it will be a very long, dull and depressing three years. Actually, there is a fair chance that is going to happen whatever the project is, so you better make sure you are actually interested in it!
Picture by Martina TR under CC license.
What are the benefits of doing a PhD part time?
Interesting question Adam… if I were being totally honest, I don’t think there are benefits of doing a part time PhD. Now, yes of course, you could do a full time job and do a part time PhD, furthermore it might be the only option to someone who was a full time parent or carer, but it makes it a lot more difficult.
I am not sure if I would ever have finished, if I was doing it part time, I fear I may never have finished…
Hi Adam. I did my MBA part-time while holding down a full-time job and now I’m trying to juggle a part-time PhD while working full-time. Part-time study at masters level is difficult. At PhD level it’s insane. The only advantage I can see is you have an income and possibly greater life experience – which shouldn’t be treated lightly. I look at the full-time students and envy them as they can immerse themselves in the experience – I’m always trying to play catch-up. It’s definitely possible, I intend to prove that, but I’m yet to see a tangible benefit of doing it this way. Having said that, I’m always told that I’m too negative, ask me again in four or five years when I finish. Good luck – Steff