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PhD, is it for me?

  
 
RichT's boring old name
22:23 / 23.04.07
I've been toying with the idea of doing a PhD for some time now (given the provision of actually getting funding), and I've seen a funded studentship for something which made me think YES! the other day, and I should be qualified for it (relevant masters + experience in the field).

At the moment I'm working full time, with enough money to live off but ideally I'd like more time and energy to devote to making music. Although my job is music relevant (in a music library) and I'm in contact with composers and performers all the time, I actually really like my job but occasionally think- why can't I be doing that? I'm also in the best place in the country for making contacts in any kind of music scene. There's also an element of doubt of how long I'll have this job- the organisation I'm in is in the process of merging with others, and although we've got the most advanced IT end of things (which is what I do) out of all the organisations, there's still a chance I won't have a job there this time next year.

As for the PhD- it's up in York, I don't know anyone there and I'm not sure how interesting the music scene is there. The research project is looking at practitioners of experimental electronic music, outside the field of academe- which is great, something I've been very interested in (and partake in myself), I'm sure I'll learn a lot form it, especially looking at techniques and aesthetic approaches of artists (who will be in residence)- however the main benefit would be in order to develop my own approach through looking at others- although I realise how it could affect other composers and performers work, I'd essentially want to do this for self improvement reasons (is this right or wrong?).

Financially I might end up about the same, as the grant is tax free (right?) and I'll be able to live somewhere cheaper, if I go to York.

Would it be a similar working environment to doing a masters as far as workload/flexibility? Could I live of £12k a year (tax free?), or need to get a part time job(and have time)? Or even have (any/more) time for other musical activities?
Would I even need to live in the same place?

My thought was to do the application, see if I get an interview and to make a decision then.
 
 
garyancheta
04:38 / 24.04.07
Ph.Ds do eat up your life. Before you get one, you should consider:

1. What does the Ph.D offer me that I can't find somewhere else? Can you do without the Ph.D. and still get the job you always wanted?

2. Can the Ph.D. open me up to higher paying jobs? Are these jobs available or will I be fighting others for this job?

3. Can I live with teaching? This is a big must if you want to get your Ph.D. and live comfortably. Also with this question, you have to ask the department whether or not they support Graduate Student Teaching or Grant-work.

You can live off of teaching and going to school. Usually they also defer your tuition, so you can live while working for the University. I'd check out how long the commitment is and how much they're willing to give you in order for you to come to their school.

It seems like you're looking at this from a learning level and I think that's smart. But see if they have a competitive of Masters program that might allow you to do the same things without the dissertation or publishing (two things that will be needed if you want hte Ph.D).

If you have anymore questions, let me know. I'm curious what you decide.

- G
 
 
miss wonderstarr
05:23 / 24.04.07
In my experience, PhDs really (only) eat up your life in a bad way while you're writing up your thesis ~ which in my experience would be your third year. It's true I think that you will probably be encouraged or expected to do some seminar teaching, paid or unpaid, but you could investigate whether this will be the case.

One main reason to do a PhD in my opinion is that it's basically a professional qualification for academia. You will be unlikely to get a full-time lecturing job in HE without a doctorate these days ~ simply because so many of the other candidates will have one, and they'll generally be considered to have an advantage over you. (Of course this depends a little on the job. Lecturing with a focus on practical work, not so much).

The other main reason is one you cite, and one I don't think is considered enough as a reason for education ~ just for the sake of learning, self-improvement, exploring and challenging yourself.

I don't know if it would make any difference to your job opportunities outside academia, but I do think that all things being basically equal (ie. if the financial sacrifice isn't too great), just studying something you really enjoy is worth it for the sake of it, and that the experience is generally going to make you a "better person".
 
 
miss wonderstarr
05:29 / 24.04.07
Would it be a similar working environment to doing a masters as far as workload/flexibility?

I'd suggest it would be more flexible, in that there will probably be fewer, if any, formal classes. You might well have some kind of research seminar or research skills classes, as well as regular (maybe one a month?) personal tutorials.

Could I live of £12k a year (tax free?), or need to get a part time job(and have time)? Or even have (any/more) time for other musical activities?

I'd say the best kind of job you could get would be part-time teaching, and that you could probably fit in part-time work during the time that you're not actually writing the final thesis. (Again, I consider this work for the final year, but others may disagree. I'd say your musical activities might well be at least indirectly related to the practice of your PhD.


Would I even need to live in the same place?

My impression is, not necessarily. As long as you can make it to regular meetings; though you might miss out by not being part of your department's "culture".

Also I think it's very important to ask a lot of questions of your potential supervisors.
 
 
Kit-Cat Club
06:36 / 24.04.07
I think, since it's a research project, you would probably be expected to have quite a lot of contact with the other members of the project team, so it would be useful not to live too far away from the department.

As for finances - I'm doing a part-time PhD in London and I just about get by on considerably less than the AHRC stipend for PhD students (though I do sometimes have trouble paying my fees - not something that need concern you though). I think that, unless you have dependents, you would be able to manage a reasonable studenty lifestyle. Extra support is usually available for conference attendance, research trips, etc.

I should contact the department and ask to discuss it with the project leader there, and then if you still feel good about it, bung an application in. After all, you're not obliged to accept it if you're offered it.
 
 
N2Oboy
09:02 / 24.04.07
Hi, long-time lurker, first-time poster.

As for the PhD- it's up in York, I don't know anyone there and I'm not sure how interesting the music scene is there.

I did a masters and Ph.D. in York. They were in Biology rather than Music so I can't offer any advice about the department but have plenty of experience of living in the city. Culturally speaking, York is hardly a bustling metropolis but you'll be able to see some music in a pub or cafe most nights of the week. Of course, I make no claims for the standard. Fibbers is the main music venue in the City.


Would it be a similar working environment to doing a masters as far as workload/flexibility?

It's genrally far more flexible but a lot depends on your supervisor. Some supervisors expect weekly reports, others will leave you alone for months. In the latter case you need to be very self-motivated, otherwise it's possible for a person to fart around for considerable periods of time before realising they've got nothing to show for the last three months. By and large, I found it was best to treat research time like a 9-5 job.

I can't speak for the Music Department but in Biology there is a requirement to accrue "points" by going to lectures/seminars/training courses etc. If you're canny you can knock most of that up the first year to make more time for research in the second and third years.

Could I live of £12k a year (tax free?), or need to get a part time job(and have time)?

I managed it. If you're keeping your overheads down (house-sharing etc.) York's not too expensive. Where's your funding coming from? If it's Research Council money then you won't be obliged to do any teaching (but it's worth taking some on for the experience and extra money). If the cash is coming from somewhere else there might be some conditions attached, such as a number of unpaid teaching hours per term.

The problem comes during writing up. I have yet to meet anyone who submitted their thesis within the 3 year funded period. You are likely to find yourself spending (at least) 3 months writing-up unfunded so putting something away for this is good idea.


Or even have (any/more) time for other musical activities?
Apart from writing-up, when you won't be doing much of anything, you should have as much time as you want to make depending on your supervisor and how you structure your research (see above).

Would I even need to live in the same place?

It's advisable. Doing a Ph.D. can be a lonely business at times and going into the department and sitting at your desk every day can help motivate you. Plus you'll have lab-mates and other students to chat to and bounce ideas off.

In summary, you have to really want to do a Ph.D. and, as said upthread, it's best to view it as a professional qualification for a career in academia. Your relationship with your supervisor will be crucial (I've seen several smart, motivated students drop out because of crappy supervision) so the application process is almost as much about you selecting them as vice versa .
 
 
RichT's boring old name
19:35 / 24.04.07
Thanks very much for the response, guys- I think you've pretty much answered my questions, you've all been great. And thanks to N2Oboy for coming out from 3 1/2 years of lurking!

As you've all pointed out- I'm really thinking about this in terms of learning/self improvement, and something I'd actually really like to spend my time on.

The studentship's from the AHRC (not B any more), so there don't seem to be any strings attached.

To begin, in response to Gary's points:
1. What does the Ph.D offer me that I can't find somewhere else?
Mainly time to focus on other people's music and how that would reflect on my own. I feel I'm getting educated as it is, going to gigs with some of the finest musicians I've ever seen playing practically every week, but maybe not being focussed enough, and fitting this in with a full time job, not having enough time for practice myself...

Can you do without the Ph.D. and still get the job you always wanted?
2. Can the Ph.D. open me up to higher paying jobs? Are these jobs available or will I be fighting others for this job? (sorry, thought those two seemed better being lumped together)
In the fields of music I'm involved in, realistically there isn't enough work going around to be able to live off it professionally, so my ideal job would be something flexible enough to work around this- and related, so that my time at work isn't completely 'wasted' as far as my personal development is concerned.

3. Can I live with teaching? This is a big must if you want to get your Ph.D. and live comfortably. Also with this question, you have to ask the department whether or not they support Graduate Student Teaching or Grant-work.
A few years ago I would have been screaming 'NOOO!' and making cross symbols at any mention of teaching, as both my parents were teachers- now, however after doing a bit of cello teaching, it seems like quite a nice way to get a bit of money on the side.

It looks like the lifestyle would suit me a bit better than, say a 9-5 job although I'd definitely miss the music scene in London.

There's also still the issue of job security at them moment, although if this merger does go through and I've got a job at the end of it there will be more money involved, and possibly some negotiation over hours- less time on the same pay would suit me well.

I'm still not 100% convinced yet, but I'm going to get in touch with them- the thing is I don't really have any specific questions apart from who the artists to be studied are (who they may not even know), it is more to get a feel of what the research team (especially who is likely to be my supervisor) will be like.

Right, now to dust off my CV and tell my boss...
 
 
trouble at bill
16:29 / 26.04.07
In the fields of music I'm involved in, realistically there isn't enough work going around to be able to live off it professionally,

I think that's the crucial thing: you need to be aware that this PhD, probably any PhD actually, will guarantee you little or nothing in terms of employment. As long as you're prepared to work extremely hard for what may turn out to be in career or financial terms, nothing whatsoever, then you'll be fine.

One other thing: I'd be careful about taking on teaching at a University. IME they use grad students to do the more onerous teaching duties for levels of pay which are (I exagerate not) illegally low, while both senior staff members and students pay you virtually no respect whatsoever. If I had my time again I would have kept a part-time job outside academia and only taken on minimal teaching work which I thought vital to an academic career: it would ensure far more income and also help to keep one's feet on the ground a bit, as it's all too easy to get a bit 'institutionalised' in academia.
 
 
Scrubb is on a downward spiral
10:40 / 28.04.07
Another one a little late to this - I think most of the questions have already been answered so I'll just throw some more things in:

First off, do you love you subject? In fact, not just love but find it fascinating and wonderful and full of lots of things you could investigate forever? Because this is the one and only thing that you'll be devoting your life for the next 3-4 years to, if you do the PhD full time, and you'll need that love to get you through. Come the end of the write-up you'll most likely hate it and wish you'd never started and you'll need that tiny spark of rememberence of why you ever started the research in the first place if you're ever going to finish.

Money - you should be fine. Are you on an ERSC grant? Despite their slow and crunchy beaurocracy, they actually do take very good care of their students - in addition to the grant, you'll also get another annual chunk just to spend on books/travel/conferences, and they will send you off to lots of summer schools if you want it. (If you're not ESRC, ignore the above - I'm not sure what provisions other research councils take).

As far as outside work goes - taking on something very part time is actually a good idea, not just for the money but also to keep you sane and remind you that there's a world beyond your research group. Music teaching sounds good, but maybe something more social? Even an evening a week in a pub would provide some outside space. I've been doing 1-2 days a week in a comic shop throughout my entire PhD (in Technology Innovation/Sociology/Cultural Studies) and it's kept me saner than anything my department could have offered me. Also keeping contact with/a hand in at your old workplace will be useful for when you finish. t sounds like the PhD is perfect in terms of helping you set up a flexible working career.

Finally - a PhD is exciting, challenging and brilliant as it's you studying what you want, how you want it. It's also gruelling, lonely, psychologically challenging and (come the write up) soul destroying. Be prepared. N20boy's comment about putting money aside for the end is an excellent one - the last thing you want in the living hell of the write-up is money worries, so it's worth scrimping a bit in the early, exciting days rather than suffering at the end.

I'd also recommend chatting to the guys over at Phinished (www.phinished.org) as they/we are generally a good crowd.
 
 
The Ghost of Tom Winter
12:07 / 28.04.07
Everyone tells me if you go in thinking you'll get any respect whatsoever, think again. You won't. Ever.
 
 
RichT's boring old name
11:02 / 08.05.07
COCK

Just went to quickly check through the application details and found the deadline was 12pm (30 mins ago at the time I checked). It's gone in 45mins late, then submitted again complete with references with all my faffing, as I was hanging on to have a word with my boss about it today.

...although academics have to be scatty.
 
  
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