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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A PhD is a huge waste of time- aibu

375 replies

Bluffysummers · 29/03/2022 21:23

I’d quantify this and say in the humanities.

I did one, worked hard to complete it, stress, time and money. I was totally duped into it, lecturers telling me how good I was and blowing smoke up my arse and implying I’d get a job at the end of it… in my subject there were 3 jobs nationwide when I graduated none full time…and god knows how many candidates.

I left academia and guess what, no one cares if you have a PhD, in fact I think it’s more of a hinderance than an asset. I spent 10 years in education and all it did was delay my industry and career experience, so basically hinder me.

Aibu to say If you’re thinking of doing a humanities PhD don’t.

OP posts:
SevenWaystoLeave · 29/03/2022 21:26

Depends why you want to do it, surely. Yes jobs in academia are limited and you're not guaranteed one - but you definitely wouldn't get one if you didn't have a PHD. So for those that are successful it's definitely not a waste of time.

Some people also do a PHD for the love of studying and learning, not everything in life is all about getting a job.

MangoReinhardt · 29/03/2022 21:30

6 months to go on mine (which is a mid-career PhD). Complete waste of time, no prospect of a job at the end of it and it has no value in my previous career. Humanities PhDs are a sort of pyramid scheme.

BambinaJAS · 29/03/2022 21:32

My brother did a Ph. D in theoretical physics and he considers it a huge sunk cost now.

A Ph. D is only really advantageous if you are going into full time (and long-term) academia, a research type private sector role, or a public policy type position.

I would avoid otherwise (I stopped at two MSc's due for this reason).

galacticpixels · 29/03/2022 21:34

I don't think you're being unreasonable. I didn't do a PhD but did consider it at one point. It hasn't worked out well for any of my friends that did - those that got jobs in academia were SO poorly paid. They've all left and work in unrelated jobs now, after earning little or no money for all of their 20s.

Original poster
Bluffysummers · 29/03/2022 21:34

@SevenWaystoLeave

Depends why you want to do it, surely. Yes jobs in academia are limited and you're not guaranteed one - but you definitely wouldn't get one if you didn't have a PHD. So for those that are successful it's definitely not a waste of time.

Some people also do a PHD for the love of studying and learning, not everything in life is all about getting a job.

Yeah sure there is something to be said for the pursuit of knowledge and when I was doing my masters there was a retired doctor doing a history of art masters. I do think that’s the only time it’s ‘worth doing’ when it’s more of a hobby and not viewed as a tool for career progression or a follow on step from an undergrad
OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 29/03/2022 21:34

I think it must be harder when you want to have carried on but couldn't. Mine (Science) showed me that it wasn't the career I wanted. Not a waste of time, because I never (almost never) look back and regret not giving it a go.

StScholastica · 29/03/2022 21:37

DHs didn't really progress him in his career at all and he hated doing it. All round mistake really.

SilverGlassHare · 29/03/2022 21:37

Go into publishing, OP. They value a humanities PhD.

Original poster
Bluffysummers · 29/03/2022 21:38

@BambinaJAS

My brother did a Ph. D in theoretical physics and he considers it a huge sunk cost now.

A Ph. D is only really advantageous if you are going into full time (and long-term) academia, a research type private sector role, or a public policy type position.

I would avoid otherwise (I stopped at two MSc's due for this reason).

See I thought the STEM subjects had significantly more employment prospects than humanities. A lot of my friends did and they seemed to find it easier to find jobs in related fields ie scientific publications or journals, research labs or at unis
OP posts:
OneCup · 29/03/2022 21:38

For so many of my friends, it didn't help at all with their career. If anything it has been detrimental. Some however are happy they did it for the personal challenge it brought. Having said that, they are also those who landed on their feet.

OneCup · 29/03/2022 21:39

Just saw your comment about doing it as a hobby. I totally agree.

MangoReinhardt · 29/03/2022 21:41

Some people also do a PHD for the love of studying and learning, not everything in life is all about getting a job.

Of course but departments ought to present phd applicants with realistic data on careers prospects. Most of the advice my department gives is about 40 years out of date.

surreygirl1987 · 29/03/2022 21:41

I've just finished my doctorate (in social sciences). Part time while I worked. Really tough but glad I did it. Didn't do it for career progression but for the love of learning and to contribute to knowledge. I don't know why anyone would bother otherwise.

parietal · 29/03/2022 21:42

A PhD should not be thought of as a route to only an academic career. Of students who start a PhD in the UK (all subjects) only 5% will end up with a job as a university professor. So do a PhD if you love it or do it to learn particular skills but don't expect to end up in academia.

Thatswhyimacat · 29/03/2022 21:42

Mine was in a scientific subject and I also consider it to have been a massive waste of time. My parents always taught to me value more and more education over everything else, I wish I hadn't listened and I'd tried harder at finding work experience and internships etc that actually make a difference in your career rather than having 2 extra A Levels and a PhD.

SevenWaystoLeave · 29/03/2022 21:43

I have one in a stem-adjacent subject, which is relevant to my career - but it wasn't necessary to have one to get the job I have now. However it did significantly increase my knowledge base which has been very helpful in my career. So while the qualification itself hasn't especially helped me in the sense I didn't need that piece of paper, the learning and experience of it has definitely made me better at my job.

Darhon · 29/03/2022 21:44

I have one. But I was very young when I did it and had a stipend. I realised whilst doing it I didn’t love it enough to wait around for an academic job and tenure. So I was onto other things by my mid 20s. However, it’s been very useful. I work in HE (not as an academic) and the skills I gained doing it javelin been useful and having it has opened doors.

Rights · 29/03/2022 21:44

I’d say YABU because it totally depends on your reasons for doing it whether or not it’s funded. My DSis gave up a dead-end job to do her PhD because she got a fully funded place; she never wanted to go into academia (and hasn’t) but took the opportunity to study a subject she loved for its own sake, and be paid for the privilege. It was a great personal achievement for her, and although she hasn’t used it as such, she doesn’t regret it at all.

That said, academia these days is a shit show and decent teaching/research contracts are like hen’s teeth, so anyone considering doing PhD to pursue an academic career seriously needs to think about their Plan B.

Original poster
Bluffysummers · 29/03/2022 21:44

@OneCup

For so many of my friends, it didn't help at all with their career. If anything it has been detrimental. Some however are happy they did it for the personal challenge it brought. Having said that, they are also those who landed on their feet.
That’s how I feel, I was 27 when I finished and I couldn’t get a job… I was over qualified and under experienced.

I feel totally duped, and an utter muppet seaming around thinking I was part of the intelligentsia and my research mattered… get f’d did it

OP posts:
SparklyLeprechaun · 29/03/2022 21:47

It helped my career at the beginning. It was a STEM PhD, it helped me get a better first job. But after a few years it didn't matter anymore, and now I don't even mention it. Overall I think I would be at the same stage in my career now with or without it (and I would have earned some decent money during those 4 years of PhD).

Original poster
Bluffysummers · 29/03/2022 21:47

@Thatswhyimacat

Mine was in a scientific subject and I also consider it to have been a massive waste of time. My parents always taught to me value more and more education over everything else, I wish I hadn't listened and I'd tried harder at finding work experience and internships etc that actually make a difference in your career rather than having 2 extra A Levels and a PhD.
Mine too! They really pushed me and drilled it into me that the more qualifications you have the more hireable and better paid you are.

My father used to take it as an affront later when I told him this wasn’t the case!

OP posts:
Piper22 · 29/03/2022 21:47

YANBU. I think it’s mostly a vanity thing

Overthebow · 29/03/2022 21:49

It’s only really useful if you want to go into academia. Work experience is more useful for industry.

169cliftonroad · 29/03/2022 21:50

I have done one in the field of engineering. Although my current career is still in that field, i regretted spending the majority of my 20s in a lab instead of some graduate scheme in big companies which woild have given me clearer career development. I also somehow lost my drive and confidence during the long phd journey

Fruitbatdancer · 29/03/2022 21:51

YANBU, it’s the same as a masters, outside of academia no one gives a shiny shite. Experience, drive, ambition, a subject that points to a job focus (business, economics, medical, teaching, finance etc etc) might hold some sway but beyond ‘a degree’ no employer cares!
If only they taught that at Uni! But it would be like turkeys voting for Xmas!