PhD advice welcome here please!

[Katkins1]

I'm an undergrad in the arts. Just been offered a conditional offer of 2.1 on a PhD (to skip masters). If I can get a career development loan and p/t job, will start this year. If not, then next and go for AHRC. Or get put in for AHRC next year.

I'm quite excited about it- it's my absolute dream, and thrilled to be skipping MA (if I get the grades- which I'm scared about, a LOT). I'm being a realist, single Mum so I know will be hard (have to work, pay my own way), but I'm so happy about it. I really want to be a lecturer and it's so exciting.

I'm determined to it; so can anyone give me practical advice- where to look for academic jobs and so on? And what to expect , please? I'm prepared to wait until next year to do it, though I'd like to start this year if I can. Considering part time too.

Sounds like a bit like the way consultants ( doctors) in the NHS are managed and made to do some pointless form filling when they could be saving lives. Mind you I've worked with a few scientists, professors at university who are of an entrepreneurial bent and love the fact they may have the chance to make some money from an invention - some leave and set up businesses.

I am a social scientist, and would not have the same political freedom to do my research if I worked for any other organization. As an academic, I can direct my research and state my findings without anybody leaning on me to 'spin' the message.

Even when I do research under contract to a government depts or other organisations, I am not bound to support their viewpoint. This is hugely important to me.

I also love teaching. It is really important to me that people leave university being able to think critically about the world, to be able to dissect and critique evidence being presented to them, and to understand issues of inequality and discrimination in all its forms.

Teaching at university is still largely free of control. In other words, I decide what is important for students to know and then they have to learn it . I plan the curriculum, choose the readings and design the assessment.

Yes, the job is underpaid, extremely stressful and we are overworked. But I really wouldn't want to do anything else which is way they can keep working conditions so bad

I'm passionate about my subject, and I want to teach it. That's it, really. The freedom also appeals, and the independence. That said, I'm almost at the point of burnout with my current degree, so I think academia suits those who have had a break between study, and gained some life experience.

Our best teachers used to run theatre companies and taught in schools before they went in to academics; I think that has given them a lot insight, rather than a fresh graduate doing what they know and not branching out a bit.

Hi thefarce. There's great advice to be found here but funding wise, have you looked at www.findaphd.com/?

MariaJenny there is motivation that makes people take a PhD. Some careers need a PhD even if they don’t involve an academic work. consultants are some of the most highly skilled scientists/professionals those who are the important in the lives of patients. Consultant is more than a career because it keeps uptodate with the latest. You have your research sample every day. Some consultants write articles on med journals and if you wish you can do so. By contrast manager is a bureaucratic ‘post' and in the lower ranks they do not require sophisticated thinking as they work on a manual and get orders but in the higher tier, like in CE posts you might find individuals with PhDs.

maria, it's honestly not scary. I think comparing it to other jobs is pointless, because it is not so much a 'job' as the first stage to lots of potential jobs. But if you are seeing it as a 'career,' you are absolutely already on the right track for it.

Even if you do end up going and doing something else, you will learn a lot.