Now it's ? PhD time for my son

[2rebecca]

5 years ago it was getting ready for uni, now he's completing his MEng in mech eng and wondering about accepting a PhD. Anyone else's sprog in this boat? The Brexit uncertainty has led to fewer graduate posts being offered in his experience

No but I think I remember you from the uni threads five years ago as DS started in 2014, I can't imagine the cost!
DS didn't do a masters as he went into teaching.

Cost should be zero, for stem anyway. RC stipend and fees paid.

Yes tuition fees paid for and £1400 a month stipend. His undergrad degree is in Scotland which has been a big plus, PhD is London though so huge jump in accom costs from Glasgow.

My DD is currently first year undergraduate and the first in our family to go to uni. Will she get guidance about applying for this through uni as ive no idea about this?

Not sure where my son got it from as it didn't come from his dad or I who just did medical degrees. He did a research project last semester and some of his friends had opted to do a PhD by then. The first I knew was when he told me her was going down south for an interview to discuss one, before that all his talk had been about graduate programmes and jobs.
He did enjoy his research project though whee as he'd done a different one in 4th year and decided he'd done enough research as he hated writing it up at the end of that one.

Good luck to your DS 2rebecca.
My DD is at the end of her 3rd year and has made some mutterings about looking at PhDs. She has really enjoyed her project this year and has to do a group one next year for her masters year. She is struggling to get a summer internship (e.g. Rolls Royce have withdrawn the one she applied for etc.) so thinks she may struggle finding a good graduate job. Very much wants to stay in engineering and not go into finance etc.

He has accepted it so now has finding London accom to sort out when he's finished his finals.

Does the University offer specific post-grad accommodation? Most do.

Even if relatively expensive, this can be a good option for those arriving at research heavy, very international Universities, as it provides a chance for those new to the City to meet people in a similar position. The danger of sharing with friends who are starting jobs in London is that they can be on different schedules and incomes, and depending on course, his immediate colleagues could be some of his peers will be quite diverse: older with families; members of the international rich, etc. (DS did something similar in the US, and found two others starting his course in the same accommodation. A year on and he is moving to something cheaper and larger. Not worrying about accommodation was worth paying for whilst he settled in.)

No, only if coming from outwith the EU I think. It's more awkward because they are moving site halfway through his PhD

There are intercollegiate post grad halls in London if that helps?

Interesting I'll get him to look at it, looks like each London uni has their own number of rooms and rules for who can go there but at least 1 says it has postgrad spaces on the UCL wensite so he can have a look. Thanks.

It's worth contacting his future supervisor and lab as they may know of someone with a room to let. A lot of younger staff who own homes let privately to people at their institute/university especially in London where prices are so high

My DB is doing a phd in engineering. He earns £30 an hour for about 12 hours of teaching per week during term time. This is all on top of his stipend and is tax-free. Really helps with accommodation costs etc.

(Probably pays national insurance but below the tax threshold for the teaching hours overall)

All of the teaching is arranged via his department and his supervisor.

I'm not sure if he has to do teaching. He is busy with exams currently so will interrogate him later this month when they are over. Like trying to drag blood out of a stone at the moment. Chatty in person (well average for a young STEM bloke) but he's not great at online conversation.

Fairly standard for PhDs to be grad teaching assistants!

You don't have to do teaching but it's an option. It's more demonstrating and supporting a lecturer in tutorials than actual new concept teaching. It's encouraged because the assumption is that someone doing a PhD wants to stay in academia and will likely do some lecturing at some point in their career. It's good practice and paid so not a bad option especially to offset some costs.

Will she get guidance about applying for this through uni as ive no idea about this?

Very different situation between 1st year undergrad, and achieved Masters, looking at a PhD.

If your DD is interested in a PhD, she needs to start to work smart and learn well and extensively. Entry to a PhD usually requires a Masters degree, and excellent (minimum 2, i) at Bachelor's level.

If she's interested in a PhD, this is something she should discuss proactively with her Personal Tutor, and also there will be guidance at Masters level. Not really guidance at 1st year UG level as that's generally far too early.

It's also worth bearing in mind that a good chance of a funded PhD is likely to require a first at undergraduate and distinction/first at Masters level plus (for an open competition for funding) a distinctive and well thought out proposal - and there's no guarantee, even so.

DS's university where he did his Masters recommended taking a gap year and not applying during the Masters year because (a) research interests are likely to change in the course of the year (b) results and (informed) references from the Masters year won't be available and (c) it's a big distraction when you're learning to make the step up from undergraduate level work. This was a humanities subject so it may be different for science etc. Great advice in DS's case.

For the mechanical engineers my son knows they seem to do PhDs straight after their degree which is an MEng (4 years England, 5 in Scotland). My son is on track for a distinction but doesn't finish until later this month.
He says no compulsory teaching but there may be the opportunity to teach.

Is he going to imperial? Depending on the size of group I would recommend getting in touch with some current members to see if there are any rooms going in shared flats, at least as a stop gap. Also the student union and post grad association. Most probably ads on campus for rooms to let as well.

I haven't heard of people being advised to take a year off in STEM between masters and PhD (I would have forgotten everything!) but can see why it is a good idea for humanities.

One last thing! In STEM as a hone student it will be virtually unheard of to do a PhD without finding. He should expect around £1200 per month I would imagine.

As a home student... without funding...! You get the drift. As you can tell, my PhD is not in languages 😜

He's going to UCL. £1400 a month.