Thinking of doing a PhD

[JoonT]

I am considering doing a PhD, but am not really sure what it will involve. I'd like to do it on Thomas Hardy's poetry. The university I have in mind is local, and is somewhere in the middle of the league table (so not a top ten, high pressure kind of place). I have no ambitions to be an academic. I'm too old for a start, and am under no illusions about my limited abilities.

My question is, what would it involve? I know you have to come up with an 80 or 100,000 word dissertation, which is pretty much the length of a book. But do they just leave you alone to get on with it? Or do you have to give seminars and lectures, for example? Do you have to pass other sorts of tests along the way? How common is it to fail a PhD?

When you do an MA, there is a distinction between taught and research. You can take an MA with modules and seminars and individual essays, or you can do one by research, where you are left alone to come up with one big dissertation. Is the same distinction made at PhD level?

A PhD is purely research. There maybe a research methods module, but you will have to come up with an original research topic, then identify a supervisor with enough expertise in Hardy's poetry to supervise you. You should have regular meetings with your supervisor, and will be expected to show some work in order to satisfy a progression board. At the end you're viva'd - interrogated to defend your research. Yes you can fail, although you shouldn't be put forward to be viva'd unless you're ready, so if someone isn't up to it they usually get advised to quit, maybe with a lower award - eg MPhil.

It isn't simply writing lots of words on a topic you're interested in though.

You don't have to give lectures and seminars, but you should be encouraged to do so.

If you go and search the British Library thesis database ( ethos.bl.uk ), you can see what PhDs in your area of research look like.

I'm in the final year of mine, part-time and distant. I very much wanted to do this specific piece of research, and I still don't know what to do next.

For mine, there are some core training sessions that have to be attended and an annual progression panel.

My PhD is science, not arts.

but generally a PhD thesis has to be original. It’s not enough to write x words on your topic, it has to be a new idea or new area of research.

PhD’s aren’t taught, and there isn’t the taught/research distinction. However lots of faculties do include some areas of teaching, usually in the first year. It will be attending various lectures, mine were undergrad in areas I previously hadn’t studied. There are usually regular guest speaker lectures you have to go to as well.

it was a usual part of a phd to attend conferences and present work as well. Some uk, some abroad.

I'm studying p/t, working f/t, distance and on a professional doctorate so a bit different to you.

Some people in my university are realistic and supportive about the challenges that older learners face - pace of learning, barriers to study at this age, what we bring to study etc. I'd see whether your preferred university is too.

I'd also say that although it's rewarding, a PhD is a slog, quite isolating, and a major disruption to family life. Be prepared for years of guilt and having to put your studies first at times. You have to really want/need to do it and p/t study apparently has quite a high attrition rate.

You need to identify a gap in knowledge that you're wanting to research and fill.

Have you done an MA?

I'm currently mulling over whether I want to do a PhD too. I am currently finishing up my MSc and this year has been writing a dissertation on a topic of my choosing. I have meetings every 2 or 3 weeks with my supervisor but apart from that, it's been pretty much up to me to shape my research questions, work out what I need to look at to answer those questions, where the archives are etc etc.

MSc supervisor says PhD is the same basic process, but more hands-off, and more self-led, and obviously longer. He's sure I'd be fine. Still unsure as part time is 6 years and that seems LONG.

@IkBenDeMol

It is long, and that's if you don't buy extension year/s or interrupt for any reason.

It's long, and difficult and wildly isolating.

I nearly lost myself doing mine and really didn't enjoy it. Almost gave up a week before the deadline. Am not sure I'd really recommend it tbh.

I'm considering it too, as I approach the end of my MA. It would be purely. vanity project for me too as I don't want to work in academia. I do really want to do it and feel very strongly about my area of research.