1. Considering a Ph.D Peter A. Allison

2. What is a Ph.D. In the beginning you have 3 years funded and 4 years maximum registration to pursue original research. At the end the candidate produces a thesis and is examined by 2-4 hour oral examination. So what happens in between? And how do you get on a program?

3. Pleasure and Pain Every research student will experience pleasure and pain. – Pleasure: from working with colleagues, being immersed in a challenging research program, getting results that challenge existing hypotheses and help you to create new ones. – Pain: long hours, blind alleys in your research program, nagging self doubt that builds up and up.

4. You said Pain? If research was easy everyone would be doing it! Doing novel research means doing something that no-one has done before. So it should not be a surprise to realise that research is difficult and that there will be research disappointments. BUT this just highlights the joy of eventual success.

5. So ask yourself: Do you still want to do a PhD?

6. Are you sure?

7. Are you sure that you are sure?

8. Properties of a good student Good exam grades Hard-working Resilience Perseverance Responds well to criticism Enjoys a challenge

9. So how do you get on a PhD program Departmental web-sites will include a list of project titles. View these as notional place holders. Feel free to contact potential supervisors even if they don’t have a project advertised. Read papers, talk to staff here and get a feel for who is active in the fields that influence you.

10. Application process Make contact now with potential supervisors (including overseas) Apply online though the College/University program Nothing can happen unless you officially apply The competition for funding is severe In ESE we offer a number of Janet Watson scholarships that fund salary and fees. Two part selection process: Paperwork and interview.

11. What happens once you have a place? No more exams but you do have to pass a series of performance hurdles. The most significant is the 9 month transfer exam which allows you to continue on as a Phd student.

12. Conclusion: PhD student progress Excitement enthusiasm working on topic suggested by supervisor. Hard work, blind alleys, disappointment, self doubt. Some success, project starts to belong to student. Excitement, enthusiasm returns! Develops increasing scientific maturity.