About postgrad study : Research degrees

The most well-known research qualification is the PhD, also known as the DPhil in some universities. Other possible courses are the MA and MSc degrees by research and the MPhil, which is sometimes taken before embarking on a PhD.

Doctoral degrees (PhD, DPhil)

• These involve contributing new knowledge in a well designed research project or thesis (40,000 words upwards) that is worthy of publication.
• There can be some taught units on research methods, but the PhD is awarded mainly on the quality of the final thesis.
• They take three to four years full time or five to seven years part time, to complete.
• The New Route PhD or integrated PhD combines research with a structured programme of training in research methods and transferable professional skills. Interim awards at diploma, certificate or Masters level and professional qualifications may be offered in some programmes. It takes a minimum of four years full-time, six part-time to complete.
• Professional Doctorates with a substantial taught core are now available in some vocational areas, including engineering (EngD or DEng), business (DBA) and education (EdD). These integrate professional and academic knowledge for those interested in professional rather than academic careers. Many are accredited by professional bodies and paid for by employers. See Find a Professional Doctorate 
• The majority of research degrees are taken at universities and other higher education institutions. However, there are some opportunities for studying in partnership with a university, in government laboratories, hospital laboratories and research institutions.

Masters degrees by research (MA, MSc, MPhil)

• It is possible to study for research based MAs and MScs, as opposed to taking a taught course. They typically take one to two years full time or two to four years part time to complete.
• An MPhil is similar to a PhD but at a lower academic level. Most of the assessment is made on a single large research project. However this dissertation is shorter than a PhD thesis and is typically 30,000-35,000 words. There are some taught units on research methods and you are supervised by an experienced academic.
• In most UK institutions, formal registration for the degree of PhD takes place after the initial year of research (when you are officially at MPhil level) and following the successful completion of a transfer report.
• It may be possible to transfer from a PhD back to an MPhil degree. An MPhil, however, does not confer ‘Dr’ status and would not enable you to do postdoctoral research.
• It may be possible to gain a masters degree whilst working with the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)  scheme. This enables recently qualified graduates (known as KTP Associates) to work in a commercial environment (paid a salary at an industrial rate) whilst studying for a higher degree. It involves managing a research project central to a company’s development, such as designing and introducing a new product, process or marketing strategy. Projects last from ten weeks to three years.

Issues to consider

• Time: undertaking a research degree is a lengthy process and you need to ensure you are committed to seeing it through.
• Motivation: consider whether you have the personal motivation for long periods of independent study.
• Working relationship with supervisor: it is important to ensure that you have a good supportive research supervisor. Make sure you have met and feel comfortable with your supervisor before accepting a place.
• Cost: Research Council funding may be a possibility. Some employers will sponsor PhD students and Research Council funding can top this up.

Future prospects

You can expect job opportunities to exist in academia, in industry and in the public sector but competition can be fierce. A PhD is usually a pre-requisite for an academic career as a university researcher or lecturer, although opportunities are opening up in other support functions, such as staff training and development and student recruitment. It is common to hold a series of postdoctoral positions lasting one to two years before securing a permanent post, which can be difficult to come by. There are other careers for which a research degree is desirable or essential, for example, work as a scientific researcher for a pharmaceutical company or as a commissioning editor for a specialist academic journal. See Vitae