Is a research degree for you?
Many prospective research students already know the answer to this question. Throughout their undergraduate degree and honours year they have undertaken some basic research in their field and are eager to delve deeper into a particular area. Perhaps they want a career in academia, or a mentor has encouraged them to apply for a particular research project.
Others may be torn between the opportunity to apply their existing knowledge through a job in private industry and the chance to continue along the academic path, while some know they want to continue their studies but are unsure whether a coursework or research program will best serve their interests and future career. Students whose undergraduate degrees were heavily focused on applied learning may feel unsure of what substantial research in their field actually entails or whether they will have the skills for it.
Only you can make the final decision, but the following factors are worth considering before you commit yourself to several years or more of dedicated research.
Career direction
The choice between moving into the workforce, undertaking a coursework program or beginning a research degree will undoubtedly be influenced by your future career aspirations. If you want to be an academic, employed by a university to conduct research and teach students, you will generally need a PhD, though there are some exceptions. If you intend to work in research and development in the public or private sector, a research degree will be useful but not necessarily essential.
On the other hand, you may simply be driven by the desire to look further into a topic that fascinates you and contribute a piece of original knowledge to your field. Your research program needn’t be a means to an end, and many graduates go on to careers outside academia, satisfied in the knowledge that their thesis has added to what we know about the world.
For students who are still unsure of their future career path, a research program instils many skills that can be applied across a variety of industries, from problem solving and creative thinking to time management and attention to detail.
See The big picture for more information about where a research degree can take you.
Academic requirements
Admission to a PhD program generally requires completion of a masters degree with a significant research component or a bachelor degree with honours (and good marks).
To get into a masters by research program you may only need to have completed your bachelor degree with a high average grade. However, some programs will require an honours year or other relevant research experience.
Students who begin a masters by research are often able to transfer to a PhD after their first year, depending on the standard of their work.
Personal requirements
Undertaking a PhD will stretch your student experience out to eight years or more. While many of your friends from your undergraduate days are moving up the corporate ladder and earning good salaries, you will be making ends meet on a stipend only slightly more than Centrelink payments. For some researchers, particularly those whose topics require a great deal of lab work, working hours can be erratic and inflexible. Arts students, on the other hand, may find it is possible to keep to a strict 9–5 schedule.
All students will need a great deal of dedication to their topic and the ability to manage their own time. Those who get bored quickly or dislike working alone may not be well suited to a research program.
Alternatives
Selected universities and departments offer variations on the traditional masters and doctoral research programs that may be better suited to your situation.
Thesis by creative work
In certain disciplines, such as architecture or the creative arts, students have the option of undertaking a masters by research or doctoral program that culminates in the production of an original creative work, such as a building design or musical composition, instead of a thesis. The work is generally accompanied by a written explanation, often called an exegesis, critically reflecting on the work and the production process. Some programs combine a traditional thesis and a creative component.
Professional doctorate
Professional doctorates typically involve a significant amount of coursework as well as some research. They are designed for professionals with extensive experience in their field who want to extend their theoretical knowledge. For this reason they often offer part-time and flexible study options, and allow students to focus their assessment tasks on current workplace problems or goals. These degrees are particularly common in the business and management field, although they are available in a wide range of disciplines.
PhD by publication
This qualification provides formal recognition for established researchers who have conducted and published significant research at or above PhD standard, in situations where enrolment in a traditional PhD program would be inappropriate. Candidates submit a collection of their published work along with an integrating paper linking the research together into a coherent thesis. Candidates are assigned a supervisor to advise them on the integrating paper, and in some cases additional research may be required.
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