Hi guys,
Next year, i'll get my master degree in Medical Chemistry at the 28. I've worked during my university studies so i'll get my degree in late. I'm doing a thesis in Organic Chemistry.
I'll probably get a degree mark of 105/110 (Second class honours, upper division).
I haven't work experience in my field and no publication, but i'm a stubborn and determined person. My English level is about a b1, absolutely not fluent.
What are my chances to be accepted in a PhD course abroad(i'm italian)? I'll need a scholarship.
Give me some advice!
Would it be good for me to give up the idea of phd?
Help! :(
I know an Italian who was in a similar position. He got an Erasmus scholarship in the UK for 3 months, made a bunch of contacts via his supervisor and from going to conferences etc, and then got on to a fully funded PhD in Life Sciences. So, it's more than possible.
I wouldn't worry about publications at this stage. In the UK, this isn't expected before PhD level.
If you need English improvement, maybe come to the UK and take a language course if that's an option? Live with English people and you should improve quickly.
But before doing a PhD, think about the future. What do you want to do afterwards? Are you prepared to move around chasing short term contracts with no guarantee of a job at the end of it?
eng77 and treeoflife, Thanks for the answers!
@treeoflife, english level is not too a problem, I'd already decided to spent at least 1 month in UK during my studies to improve my english. The "problem" is my master degree and my age. My Degree (3bachelor+2 master) allows to become chemist and pharmacist. Pharmaceutical industries's positions, for example in research and development, almost always requires a phd. Pharmacist has a salary cap too low..and as foreign pharmacist i have to become fluently in that country language (Germany=fluently in German language)...As i understand, good work position in Organic chemistry are very few without a phd..even less in Italy.. :(
Your age won't affect you. There are plently of older PhD students, as long as you gort some real world experience and din't life under a rock you will be fine.
Is that 3 seperate batchelor degrees and 2 masters? If so that is a lot of university.
A Pharmacist is a person who diustributes drugs to pattienets and requires a specialised undergraduate degree, not a PhD. Making the pharmacetucials would be some form of chemist/bioscientist/engineer, were a PhD grealty helps. I don't think you can be both a pharmacist and be in R&D. But if you want R&D, getting a PhD is very good on a CV.
Hi, gdiben17,
If working with big pharma is your interest, could you use your current qualification to get into a Graduate Program by the big pharmas eg. Astra Zeneca, Novo Nordisk, GSK and Roche? Then, whilst you are working with them, see if they could internally sponsor you to do a PhD. Big pharmas are big on prof development for their own staff, so that maybe a way to go.
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