Hello,

I would like to submit a pair of questions and I hope you may find the time to help me :-) First something about me:
I have a first class degree + a further academic specialization in translation (a Masters, which in Italy is a further specialization after a degree and not part of a degree as in the UK, as I understand); also, I tranlsated a novel from English into Italian and it was published by a Publishing House.
Here are my questions:

1-What is the suitable age to apply for a Phd in the UK? WHEN IS A PERSON CONSIDERED TOO OLD TO APPLY FOR A PHD?
2- Do you think it's possible to find a job in a UK university without a PhD? I would like to work either in the field of Literature research or Translation studies (or hopefully both, since I'm specialized in literary tranlsation and these fields are very closely connected)

Thank you very much for your kind help.

PS Do you know if there is a dedicated University tutoring service for Internation students to submit these kind of questions to?

I'd agree there's no set age to do a PhD. One of my fellow students was retired. However, as you are likely to have to self-fund given how little research funding there is for humanities research (and even less for international students), it's a personal calculation about whether it is a good idea or not. There are not many humanities academic jobs available and a very large number of PhDs chasing them, so you should be very realistic about what aded value in employment terms it offers (i.e. not much).
On jobs without a PhD, have a look at jobs.ac.uk to get a sense of what is out there and what the requirements are - I think you'd struggle in either field to be honest. Although not that many universities teach Italian, you could try to get a lettore post teaching Italian language as that only requires a Masters - I think this often gets organised through whatever the Italian equivalent of the British Council or Goethe Institut is but am not sure. Maybe the British Embassy / Council in Rome would be able to tell you if there's any sort of centralised recruitment procedure.

Thank you both for you kind replies!
I'm 34 years old. I think I'm too old for a PhD... at the same time, I would like to be certain, before I give up.... PhD could really help me with my activity of translator: for example, if I wanted to translate an English author from the 17th century into italian, the experience of a Phd, or research, or any similar experience might be of great help, it could even be a research proposal itself. ..also, I like writing about literature, and study and research are essential parts of the process.
@ bewildered: I studied British literature at university, so I don't think I could apply to become an Italian lettore...(I don't think Goethe insitut could be of much help, anyway :-) ). What do you mean with " I think you'd struggle in either field to be honest"?

Any suggestion would be very much appreciated, because, as you see, I'm quite lost :-) Thanks

Hi Cunegonda.
I definitely don't think you're too old for a phd! Obviously you'll already know that it means a few years of being on a very tight budget, and I agree with bewildered that it has to be a very serious question if you were to self-fund as to whether it would be worth it financially, as the phd itself does not guarantee a job at the end of it. However, if your project was for example producing a first translation of a significant literary work then that may well have practical results useful to you after graduation. I'd suggest that if you can find funding you should go for it - I'm in languages+lit myself and am funded so it is possible to find. I don't know about the situation of international students with UK funding bodies (does an EU student definitely count as 'international'?), but I do know that if you're willing to go to Ireland, Trinity College Dublin for example has an Italian department and an interest in translation studies, you might try looking there?
Good luck :)
Maccle

Let me assure you there's older than you do a PhD. I was 30 years and 9 months (i.e. just the wrong side of 30) when I started mine and 35 when I finished. I know of older who decided to go back too, including one man who came back to do a PhD part-time in his 50s. If it's an itch you've got to scratch, go for it.

PhDs come from two groups. Firstly, there's those who enter a PhD straight from their degrees. Secondly, there's those who come back after a significant time outside academia and such people can easily be in their 30s or 40s.

I can't offer specific advice on your chosen field, however, my blog may be of some help to you - see following.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

I didn' expect all this help, thank you from the bottom of my heart! I thought the idea of a 34 years old person wanting to do a Phd might sound wierd and crazy :-))
Anyway,I'm trying to understand also what it means to be funded: does the University exonerate you from paying taxes, or they also give you an amount for paying your own living costs?Obviously, I should also pay a rent and all the rest...
@maccle, I'll certainly take a look at the Trinity College Dublin, thank you for the suggestion, it's a good idea! (Even though at the moment I'm more interested in English authors of the 17th century, but there many things I'm interested in though...) What do you expect after you PhD, if I may ask?
@Mackem_Beefy...well, a person in his 50s doing a PhD? Your're making me feel not so old, after all :-)
I will certainly take a look at your blog, even though, as I understand, it's more specific for non-humanist studies, isn't it?

I am not qualified to comment on career prospects but you are definitely not too old for a PhD. Many people use their professional experience to inform their research. I know of one person who completed a doctorate in his late 40s and is now co-authoring a groundbreaking book with his former supervisor. The book may be unusual, but the age certainly isn't!