Hi everyone.

I'm new to the forum, but would be grateful for any advice or thoughts on my situation. I stumbled across this site whilst looking at PhD funding and there are some interesting threads and posts on here.

I've been toying with the idea of doing a PhD for a while. Ever since I completed my masters degree I have had a burning desire to go back to do my doctorate. After completing my MSc in Economics when I was 26 I decided to go into employment. I thought about doing a PhD, but the timing was not right. To be frank, I was a little bit scared. Possibly irrational I know. But I thought I might end up an overqualifed, too specialised 30 year old with little or no 'real world' or job experience. So I took a job.

I started working as a researcher straight after my masters and quickly got into the rythem of things. I enjoyed applying some of my learnings from my masters degree, whilst earning some cash. I worked hard to keep my core skills (in economics, econometrics etc) and learnt more about research methodologies,sampling etc. After 2 years I was ready for a new challenge and when a social research job in central government came up, I took it with both hands. Due to civil service bureaucracy, political implications and the current economic climate I ended up going on secondment for 18 months.

For the last year and a bit I have been working at the heart of government in a fascinating research position. I have been in a team that has been equipped with helping the department understand its customers. Like an internal consultancy that helps teams make decisions using roibust evidence on how people behave, their motivations and attitudes, barriers etc. As well as delivering ad hoc projects, such as literature reviews, surveys, qual work such as interviews and focus groups, I have lead on the departments behaviour change programme. I've throughly enjoyed it, but my time is coming to an end. Unfortuantely, due to civil service red tape, a position in government (where I want to be) is looking particularly unlikely and I look set to go back to my new position. Being in the heart of government has somewhat quelled my desire to do a PhD, ut it is coming back now.

I have been pleasently surprised to see that PhD's are respected in government, certainly amongst analytical circles. This was a fear of mine too and my first job did not recognise them. But, in my current role doing a PhD in a social science discipline gets the credit it deserves. So, I turn again to thinking about doing a PhD.
Choosing a subject for a PhD is something that I am much less clear about. It would be in social resrarch, that if for sure. I first dabbled in social research during my masters thesis, when I looked at the link between parents educational attainment and their offsprings (highly associated) and whether it was down to nature or nature. I have since become fascinated with not just human beings and their behaviour, but also socialtal issues srrounding this.

cont .....

My 3 main areas of interest are education, health and justice. I am also fascinated by childhood development and the association with the prior issues. My partner is an early years teacher and I have recently being helping her through a qualification. I find early childhood development really interesting and would consider looking at this for a PhD topic, bringing in the educational (and possibly justice/crime) angle. Reading the work of Elinor Goldsmeit has got me really thinking about this. I am keen to do something uising my core economic and social research skills and would combine several methods (qual and quant). I'd love to do something similar to Leon Feinstein's work, on early development (that lead to the creation of sure start centres).

Another factor possibly couting against me is my life stage. I am almost 30 and my partner is a couple of years older than me. We have spoken recently about buying a house and starting a family. We live together in London and do ok for the moment. That said, we cannot get on the property market and having a child would be a struggle. I get paid reasonably well for what I am doing and more than her. So a PhD is likely to be a financial hit. Does anyone have any stories of success on this front? I belive if I really wanted to do it, I could struggle through (funding, part time work, extra grants etc).

I am interested in people's experiences and particularly people who are, or have been, in a similar situation to me. I should say that I want to work in research. I want to work in research that influences public policy. Probably at the heart of government. So, I need to think long and hard about whether this will get me to where I want to be. Is it just my pride and thrist for knowledge driving me? Or could this be really advantageous? I am sure that I could progress through government with experience and a masters degree. I am already doing really well and am not far from a masters degree. But I feel a PhD will open more doors, bring me more respect and it might find something really original and groundbreaking.

Interested to hear people's throughts about this.

Hi Ollessendro,

If you are passionate about doing it, which you seem to be, I'm sure you could make it work financially. Since you're in Economics, you should be able to get some funding - if not through university/government then through industry. Obviously it is a sacrifice, if you're currently make good money, but ultimately you should only be earning less for 3/4 years.

If you are going to make a PhD application then I suppose you can just begin establishing a subject/research question and applying for funding. Since the process will take several months at least you will have plenty of time to reconsider your options.

Hi,

I have been in a similar situation to you - I graduated from my science MSc in 2006, then worked as bank manager for a few years, earning a decent salary, getting a mortgage etc and I know I could have continued down that route and carved a successful career for myself, however like you I had a burning desire to do a PhD that just wouldn't go away.

I started my PhD this October and it was the best decision I have ever made. Seriously, you will work out the minor details after (finances, how to pay the mortgage, whether there will be a job at the end of it) - just go for it!

Hey! You sound just like me! Go for it really do! Check out Surrey, they have an excellent programme on offer that I'm going for and there are so many studentships about to apply for. You could do it part time to start and then work your way up if finances are a pain. Im starting a family right when ill be starting my postgrad and working but with the right support around you it is possible. Ill reply properly after xmas, pm me if you like.