Hi,

I don't know if any one has any experience looking for lecturing posts, but I've decided that's where I want to be! I have my BSc (hons) and I'm part way through a PGCE, I love research and miss being in a lab so much so I'm applying for 4 year phds (MRes/MSc + PhD). I just want to know whether it's worth continuing with my PGCE or leaving with a PDip in Education and working so I have more money to last me through my PhD (I have been doing my PGCE for a year and a half because I broke my leg mid way through, so my funding has ran out and I won't have time for a job when I'm on placement!)

Any other tips on how to make myself a more attractive proposition for lecturing would be brilliant, I know I need lots of publications, possible teaching/lecturing experience, post doc work (although I'd really like post doc while lecturing if that's a possibility!).

Does anyone have any experience? :-) :-) :-)

Is the PGCE a school teaching one? There is a requirement now for all new staff to complete a higher education post graduate teaching qualification (various names - post graduate certificate in academic practice, post graduate certificate in learning and teaching in higher education etc - all lead to membership of the Higher Education Academy (which is also avaialbe to experienced lecturers on a completion of a log book / record). I don't know whether you would get some exemption if you already have a PGCE in school teaching. Given the current climate in higher education (cut backs etc) I think if I were you I would carry on with the PGCE and get qualified then you could do some supply teaching while waiting to get accepted (funded PhDs are VERY competitive - many of us on here are part-time self funding (incl paying our own fees)) or as a way of supplementing your stipend if you do get a funded PhD. It keeps your options open (esp as you are part way through).


If you are doing a PhD then you will usually get offered some sessional lecturing which enable you to start to get the experience you need but a lot of those skills you would have developed during your teacher trianing so that would be an advantage.

I would say finish your PGCE first. It will come into use for lecturing at univeristies, and you can always fall back on it, if circumstances change.

Hi Sam,
what subject is your doctorate going to be in? It really varies how many people end up in lecturing positions, depending on the subject. Have a browse through the What Do researchers do? publications, especially the one on 'first destinations by subject' has lots of stats in it.
One of the lessons from What Do researchers do? research I thought was interesting is that 'nursing' doctoral graduates are very likely to become lecturers compared to other subjects. This is likely to be because it is a newly academic subject, so maybe the way to make yourself a more attractive proposition is to be in a new subject (or even carve out a new subject yourself!)

In the physical sciences even among postdocs it is about one in ten who become lecturers, so it is definitely worth having a plan B! And it sounds like having a PGCE would help with that as well as with lecturing.

Good luck!
Tennie

Yeah I think keeping on my PGCE even if it's just as a fallback/part time plan is definitely a good idea even if I'm sick of certain aspects I guess I'm close to finishing and it at least shows I can see something through!

Its a secondary education PGCE, so I don't know whether I'd still have to do the HE PGCE I guess I would and if I don't it's a bonus

I'm working in a slightly odd field although not entirely new my undergrad was in joint honours in biology and psychology and my first option PHD is in social, genetic and developmental psychiatry so I want to work in the genetics of behaviour and developmental mechanisms for that which is quite specialised but not entirely new! I'll definitely check out that research thanks for the tip! I also hope I can get some sessional work or undergrad lab supervision etc while I'm on my PhD... if I ever get one!

At the moment I'm just imagining not getting a PhD place and not getting a permanent teaching job because there have been hardly any advertised at the moment :-(

Thanks for the advice guys!!