I'm graduating this year hopefully with a BA (Hons) and am hoping to get an offer for a MSc to start this September. I know I really want to do a PhD afterwards and I've wanted to do a PhD since the beginning of my final year, but only really started talking about it with tutors when I've asked for references for the postgrad applications, and only if they've asked me about it or brought the subject of PhDs into conversation. Am I too early to be thinking of things to do after the Masters, or to have a plan? I know I want to have an academic career, in teaching and research as I love my subject and want to go as far as I can with it, and I know I want to teach. However, would my tutors think I have 'notions above my station' if I talk about this, or would they think I was being ambitious? Would they think I was being naive at all? I get good grades and work hard, I have the motivation to do it but I'm so worried about what the people who are teaching me think. Those of you who are doing/have completed PhDs, when did you decide you wanted to do one, and why are you doing it? When did you decide to have an academic career?
Its difficult because none of my friends at university are doing postgraduate study next year and they think I'm mad for wanting to carry on, so I have nobody to really compare myself with if that makes sense.

Any advice/guidance appreciated, Nx

No, it's absolutely not too early - start thinking about your PhD now, it'll give you the best shot at funding after the masters. What's your subject?

Hey there! I also decided in my final year that a PhD was going to be the way forward for me, and right at the beginning of my MSc I approached a Prof in the department who worked in the area I wanted to do my research in. This was probably the best move I ever made with respect to my career- we had a chat about topics the following week and she made sure that my MSc project was with her (a big bonus because literally the whole year group wanted to do their project with her) and it went from there. We started writing proposals by Christmas time and were lucky enough to be offered full funding for the project from 2 different sources. It is absolutely not too early to approach people about doing a PhD- I would say that it is the ideal time to get things going. The MSc is perfect for getting to know potential supervisors and being in with a good shot at getting the funding.... the earlier the better! Get in there! Good luck! KB

Melsie - I've nearly completed a degree in Applied Psychology and Sociology, and hoping to do a MSc in Psychosocial Studies at the same university. Its quite a new discipline and still being established really, so the lecturers where I am now are really enthusiastic about teaching it and they are reasonably well-known as well (I think). Hopefully that will be an advantage as I know I would like to do a PhD in that discipline, I wouldn't want to do just psychology or sociology.

KB - that sounds like a really good experience..however the problem with where I am is that they don't do a specific PhD course, but I think they take on a few students. But the other day I heard from another lecturer that they are looking for more doctorate students, and that one of them might "take me under their wing"...what does that mean?? Would that mean that if they are interested in what I'm interested in and would like to supervise me, that they might offer to supervise me for a PhD? I don't want to sound stupid but I really don't know how this all works! Alternatively, I was planning on applying to Birkbeck next year (providing I have the MSc) and doing the MPhil Psychosocial Studies there.

Thanks for the replies, Nx

Hey again! Most places don't do a 'specific PhD course'....a PhD isn't a course like undergrad or masters. What generally happens is that a department or a Doc or Prof decides they want a particular piece of research to be done and then they obtain funding and advertise for a PhD student to do it, or a person decides what they want to do their PhD on and then they approach a suitable person about supervising them. Then when someone agrees to supervise it, the prospective supervisor and student put in applications for funding. What I did was decide on the general area I wanted to do my PhD in, then approached the relevant Prof, we had a chat about possible topics, and we worked on a proposal together then applied for the funding to do it. So what you need to do is identify the person who might be best suited to supervise what you want to do, and speak to them regarding whether they would be willing to do that. Most docs/profs are usually quite keen to take on decent students, it's good for them to have PhD students as well, gathering data and gaining publications for them! It sounds as though you have someone who might be interested in taking you on- make the most of it! KB

Thanks for making it all a lot clearer! At Birkbeck you can do a MPhil as the first year then a PhD after, providing you pass something I think. So I thought most other places worked like that. There are a few people where I am now who I would like to supervise my work, however approaching them is something else entirely. One of them is my dissertation tutor now, he has been so helpful and enthusiastic about my dissertation and actually said that he enjoyed reading my work which was really encouraging. But it might be a bit strange to stay at the same place for undergraduate, masters and PhD...however if it works out for me it might be the best option. There is just so much to think about at the moment and its all so uncertain, thats why I feel like I'm thinking into the future too much. I think when I see the professor about the MSc next week it will be clearer, I just hope that he makes me an offer. Natassia

I'm sure you'll be fine with the MSc, they're not usually too hard to get onto provided you have a 2.1 and some money! There is something called a 1+3 studentship (I think the Economic & Social Research Council- ESRC- grant them) which covers both your MSc and your PhD fees, but the deadline for this year will have passed a while ago now. Most people have to fork out for the masters but then get funding for the PhD. I stayed at the same uni for my undergrad, MSc and Phd. Some people suggest that this isn't the best idea (although there is no proof that this reflects badly on you) but the general consensus seems to be that you should go wherever the best person to supervise your project is. It would be foolish to move really, if the ideal profs/docs are at the uni where you are already settled. It might be worth checking out the people who are interested in supervising you (have a look at their uni web-page, publications etc) to see exactly what their research interests are, and sort out who might be best to approach about supervision. As I said before, I would mention your interests as soon as possible. Phd funding is a competitive business, so you need to get in there first, as early as you can! KB

I hope I get into the MSc, my tutors are quite hopeful...but then they were with Birkbeck and I got rejected. However, I am 21 and my tutor said that they might have been expecting older students with more professional experience and that could have gone against me, even though my application was strong with good references. Its a shame because the evening learning at Birkbeck would have suited me really well, and I loved the course. At Brighton (where I am now) they do take more younger students so I might fit in a bit better and as they know me they are more aware of my capabilities. My tutor (who is providing a reference) is also the postgraduate coordinator and she said she could basically guarantee me a place. Still, I won't be relaxed and happy about it unless I have an official offer.

I have had a look at research interests and my dissertation supervisor's profile said that he was interested in taking on research students with interests "broadly similar" to his own, and I think mine are; he seemed interested in my dissertation anyway and I think we got on quite well, he also wrote me a really good reference. I think I'll see how I do with my undergraduate degree, then maybe approach him early into the MSc course.

Thanks for all your advice, Natassia