I am a lecturer at a Japanese University. 11 years and love my work. I have 6 lectures a week and the rest of the time is for research and community service work (behavioral science). My research is in cultural anthropology/medical anthropology and after doing lots of presentations and having had a few papers published in work journals and one peer, plus lots of presentations in my tiny corner, I really would like to do a PhD. I have a masters in linguistics. What I need to know is where i should think about applying and if it is possible to work while doing it (bearing in mind I have all week in the office aside from 15 hrs lecture and approx- varying- 5 hours meetings) for research time. i want to stud in English and online woudl be very convenient. I'm from England and got my masters there. I am going round in circles what to do, where to apply, if I can even do this...yet I keep coming back to YES I so want to do this. A PhD in medical/social anthropology would cement all my research and is subject matter I am doing at work already. I could also get promoted to Prof on completion. Thoughts? Comments? Any words, experiences to share would be great. TIA.

Can anyone help Imo?

It sounds like it is something you want to do, so you probably won't get it out of your system until you look into it further! Perhaps you need to do some research to see what opportunities are out there and what would be the best option(s) for you. Findaphd.com is an excellent website for looking at advertised projects and funding opportunities (for example it has opportunities from UK research councils). On the website, you can search for opportunities in your field and view what funding options are available.

It sounds like you would have a very strong application since you have relevant experience and skills, as well as suitable academic references. Good luck!

Imo,

I created a blog on doing a PhD ages ago (link following). Whilst some of it (especially funding and research councils) is based on UK experiences, it may be of some help to you.

Note I'm from a science Engineering background so can't advise on specifics, however, there is the suggestion you're thinking of part-time study. The hours you seem to be on suggest you could do this, though I don't know what your preparation workload is on top of this. Ensure you keep a good work / life balance as the PhD could add quite heavily to your workload even if you're doing the same material for work anyway.

Finally, best of luck in your studies!!!

Ian

Hello Ellie., Edwardian guy and Ian. Thanks very much for the feedback. It's helpful. And also the luck wishes. I am still looking around, will check your blog thank you. I am thinking to go and get some face to face discussion time with a few Unis who offer courses I want or think I want. Like.. fairs.. or counseling I have read some Unis do that. Yes, part time because I don't really want to give up my job - I love it. I just think that given my having the luxury of research time in my current job description if I can possibly manage the expense (with help from either funding or my work) then I would be crazy not to try and do it. It can only improve my research and motivate me more. Now I have to find a course closest to my area and that isn't easy. I am still unsure how much freedom is given in a PhD compared to masters...where we had little room to focus on favorite areas and had to excel in all 8 courses or 10 or however many it was....how does a PhD compare to a masters in terms of autonomous input or is it about the same ratio of teaching/learning (of course at a more intense level). TIA anyone. :)

Generally a PhD at UK universities is pure research, but this can be done part time and at a distance, although I suspect being so far away is unusual. You choose your research project in conjunction with your supervisors, but bear in mind some supervisors just want to do what they want, and you may have little freedom in topic.

Thanks TreeofLife. Interesting. I definitely want freedom of topic :/ I had this impression that it was possible to propose a topic for a PhD (in the appropriate field) and get accepted or rejected on the basis of how valuable your research idea was in relation to other research in the same area. Then I started looking at (only so far) American Universities and was surprised there were so many mandatory modules that were quite diverse and reminded me of the masters. I think I have to go to some fairs and do some more searching - on where I can best pursue the specific small area of what i want to (continue to) research.