Phd how to get

PhD — Doctorate degree abroad

PhD, or Doctor of Philosophy, is the most common postgraduate academic degree. It is awarded at the end of doctoral studies. In this article, we will look at its advantages, disadvantages and how to enroll in a PhD program abroad.

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Doctorate abroad

What is a doctorate degree

Doctor of Philosophy — PhD

What differentiates PhD programs from ‘professional doctorates’ is that they focus on original research and analytics. During your studies you will learn how to work with scientific literature and interact with the academic community. This does not mean that a graduate with a PhD is obliged to pursue an academic career. PhDs work as researchers in large companies. There are also areas where a PhD degree is required to hold a high position in the organization, such as jurisprudence or public administration.

PhDs are awarded not only in the field of Philosophy. This degree can be obtained in Arts, or in natural, social and even technical sciences: Economics, Biology, Engineering, Physics, and others. The name «Doctor of Philosophy» is just courtesy of tradition.

Professional doctorate

Professional doctorates prioritize practice but do not exclude the element of research. Unlike classic PhD programs, a professional doctorate teaches the skills required in a particular specialty. The difference is clearly visible in the names of the degrees. «Doctor of Philosophy» sounds vague, but the titles of professional doctoral studies’ alumni are more specific and reflect their exact field of activity. For example, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

Professional doctoral programs are designed for people who, as a rule, already have experience in a particular field. Of course, this is not universal. People with PhDs also can get a job in non-scientific areas, and after a professional doctorate, you can work in academia. Overall, a professional doctorate will better suit someone looking for a more practice-oriented education.

Advantages of a Doctorate

Disadvantages of a Doctorate

Reasons to apply for a PhD

People applying for PhD programs do it for several reasons:

Cost of a PhD

Doctoral studies can be notably more expensive than Master’s and Bachelor’s degree programs or can be much cheaper. It all depends on the country. For example, in France, license Bachelor’s degree programs for foreigners costs 2,816 USD /year, and the doctorat — only 383 USD /year. In the United States, doctoral studies are also about 5,000 USD /year cheaper than undergraduate programs. However, there are also examples of the opposite. In China and the UK, studying in the last academic stage is consistently more expensive than in the first one.

In general, the cost of doctoral studies abroad varies from 400 USD /year to 40,000 USD /year. But there are options that allow you to study for free.

How to fund a PhD degree

Cost of doctoral studies abroad

How to apply for a PhD program

The process of admission to a PhD program depends on the specific university and country. In most cases, students submit documents directly to the university’s specific department (through their personal account on the university website). We advise you to carefully familiarize yourself with the teaching staff, read their scientific works, and find information about available laboratories and ongoing university projects in advance.

Documents for admission

The general list of documents for admission to PhD is as follows:

Additionally, some programs require interviews. E.g., if you are applying for a doctorate in management, work experience will most likely be required.

Legalization and recognition of a diploma

For admission to doctoral studies at a foreign university, you will likely have to go through the procedure of legalization — the official recognition of your previous degree. It’s necessary because different countries have different education systems and curricula. Even within the same specialty, for example, International Politics, the exact study programs can be radically different from country to country.

The recognition procedure is not mandatory everywhere. There are states between which agreements on its cancellation have been concluded. Your country might have such agreements with the one where you want to study — check it with your government body handling international affairs.

Studying for a PhD

There are no uniform timetables when it comes to PhD studies. Students are given a lot of «free» time to work on their dissertations. The exact curriculum depends on several factors:

Doctoral studies end with the defense of a dissertation. The requirements are approximately the same in all countries:

Not all students complete their doctoral thesis. And many stretch the process up to five or even eight years instead of the expected three.

What to do after a PhD

Academic Career

One of the classic post-PhD scenarios is to pursue an academic career. Many graduates stay to work at the same university where they studied. Foreign countries differ in the number of steps in an academic career, but in general, the path from a «green» PhD to a seasoned professor looks like this:

Employment options

PhD is a great achievement in life, but not the only possible one. Unfortunately, not all employers value the theoretical knowledge and high level of education of such graduates. There are positions where experience is most important. How do you convince them to give you a chance? The lack of practice can be partially covered by developed soft skills. Pay attention to this while studying at the university. Do not only focus on science, but also develop the ability to interact with people, creative thinking, time management, conflict-solving, teamwork, and other skills. They are guaranteed to come in handy in life, whichever career path you choose.

Doctorate in Russia

Though Russia participates in the Bologna process, its higher education still has unique characteristics. One of them is the two-tier system of academic degrees. Whereas in most countries, only PhD studies exist, in Russia it is divided. First, there is аспирантура ‘aspirantura’, the primary postgraduate level of education , and only then — a Doctorate. The first allows you to get the Candidate of Sciences degree, and the latter — the Doctor of Sciences degree.

If you obtained your PhD abroad, in Russia you will be called not a Doctor, but a Candidate. The Russian ‘Doctor’ degree has no direct foreign equivalent. The ‘Habilitated Doctor’ is the closest one — Dr.habil. This qualification is available in some European countries (Germany, France, Austria, and others). It is awarded to a PhD for their research activities and doesn’t require the defense of a second dissertation, unlike in Russia.

Enrolling in an aspirantura is quite similar to the same process for a Master’s degree program. Admission to Russian doctoral programs differs little from that to a normal PhD. For admission you will need:

When writing a dissertation, future candidates and doctors of sciences can receive a scholarship and work at the department: teach, participate in research, supervise students.

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How to Prepare for and Start a PhD

A doctoral degree is very different from any other form of education. So, it can be unclear what the best practices are in the early stages of PhD preparation and commencement. This guide explains some of the useful processes that can help you prepare for and start your PhD.

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#1 Build relationships

Early on in your preparation for a PhD, developing effective working relationships with several key people is important.

The most significant professional relationship that you will develop through a PhD is with your supervisor. They will:

However, the exact role and responsibilities your supervisor will actually perform depends on the nature of the research discipline, the university and both you and your supervisor’s working style and personalities.

Therefore, it is very important to develop an effective working relationship with your supervisor. Communication, especially early on as part of your PhD preparation, is critical in achieving this.

There are also some other key relationships that should be developed. These may be with the secondary supervisors, fellow PhD students, other research staff, and support staff.

Getting involved with your department / lab group

In addition to being useful sources of information and guidance, the other members of your department or lab group may become your friends. Establishing professional and social relationships with them will be helpful over the course of your PhD.

What if I don’t get on with my supervisor?

If, for any reason, you feel that your relationship with your supervisor is counter-productive, there are several things that can be done.

Firstly, the problem with many student-supervisor relationships is a lack of communication. An honest and open discussion about your problems can help build effective relationships.

If the problem is with the supervisor’s working style, such as being absent or overbearing, communication could help fix this, too. There will also be additional support staff to help you.

If you still have problems, you should get in touch with your secondary supervisor and / or other staff members to fix the problem. If the relationship is irreparable, it can be possible to change supervisors with direction from your university.

Supervisor relationships

To develop an effective relationship with your supervisor, it’s important to understand what to expect from each other. You can find more about this in our guide to PhD supervisor expectations.

#2 Plan your research

At the beginning of your PhD, or as preparation before you start, it will be helpful to plan your research.

This means expanding upon the research proposal, if you have written one, or researching more of the proposed project. It is valuable to become more knowledgeable about the research field, even before you start the PhD research.

Because a PhD is an independent research project, you will be responsible for the planning and management throughout. This planning includes setting SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, time-bound) aims and objectives.

What if my research focus has changed?

It is unlikely that the plans you make for your research will remain the same throughout your PhD. Encountering problems or new developments will change the focus or direction of the research. However, effective planning is still an important stage of the early PhD.

#3 Find a suitable working environment

In order to be successful in your PhD, it is helpful to find a suitable working environment. Everything should be set up to make it easier to focus on the PhD.

This may be more relevant if you are settling into a new city or country for your PhD. The earlier that you can settle in, the better.

Studying your PhD abroad

There can be additional challenges to starting a PhD in a different country. Our guide provides lots of useful information.

This is also important for maintaining your wellbeing and mental health. Establishing a suitable working environment, with access to any support you need, will be a significant advantage.

#4 Complete your induction

Upon starting your PhD, you will usually go through some form of induction. This will be carried out by your university, a specific department, and / or your supervisor.

The induction should provide you with some information regarding:

During the PhD induction, you could be asked to complete a skills audit such as the Training Needs Analysis (TNA). This is a way of identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and finding ways to improve your skills throughout your doctorate. This will be started at the beginning of your studies, and will require regular updates throughout your PhD journey.

You may also be introduced to university or departmental student societies and invited to social events.

However, an induction will not provide you with all the training and skills you need to complete your PhD. Because doctoral research is self-taught study, you will be responsible for staying up-to-date with all your training and development needs.

How to get into a Fully Funded PhD or MS program

As an aspiring grad student, it is somewhat frustrating to look for a PhD or MS positions in abroad with full funding opportunities. Even though you have the money to apply to as many as schools as you want that matches your profile and wait for the decisions to be come, it is not a good idea to waste tons of money. Grad school is not about degree, it is more about research and getting degree is a by product of it. Universities will always welcome those with their lucrative packages who have the potentials and desires to be a true scientist, they will not pay you to get a degree. So if you want to be a true scientist or researcher i rather say in general, you will always find a university who will open its door for you.

So what to do first?

Identify the field that you are passionate about. Grad school is all about research, so unless you are really passionate about something, it is almost impossible to give your best effort for it. In grad schools, you have to be pro-active — you will find out the research problems, will do the background studies, finding solutions and your advisor will only guide you. There is a difference between surviving a grad school or growing in a grad school. Everyone will survive a grad school, but only a few will grow.

Short List the Universities, Start Emailing to the Professors:

This is the hardest and frustrating part, but you can crack this stage. First of all look at your profile — all the grad schools have a minimum cut of score for CGPA, and mostly it is 3.0/3.2. So do you have that? Then look for their GRE/TOEFL/IELTS score requirement. If you meet the minimum requirements, you can apply to even MIT, because your CGPA and test scores will not be the deciders, there are some other factors.

So what are the other factors?

Your potential research supervisor — if a supervisor wants a student in his/her group, then the admission committee just cannot say, hey we have found another student for you, you might want to hire him/her. Well, this thing does not happen. Professors always look for the right students for his group. Suppose you have expressed your interest to work with a professor who is working on control systems given that you have a solid background on control systems, there is no way that the admission committee will push a student who has CGPA 4.0 out of 4.0 from thermal/heat transfer background to that group, because s/he has higher CGPA and test scores than you.

Managing a professor is the key point — and we often failed to manage it.

So how do i manage professor?

All of these will help you to make sure that you are finding the right professor.

4. Look for the openings, usually professor advertise those openings in their websites. But in most cases, it is not always up to date. So even you don’t see any openings, just email them.

5. Look at the publications from the group, if the group publishes regularly, then it means they are pro-active group. Professors have several projects, and s/he need students on regular basis.

Once you sort it out then start sending emails.

So how to write Emails?

This is the trickiest part. First of all, professors don’t have the time to read stories that comes as an Email to their mailbox. Make it short, to the point, and professional. It should be no longer than three brief paragraphs with a closing statement. Ideally, in this small amount of space, you should to demonstrate that you are a competent student coming with a good educational background and some sort of research experience in the relevant field. Here are some examples that i have collected from the internet, that can be ideally followed to coin your own format.

Dear Dr. So-and-so,

Paragraph 1: Briefly introduce yourself and your research experience.

I am beginning my senior year at the University of [Somewhere]. During my time as an undergraduate, I have become involved with research on [XYZ] under the direction of Dr. [Someone]. I am in the process of conducting my own study examining the effects of [A] on [B] and expect to find [hypothesis].

Paragraph 2: Connect your research to that of the potential advisor.

I have read your research about [XYZ] and find it interesting. I am especially interested in how X from your studies relates to Y from my study. This is one area I could see myself exploring in research as a graduate student.

Paragraph 2: Alternatively, instead of connecting your two areas of research, make an intelligent observation or ask a great question about the reader’s research.

I have read your research about [XYZ] and find it interesting. I was wondering how W would affect your finding about XYZ. Did your study or another one find that W is also related to XYZ? This is one area I could see myself exploring further in research as a graduate student.

Paragraph 3: Ask if he/she is accepting graduate students.

I will be applying to Ph.D. programs this fall and would very much like the opportunity to join your lab group. Will you be accepting applications for new graduate students for entry in [year]?

Thanks very much for your time. I hope we have the chance to speak about research in the future.

Dear Dr. Rosalind Darwin,

I have attached a copy of my CV for your consideration, and would be very interested in discussing possibilities with your lab.

You should attach your academic CV with the email and summary of your research work (if any).

When to send Emails?

The best time to start is at least 3 to 5 months before the deadline approaches. Some schools hire internationals only for Fall semester. So please check it from their websites. Usually, professors know when the email will keep coming, and if they need students they will look for emails.

Please keep in mind that, you should only contact only one faculty member per department. It will not appear that you are uniquely excited to become a part of his/her lab if he/she discovers that you have emailed one or more other faculty members in the same program.

Wait for the response for at least 3–5 days, may be the professor might sending out replies during weekend. So wait, if you don’t get response, then try to contact with another professor.

Understanding the Responses:

If a professor does not have any opening either s/he will go offline to your emails or will just send a reply sending out the information that there is no current openings. However, if s/he has openings then the response email will be somewhat different.

For example, a professor have openings for research assistantship (RA) in his/her group for PhD students. If s/he finds your skills and research experiences has a very close match with his/her works, then s/he would mostly like to setup an interview with you over Skype. You might have to give a short presentation about your research experience. If you have that kind of invitation, then be sure that you made through the short list. The professors will then finalize, and if s/he decide to hire you then s/he will ask you to apply.

Some professors do it in other way. They will talk to the students who got admitted, and then select one or two among them. This is the hard way. Then, you need to have a top notch profile to convince the admission committee, then you will get the admission and then you will find professors. May be as a PhD student you will be initially offered teaching assistant (TA) position for the first year, and within that time frame you will have to find an advisor for your PhD work.

What for MS applicants?

Professors mostly like to hire PhD students because of the nature of the funding of the projects. Mostly, the projects they got requires 3–5 years to finish it. So, there is no way a MS student can work on those projects, because after spending 2–2.5 years it is a “must be graduated” condition for MS students. So, the funding opportunities for MS students are always minimum. You can apply directly to the MS programs and hope that you will pass through, get admission with TA.

To conclude

If you don’t get any reply then there might be couple reasons — either you are opting for too high ranked schools that does not match your profile, you have failed to represent yourselves or you are just in bad luck. But you can still apply to the program and name the faculty member as the person who you would like to be your advisor, but consider it a more “risky” program on your list with a lower chance of admission and funding.

Preparing a PhD Application: 10 Tips

A PhD application is an important process, but there’s a lot you can do to make it easier. The time and effort you put in now can also have huge benefits further down the line. In this post Gaia Cantelli offers a checklist for students considering applying for a PhD.

If you finished a Bachelors or Masters over the summer, now could be the time to think about applying for a PhD position.

This can seem like a daunting and intense process (especially if you’re also working hard on your current degree). But there are a few things you can do to make your life easier! Here are my top 10 tips and tricks to navigate this exciting time!

#1 Start early!

While most deadlines for applications aren’t until late autumn (and there are still many opportunities accepting applications until the spring) it is a good idea to start thinking about your application before term starts.

Make sure you understand the different types of doctorate on offer. Then take advantage of any down-time to research potential PhD places and programmes (Christmas, Easter and summer holidays are all great for this). You’ll soon start getting ideas about the sort of work you want to do!

Many of the other tips in this blog assume you’ve started thinking about your PhD application early. You won’t be able to complete them all at once, so give yourself enough time.

#2 Decide what area you want to specialise in

If you’re even considering a PhD, you’re clearly very passionate about your subject and committed to making a difference. So make sure you spend a few weeks zeroing in onto the exact area you want to specialise in. Bear in mind that this could be your bread-and-butter for the next half-decade (or thereabouts)!

Make sure you consider not only how interesting you find the theory of a specific subject, but also the practical aspects of researching it.

If you’re a Science or Engineering student, think about whether you’d rather get your hands dirty in the lab and workshop, or work on theoretical and conceptual principles. And would you prefer to stay on campus, or do you want to spend more time on field work?

If you’re in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences you’ll still need to decide how to balance theory and practice. Do you want to focus on more creative work? Would you prefer to interact directly with people to examine their views and experiences, or work on existing records and materials?

#3 Spend time researching potential supervisors

Deciding who to do your PhD with could be the most important decision you make at this stage. So spend some time looking up the person (or people) who might be supervising you.

Are they an established academic? Or have they just started their own research group? What is their publication record like? Are they supervising lots of other PhD students or would you be on your own? Can you speak to one of their current or future students? Can you speak to the supervisor themselves and discuss your project in advance?

Researching supervisors can be easy if you’re applying to a set project (as is common in Science and Engineering subjects). But Arts and Humanities students can still investigate potential supervisors at their chosen university and perhaps contact them to discuss ideas. In fact, this can be even more important for these kinds of projects. After all, it doesn’t really matter how good a university is if there’s no one there who can supervise your project.

Now is also a good time to think about what you’ll expect from a PhD supervisor and the kind of support you think your project needs.

#4 Think about your non-academic life as well

A PhD is obviously the ideal time to follow your scholarly passions, get to know other academics and start thinking about a possible career in your field (if that’s your goal).

But you’re also going to be doing other things during the 3 to 4 years of your PhD that aren’t related to your research. Keep this in mind as you make decisions that will affect other aspects of your life as a PhD student.

For example, if you are thinking of moving to a new town for your PhD, make sure you would enjoy living there! And don’t take substantial changes to your social life and routine lightly. You need to be happy and stable for the duration of your doctorate. Sacrifices are understandable, but so are compromises.

#5 Do some reconnaissance

Unless you’re staying at the same university, starting a PhD probably means adopting a new home as well as a new place of work. This means you need to enjoy your new university and home city on a personal and professional level. The best way to ensure this is check them out for yourself!

This is easy enough to do (unless you’re studying abroad). In many cases you can also take advantage of postgraduate open days and events.

But don’t just settle for a visit to the university campus and a quick walk around the city centre. If at all possible, email the academic you are considering working with and ask if you can visit their lab or work space informally.

Many supervisors will be happy to meet up and show you around! On the flip side, if you do visit and decide to apply, having already met your future supervisor can give you an advantage when applying to very competitive programmes.

#6 Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket

You’ve found the perfect place. You love the town, the academics are great and you find their work both stimulating and exciting. You’ve gone to visit and you feel a great chemistry both with the boss and with the rest of the group.

The temptation to put all of your eggs in the one basket and only prepare one or two applications is strong. Resist that temptation!

Apply to as many places as you can! This will be time-consuming and rather painful, but having several backup choices will give you more confidence.

On the other hand, make sure you never apply anywhere you wouldn’t actually choose to go. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you have several offers you don’t care for and feel pressured to accept at least one of them.

#7 Ask yourself what sort of programme you’re interested in

There are a lot of PhD options out there – and things can even vary quite a bit within different subject areas.

An Arts or Humanities project could involve lots of time spent doing original archival work, or it could be more concerned with re-evaluating well-known materials.

A Science or Engineering project could be very flexible, with the freedom to continue with your own specific research. Or it could be more structured, with the requirement to complete specific ‘rotation’ periods doing research in different laboratories (or different parts of the same laboratory).

Some projects will involve formal teaching responsibilities, others will treat this kind of work as an optional professional development opportunity. Some universities will set specific guidelines for PhD students, including the way they work with supervisors and the targets they need to meet. Others will be much more flexible.

Make sure you know what you’re applying for!

#8 Make sure you’re prepared

Your previous degrees should qualify you academically for a PhD, but advanced research can also require more specific training. It’s a good idea to check what sort of previous experience is expected of candidates in your research area.

For example, students in the life sciences are sometimes expected to have completed at least one 3 month period of lab experience before they apply. You may have acquired this as part of your MSc (particularly if you’ve completed lab work as part of your dissertation). But, if you do not have the necessary preparation, find out how to get it!

In some cases it may not be a bad idea to defer your PhD application until you’re ready.

#9 Ask questions!

There are many, many people involved in the process of applying for a PhD. Your current advisors and lecturers, other academics you’ve met during laboratory work experience, the supervisor you are hoping to work with, the head of the graduate school or research department you are applying to, admissions staff and many more.

Most of these people will the thrilled to help you put together a successful application. Make sure you ask as many questions as you need to, especially before you make any important decisions like deferring your application or accepting an offer!

#10 Spend enough time on your actual application!

It seems obvious, but this is probably the single most important piece of advice anyone can give you!

If you start early enough you should have plenty of time to think about your application and take advantage of the extra research and preparation you’re doing.

Have you taken time to visit your university and meet your supervisor? Use examples to explain why you’re a great fit for the department and its work.

Have you sought out additional opportunities to prepare yourself for PhD research? Mention them.

Have you carefully compared different projects and programmes? Don’t be afraid to show that you’ve put some thought into that process: justify your decision to apply to this PhD, at this university.

Above all, make sure you spend plenty of time writing your personal statement and research proposal as well as updating your CV. And, when you’ve done, ask a few different people to read them!

Get as much feedback as you can from people you trust and try to apply it to your work. Make sure you choose the right people as your referees and let them know with plenty of notice so they can prepare something in advance.

If you get invited to a PhD interview, think about the questions you might be asked and don’t be afraid to rehearse! Practice makes perfect.

Editor’s note: This blog was first published on 31/08/2016. We’ve checked and updated it for current readers.

Gaia Cantelli completed her PhD at King’s College London in 2016 and now works at European Bioinformatics Institute. She publishes a personal blog with advice for aspiring scientists.

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5 routes to getting a Doctorate

5 routes to getting a Doctorate

While most of those studying for a PhD take the PhD by thesis pathway, there are five viable routes to achieving a Doctorate degree

PhD by thesis

This is the most common means of getting a Doctorate degree. Over the three or four years of research at university, your PhD supervisor will support you as you aim to produce a thesis based on your research proposal.

Once completed, you’ll need to defend your PhD thesis in front of a panel of examiners during your viva voce.

Boost your career with a PhD. Discover relevant courses and shortlist your favourites

PhD by publication

It’s often taken by mid-career academics that haven’t had the opportunity to undertake a standard Doctorate degree.

Generally, a minimum of five to eight published pieces are required, but this varies between institutions and depends on their length. The published work will be assessed to the same rigorous standards as a traditional PhD by thesis.

You must also provide a written supporting statement, which can range from 5,000 to 20,000 words, and present your work to an academic committee. A supervisor will assist you with selecting which publications to submit and with the supporting statement.

Some universities accept only their own graduates for a PhD by publication, while others restrict this route to their academic staff. In general, you should have graduated from your first degree at least seven years ago to be eligible.

For example, The University of Manchester has published its own Guidance for the PhD By Published Work, with eligibility only extending to current members of staff.

Related case studies

Professional Doctorate

Geared primarily towards current professionals in vocational sectors such as healthcare, teaching and education, and engineering and manufacturing, this type of Doctorate degree includes a significant taught component and a smaller research project.

Professional Doctorates are often taken on a part-time basis and can last between two and eight years. Like their standard PhD counterparts, they usually begin in October or January.

While you won’t typically be looking to get an academic job, your research is expected to contribute to theory as well as professional practice. Projects often revolve around a real-life issue that affects your employer.

Common titles for graduates of professional Doctorate degrees include:

Unlike many professional Doctorates, the EngD is typically offered as a full-time course and is aimed at young engineering graduates with little or no professional experience.

Explore what’s currently available at Find a Professional Doctorate.

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Integrated PhD

This four-year qualification, also known as the New Route PhD, involves studying a one-year research Masters degree (MRes) before progressing onto a three-year PhD.

Offered by a select number of universities across the UK, integrated PhDs are supported by the government and the British Council through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Visit Research Council funding for further information on research and funding for different types of PhD.

The integrated PhD involves a combination of taught materials, practical experience and advanced research. This allows you to learn subject-specific methodologies, while building the transferable skills that will enable you to become a leader in your chosen profession.

Online PhD

As PhDs are based primarily on independent research rather than time spent in lectures and seminars, distance learning has always been a viable route for many Doctoral students.

For the most part, you’ll be in touch with your supervisor by phone, email or Skype/Zoom. You’ll need to bear in mind that even if you opt for this form of research, you’ll generally still need to attend university for one or two weeks of each academic year for meetings and to receive research skills training. Your final examination may be undertaken either face-to-face or virtually.

Check that any funding you plan to apply for is available to distance learning students, as this isn’t always the case.