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Contemplating a PhD - Advice would be nice

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  • 31-03-2015 11:41am
    #1
    volarion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭


    Hello there.

    I was just curious to get peoples advice on doing a PhD in the area of computing.

    Basically, I currently have 2 MSc's myself and I have been working as a Software Engineer for the past 4 years. At this point I would like to consider doing a PhD. I have an area in mind but my concern relates to how quick the field changes.

    If I am to do a PhD part time while holding my job as a Software Engineer, it would take too long most likely and the PhD would be outdated by the time it is done I suspect. I also would not be able to afford to leave my job and do it full time. So I found myself thinking about going down the route of perhaps becoming a lecturer and doing a PhD while lecturing.

    Can you become a full time lecturer and complete a PhD at the same time?
    If yes, for a lecturer in a college. Take any of the ITs for example. Is it normally expensive for a member of staff to peruse a PhD in the college?

    Sorry if these are silly question. I just thought it would be good to ask :)

    Thanks for any information.


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    #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    volarion wrote: »
    Hello there.

    I was just curious to get peoples advice on doing a PhD in the area of computing.

    Basically, I currently have 2 MSc's myself and I have been working as a Software Engineer for the past 4 years. At this point I would like to consider doing a PhD. I have an area in mind but my concern relates to how quick the field changes.

    If I am to do a PhD part time while holding my job as a Software Engineer, it would take too long most likely and the PhD would be outdated by the time it is done I suspect. I also would not be able to afford to leave my job and do it full time. So I found myself thinking about going down the route of perhaps becoming a lecturer and doing a PhD while lecturing.

    Can you become a full time lecturer and complete a PhD at the same time?
    If yes, for a lecturer in a college. Take any of the ITs for example. Is it normally expensive for a member of staff to peruse a PhD in the college?

    Sorry if these are silly question. I just thought it would be good to ask :)

    Thanks for any information.

    Hi. I'm a full-time lecturer and am also a part-time PhD student, so it is possible :) My area is accounting, and my employers are funding the PhD. But for funding to be an issue, you need to 'become a lecturer', which is difficult.
    I am no expert on your particular field, but I imagine that without a PhD your best bet would be to look at the IT's or perhaps the private institutes (Griffith, IBAT etc)


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    #3
    djpbarry
    Registered Users Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    volarion wrote: »
    ...the PhD would be outdated by the time it is done I suspect.
    That statement makes absolutely no sense? A PhD is a body of original research – it never becomes “outdated”.
    volarion wrote: »
    Can you become a full time lecturer and complete a PhD at the same time?
    It’s possible, but lecturer positions are hard to come by.
    volarion wrote: »
    If yes, for a lecturer in a college. Take any of the ITs for example. Is it normally expensive for a member of staff to peruse a PhD in the college?
    I’m not sure I understand the question? There are sometimes fees associated with registering as a PhD student at an institution and I imagine these will apply whether you are a lecturer or not.


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    #4
    robp
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭robp


    djpbarry wrote: »
    Originally Posted by volarion View Post
    If yes, for a lecturer in a college. Take any of the ITs for example. Is it normally expensive for a member of staff to peruse a PhD in the college?
    I’m not sure I understand the question? There are sometimes fees associated with registering as a PhD student at an institution and I imagine these will apply whether you are a lecturer or not.
    In UCC there are concessions for staff members. I think 25-50-% but perhaps I am misreading the question and I can't see someone becoming a lecturer for the sake of getting reduced fees.


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    #5
    zl1whqvjs75cdy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,042 ✭✭✭zl1whqvjs75cdy


    How does one become a lecturer at a university without a PhD? I always thought one followed the other.


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    #6
    Tree
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,710 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tree


    That would depend on the field. If you have plenty of experience in a field and that field doesn't have a glut of PhD's, you'd certainly be in with a chance. In a field like biology were less than 1 in 20 people with PhD's get lectureships, you would need to be exceptional to get one without.


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    #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »
    How does one become a lecturer at a university without a PhD? I always thought one followed the other.

    Accountancy is one of those rare fields in the social sciences where they may take a punt on you (as long as you commit immediately to starting a PhD)


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