PhD in Psychology

Ava Grace

Hi everyone

I'm considering doing a PhD in Psych next year. A few friends are PhD students but not in Psych so whilst I have been made aware (repeatedly :rolleyes: ) about the commitment, workload etc that comes with doing a PhD in general, I am less well informed about psychology in particular. Does anyone have any advice, insight, etc?

myth800

Hey,

If I done this course would I be able to call my self Dr. in this subject or is it just the name of they course thanks ;


http://qolps.qub.ac.uk/find_a_course/NEW_apply_now_taught.php?p_id=27&sessions=0708&subjects=32&int=0

JuliusCaesar

Yes, if you have a doctorate you are entitled to be called "Dr whatever'. Outside academia, you will constantly find yourself explaining that you are not a medical doctor, do not prescribe and have no interest in people's physical symptoms at parties. So most people don't insist on it.

Ava, there are 2 different ways of doing a PhD: taught doctorate and research doctorate. You don't say which you are interested in. What do you want to specialise in? What kind of work are you hoping to get?

taztastic

I'm doing the taught doctorate in an area of applied psychology and my boyfriend is doing a research thesis in the more anatomical end of psychology. The two are nothing remotely alike and we don't understand one another's areas. If you are really looking into this the first thing to do decide you have a burning ambition to persue a career in some area of psychology. Then pour a large drink, follow with several more and when you wake up with a splitting headache see if it still seems like a good idea. Then find a supervisior who's researching in an area you like and talk to them at length about your options and interests.

eth0_

Be prepared to move to the UK to do your Phd in psychology - there are only a very small number of places funded in Ireland, despite a large shortage of psychologists in our health and education services, but what's new there.

Ava Grace

JuliusCaesar wrote:

Ava, there are 2 different ways of doing a PhD: taught doctorate and research doctorate. You don't say which you are interested in. What do you want to specialise in? What kind of work are you hoping to get?

I'm considering a research doctorate, I'm taking a year out at the moment working as a research assistant for a lecturer so hopefully I'll have a good idea if I'm cut out for it over the next year or so. It's great because her research interests are similar to my own. I'm really interested in positive psychology and health psychology so generally that's the route I'm considering. I'm half thinking of doing the Health Psych masters in NUIG first, it's a little scary jumping into a PhD!

Ava Grace

taztastic wrote:

If you are really looking into this the first thing to do decide you have a burning ambition to persue a career in some area of psychology. Then pour a large drink, follow with several more and when you wake up with a splitting headache see if it still seems like a good idea.

I'm starting to realise that alright, the idealistic notions I had about psychology when filling out my CAO are dead and buried at this stage!