PhD in English Literature

windingwheel

Hey guys, would appreciate advice if anyone has it to give! I did my undergrad in English Lit/Modern History at QUB, then moved to the University of Glasgow to do my MLitt in English Lit. Finished that up last November, and suffice to say, the job prospects with an English Masters are few to none. I'm currently working an admin job in QUB again, have been doing so for a year now.

I had initially planned to save up and go off with the TEFL qualification and see a bit of the world, but I'm on such a poor wage in my admin job that I struggle to make it to the end of the month what with bills, etc - and so can't see myself being able to save up and get away any time soon! It's depressing, but I know my pathway if I stay in admin.. I'm at the bottom of the ladder now but in 5 years I'll be doing better.. but I really don't want that for myself. Lecturing is always something I have wanted to do and I'm a total geek so really don't think I would have any problem doing a PhD.

So I'm pretty much decided upon trying my luck and applying for a PhD starting in September. Better doing 3 years of study and coming out with a good qualification than spending 3 more years working my way up in admin - something I'm not interested in at all. My specialisation is in American Literature - I recently emailed an old tutor at QUB and am going in for a talk with him but he noted in his email that QUB isn't very strong for American Poetry, which worries me. What worries me more is the cost of the whole thing.. and what worries me on top of all that - will there be a job for me once I've finished up??? So, I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there who has done (or is doing) a Humanities PhD?

- Do you think the university you do the qualification in has to be a top institution? For example - do potential employers look at the institution you've studied in as reflective of your ability? UU has an American studies center, but it's not as high up as QUB in the league tables for English - would going to UU be a black mark on job applications?

- In terms of money, is it difficult to cope with the amount of things you do throughout the PhD especially if you don't get funding? I'm not adverse to moving back home because I know I'll be travelling to conferences etc, but I don't want to get into even more debt - I haven't even finished paying off my Masters debt yet!

- Any English studiers out there have any recommendations of other Universities that might be good for American Literature? And anyone who has gone far from home to study; how did you cope with rent for accommodation, etc??

- And finally: is it worth it?? Will I get a good job after doing this qualification? I do want to travel and see the world, will I find a job that will pay me enough to go do all that in my spare time?!

Sorry this is so text-heavy: and thanks for any help you can offer. Even just general PhD-related info would be great, I'm totally clueless about it all and feel really out of the loop so anything is helpful!

dory

I don't have the answers, and I'm asking some of the same questions as you righ now.

But one thing, you don't have to save up a lot of money to go teach TEFL. You could take a job in South Korea that would pay for your accom and flights and pay you enough to pay off some of that debt. It's a good time to pay back sterling in another currency!

Just something to think about. If you're in more debt after the PhD you might never get the travelling done. And I would highly recommend it!

windingwheel

I know it sounds childish but I would be afraid of going so far away on my own - especially for my first taste of TEFL! In terms of that, I would ideally love to do a year in Europe and see how it takes, see how I get on with the job and in a new place and then do South Korea or even South America. Babyish sounding, I know.. but I know my limits I guess! :pac: