Updating CV

Odysseus

I'm just interested in people's opinions on this, as at the end of the day its a call I will make myself. Basically I have done very little in the academic field since 2002 when I finished my Master's, both ny MA and BA are in Psychoanalysis. I have done loads of various CPD within my clinical field, but the only academic stuff I have done in between was a CBCS module my service was running through Leeds University.

So its time to get back studying, but I not going to take the committment of a PhD on at the moment. I have been looking at various courses for next year, you have to plan well ahead in my service:rolleyes: The one jumping out at me is a MPhil in Psychoanalysis in TCD. It looks doable in terms of time, and the disseration end of it would facilitate me in research an area of interest that I have been meaning to do something on for the past few years.

There would be a different focus with this Masters as opposed to the one I already have. My MA was a research MA, so I tackled one topic very directly, it was on Dual Diagnosis from a psychoanalytic viewpoint, apart from attending St Vincent's Hosp once a week for some clinical stuff I was mostly by myself with it.

Whereas this is a taught Masters, tbh alot of the course I would have covered in various ways, but then again revision is a good thing. Sometimes we need to get back to basics.

So my question is open to all regardless of their orientation , would you consider doing a Masters in an area where you already have a Masters qualification? Or would you hold out and do a PhD or study another area?

hotspur

I think it comes down to why you want to do the MPhil / PhD. The MPhil isn't really going to do much for you career wise so if that is your main motivation then it doesn't seem to fit the bill. Mind you if you intend continuing in your current career then the PhD probably isn't going to help much either unless you intend branching out into academia.

However if your main motivation is for the personal enjoyment of reacquainting yourself with academia and research then it seems like a nice option. If you really want to research an area then it seems like a good idea from a personal perspective rather than career per se.

I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that it's a second Masters in a cognate area. Lots of people do it. But I do understand the gnawing feeling that one ought to do a PhD if one has a Masters and is doing further study. It's a huge commitment when working however.

Does doing the MPhil impact on your ability to do the PhD in the near future financially or in terms of replicating the research you wish to do for the MPhil? What other academic options are you interested in in other areas?

Hmm, I don't think that's been very helpful - remarkably typical of 3:15am posts though

Kevster

Hey,

As far as I am aware, even if you register for a PhD course, you are still only a M.Phil. student in the first year? You then have to go through a Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP) meeting to migrate to the PhD level after the first year... ...?

That's the way that they do it here in the UK anyway. I'm studying for a PhD in Chemistry at the Uni. of York. I was offered a place on a PhD course in Dundalk IT before I came here too though, and they informed me that I'd only be registered as a Masters student first too.

So, just go for the PhD and you can always leave after the first year with your M.Phil anyway?

Kevin

hotspur

The MPhil he is considering is primarily a taught Masters and so unsuitable for transferring into year 2 of a PhD.

Odysseus

Actually for that time of the morning its not far off target.

A significant portion of it would be to reacquaint myself within that area, I have been very busy the past few years, both professionally and personally. Because of this I have not been as studious as I would normally be. However, with saying that its not as if my clinical work would not benefit from this as it would. I already do a small amount of academic work and I hope to develop this further of the coming years.

I'm also considering other areas for example I have been looking at a post grad. Dip in Bereavement Studies run by RCSI as this would fit in with the research I was speaking of earlier, though not psychoanalytically of course.

I know I don't have it in me for a PhD at the moment, but the M.Pilh might be a stepping stone in that direction. The research element is easy enough in that of course it will take work but it is only 14,000-17,000 words as its not going to take forever.

You right in terms of my career development, it will do a certain amount, but in my position the is not much scope for promotion that does not take you away from clinical work, and I see myself as a clinician not a manager if you see my point. So it is career development, but only in relation to my current position, I wouldn't do my manager's job; I'm here to work with people not manage staff.

I actually don't think it would impact negatively around doing a PhD further down the road, as I don't think I will be considering one for the next five years. Anyway, I have plenty of time to consider what path I'm going to take, I starting to think about it now as I will have to start looking for the time off to study early next year, as the HSE are very slow to agree to time off to study. Cheers

Odysseus

Kevster wrote: »

Hey,

As far as I am aware, even if you register for a PhD course, you are still only a M.Phil. student in the first year? You then have to go through a Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP) meeting to migrate to the PhD level after the first year... ...?

That's the way that they do it here in the UK anyway. I'm studying for a PhD in Chemistry at the Uni. of York. I was offered a place on a PhD course in Dundalk IT before I came here too though, and they informed me that I'd only be registered as a Masters student first too.

So, just go for the PhD and you can always leave after the first year with your M.Phil anyway?

Kevin

Hotspur is correct as far as I'm aware in that I would not be able to transfer on to the second year of a PhD with this course.