PhD in science

yer man!

Just wondering what the requirements to get into a PhD course would be in science once I graduate. I'm currently in third science and am determined on getting a 1.1 this year. What type of stuff to they look out for in applications? I know getting placement experience would be great but that's next to impossible to get especially if you have a 2.1.

Muffy_IOU

yer man! wrote: »

Just wondering what the requirements to get into a PhD course would be in science once I graduate. I'm currently in third science and am determined on getting a 1.1 this year. What type of stuff to they look out for in applications? I know getting placement experience would be great but that's next to impossible to get especially if you have a 2.1.

Stay clear of NUIG because I did an MSc in a Science Course here and you will be miserable (in my experience). Basically, you will be used as a full-time experimental machine for a researcher. It is also one of the most challenging theory you will ever have to do. Your work is barely acknowledged. I felt the same way as you (very determined) when I was doing my degree but you have to realistic. Even Phd graduates here are not securing jobs.

I strongly recommend doing it in another University/Institute if you really want to confine 4 years of your life to someone elses research... It is a LOT harder than you think.

ZRelation

Depends on what you're looking for OP. If you're going for funding like IRCSET you should be looking at a 1:1/top of your class. If you are applying directly through a supervisor then a 1:1 will obviously be a big help, I've seen people go in with 2:1s and get on ok too. If you are looking for a place within your own department then getting to know the staff and their individual research areas will be a big help too.

On Muffy's points, yeah some people aren't suited to research. If you go into it solely to improve your job prospects you're doing it for the wrong reason and will have a tougher time. Plenty of NUIG PhD students I know have walked into good jobs after.

yer man!

Well I'm going down the chemistry route anyway and was really just wondering what do I have to do right now to increase my chances of getting into a good post grad course. Like do they take into account extra curricular activities? previous job experience? I'm looking into organizing my own placement for next summer (impossible) as only 5 placements are being given out to the top students in chem. Lecturer said I would really need lab experience on a cv to increase my chance of getting into a PhD course. I was also just wondering do many people travel away to do post grads? I think it's something that would be fairly good seeing as I've spent all my life in Galway.

Muffy_IOU

ZRelation wrote: »

Depends on what you're looking for OP. If you're going for funding like IRCSET you should be looking at a 1:1/top of your class. If you are applying directly through a supervisor then a 1:1 will obviously be a big help, I've seen people go in with 2:1s and get on ok too. If you are looking for a place within your own department then getting to know the staff and their individual research areas will be a big help too.

On Muffy's points, yeah some people aren't suited to research. If you go into it solely to improve your job prospects you're doing it for the wrong reason and will have a tougher time. Plenty of NUIG PhD students I know have walked into good jobs after.

In 2011, there are fewer jobs for PHD graduates. The main job source is Lecturing/Research but these are government jobs (which are being cut).

As I mentioned to the OP, doing a Phd is not all hunky dory. It requires extreme dedication and can be very challenging (no matter what Science area). If he/she still wants to go ahead at NUIG, I really hope he/she is ready to become an over-worked experimental machine.

One more note: the NUIG lab instrumentation can be out of order for up to 6 months.

thunderdog

The main thing I would say to you regardless of what topic you choose to do your phd in is that you have a good supervisor. Basically someone who you can ask questions to and who is able to be communicate properly with you.

I made the mistake of doing a phd with a supervisor who is very good in his field but is very bad in dealing with students. He moved to Enlgand 10 months into my phd and we try to communicate through email (by try I mean I email him the same email 10 times and he replies after a few weeks or so) but its not working out really.

Its taking me ages to finish as a result and I've lost a lot of interest and enthusiasm in the project. So try to find out more about your supervisor before you start or you could end up like me...very frustrated!!

KittyeeTrix

thunderdog wrote: »

The main thing I would say to you regardless of what topic you choose to do your phd in is that you have a good supervisor. Basically someone who you can ask questions to and who is able to be communicate properly with you.

I made the mistake of doing a phd with a supervisor who is very good in his field but is very bad in dealing with students. He moved to Enlgand 10 months into my phd and we try to communicate through email (by try I mean I email him the same email 10 times and he replies after a few weeks or so) but its not working out really.

Its taking me ages to finish as a result and I've lost a lot of interest and enthusiasm in the project. So try to find out more about your supervisor before you start or you could end up like me...very frustrated!!

+1 to this post..........

I'm currently in 4th year science in NUIG and my project supervisor is amazing.:) We have a phd student who is working in the lab with us and they have ample access to the project supervisor.

One of the other 4th year projects supervisor is never around and has left friends of mine hanging on for the day with no direction at all. They turn up to lab and sit there waiting for a meeting at 10am and eventually leave at 1pm with no sign of the supervisor.........That's bad enough for a 4th year student but for a phd student it would be a disaster:(

Skopzz

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

One of the other 4th year projects supervisor is never around and has left friends of mine hanging on for the day with no direction at all. They turn up to lab and sit there waiting for a meeting at 10am and eventually leave at 1pm with no sign of the supervisor.........That's bad enough for a 4th year student but for a phd student it would be a disaster:(

There are pleny of those type in NUIG.

That's why the civil servant Lecturers must receive pay cuts. There is no accountability but they cannot be fired from their jobs. I think this policy needs to be changed so that they can get the sack. A system of complaints to their superior should be established and then they will be able to take swift action against the Lecturer.