research MSc/PhD question

Caffrey82

A little off subject but could some one offer advice. My brother has just completed a 4 year degree obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Computing. His tutor contacted him about doing a further 2 years and i quote ' It is a research MSc/PhD, basically it involves building and testing of advanced software within the Institute including mobile apps and other cloud-based solutions for third level education. If the MSc is going well you would convert to PhD. ' .... So my question, what does it sound like he would obtain a PhD in? And What pay scale could he expect following completion of the PhD?

seamus

Technically all PhDs are Doctors of Philosophy, but he would basically have a PhD in Computer Science.

Entry level salaries for PhDs are still quite small, because they have little work experience, but typically PhDs go one of two ways:

- Stay in the university and teach/research. This is personally gratifying and if you get a full time professorship is good money with great hours.
- Get hired into R&D roles in the private sector, which are initially quite well paid (50k+) but can get you into really good places if you can up to the level of leading research teams.

Caffrey82

seamus wrote: »

Technically all PhDs are Doctors of Philosophy, but he would basically have a PhD in Computer Science.

Entry level salaries for PhDs are still quite small, because they have little work experience, but typically PhDs go one of two ways:

- Stay in the university and teach/research. This is personally gratifying and if you get a full time professorship is good money with great hours.
- Get hired into R&D roles in the private sector, which are initially quite well paid (50k+) but can get you into really good places if you can up to the level of leading research teams.

Sounds good! At the min he is considering getting a job at entry level (1 or 2) which from looking at your posts may mean salary up to €32k to start. Whereas if he done his PhD he could be looking at entry level of €50k+ for same or similar company? But then I guess it may depend on the career he wants? ie his passion may not be research, he wants to be a software developer! Just trying to help him choose whether or not it's worth another 2 years in college? If the PhD doesn't contribute to this area in the working world?

Eoin

thread split and moved