Phd at 48

Hannaho

My friend is 48 and thinking about doing a Phd - she wants to have options in relation to work, but does not necessarily want to work in accademia. We work in similar areas - she would like to do a Phd on working with the parentso of children who self-harm. She can see the writing on the wall for her current job and wants to have other options - she always wanted to do a Phd in the area of children and domestic violence, but she doesn't work in this area. Just wondered if people thought she was too old to start a Phd at 48 - I'm just finishing mine, and I'm not sure it will be that much use to me - she says it's an area - children who self-harm and their parents - that she could do some consultancy work when she retires. I'm 47 and have just finished my Phd - do you think 48 is too old to start - what do you think are the benefits of a Phd - I just enjoyed the area I was studying but not sure how useful my own Phd will be in the future - do you think if my friend starts hers now at 49 that she will get much benefit from it - 6 yrs part-time.

InReality

The "too old" has a few points against it...
Women live on average to about 85 in the west.
As pensions stuff becomes more dicey I think the more options as regards work that people have the better.

aidoh

I'm just about to start one myself (though I see myself staying in academic research in the future, hopefully).

If it's part-time and she can get the funding together (AND manage working a job plus the hours of research for a PhD) then I think she should absolutely go for it. If she's determined to do a PhD for the sake of her own interest in her chosen subject area then great. If she's determined to do a PhD just so she can shift into an area of work that she's currently not qualified for, then she should think about doing a Masters.

At least that's how I would look at it if I were in her position.

Mrs OBumble

It seems to me that it depends on where she's starting from. If she already has a Masters (assuming she does, or else it would take a great deal more than six years p/t), then surely she has some idea of the job market, and the different that having a PHD would make?

Personally I don't advise new quals to anyone over about 45, unless they are very short courses or there's a direct link to work that they actually have (as opposed to would like to get). But that's just my opinion, not based on any research except gut feel.

Zipppy

Absolutely she should...assuming she can fund it and still manage a work / life balance.

She has what 20 years of working life left maybe...so why not..go for it?

Remember too that its not all about job related stuff and earning potential, it's also about a sense of self worth, fulfilment and achievement ... lecturing / research possibilities may easily arise too in ones 50s and 60s...

Apparently learning also keeps the brain young.....

Tom Dunne

Absolutely do it.

I remember a long time ago when I started my undergraduate degree, there was a guy in his 70's who started with me.

I started my PhD in my late 30's - I honestly feel that my life experience contributed significantly to my ability to undertake it (still at it, btw).

SeaFields

The employment aspect aside, a PhD at any age is possible. I did several group projects with a mature student when I was at undergrad in university. I meet him still from time to time - he has just submitted his PhD thesis and he is in his early 70s now.

Hannaho

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I think she is going to do the Phd - for her she would like to create more work options for herself as she gets older - she doesn't want to change career - just to go further in the one she has and to have more options as she gets older in terms of work, consultancy etc. She has chosen the Open University to do her Phd in - so not sure how this compares to other universities in terms of how employers view a Phd from the Open University.