The realities of a part-time PhD

Smith, David S.

Abstract

According to a recent review (Kulej & Park, 2008, cited in Hooley et al., 2009) 32 % of full-time PhD students are below the age of 25 while just 5 % of part-time students are. This statistic shows that amongst graduates the latter option is highly unpopular. Worryingly, this same survey showed that 73 % of full-time PhD students achieve their doctorate vs. only 48 % of their part-time counterparts. Given this statistic, who would want to be a part-time PhD student? Nevertheless, amidst the biggest UK financial cuts in generations, the amount of graduates considering the self-funded part-time route is likely to increase in the face of slashed departmental budgets. With psychology being such a prominent degree, and so many people wanting to take it to a career level, it seems likely that a substantial number of scholars are going to pursue their science in whatever way they can.

Citation

SMITH, D. 2012. The realities of a part-time PhD. Psychologist [online], 25(1), pages 80-81. Available from: https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/careers-diplomat-director

• Journal Article Type: Commentary
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Sep 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 23, 2024
• Journal: Psychologist
• Print ISSN: 0952-8229
• Publisher: British Psychological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 80-81
• Keywords: Part-time studies; PhD students; Experiences; Problems
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2057125
• Publisher URL: https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/careers-diplomat-director