Advantages and disadvantages of enrolling for a PhD in 2024/2025

A PhD is not just an ordinary degree. It is one of the highest academic achievements students can earn all over the world. Getting a PhD can help students gain a better understanding of a subject and develop exceptional skills while contributing new research to their field. It is also considered a valuable asset that gives a boost to the career and lifestyle of the candidates. As a result, PhD candidates are preferred in several job roles that require tackling challenges and finding innovative solutions.

However, most people believe that a PhD degree is only useful for establishing a career in academia. Another common belief surrounding a PhD degree is that businesses do not prefer to hire PhD candidates as they are either overqualified or too independent for the job role.

As there is a lot of debate about whether it is beneficial to do a PhD, it makes it difficult for students to pick the right career path. To help you make the right decision, here are some advantages and disadvantages that you can consider before enrolling for a PhD in 2023.

Advantages of a PhD

In-depth subject knowledge

Pursuing a PhD will introduce you to a world full of information. At every stage of your PhD, you will accumulate a plethora of information that is not possible to collect in any other degree programme. With better resources at your disposal, you can dig deeper into the subject. Through your research, you can also apply the skills learned during your PhD. As you write your thesis, you also come across different studies conducted in similar areas. This will give you an opportunity to look at the same question from different perspectives. Many PhD researchers also conduct interdisciplinary research. This allows them to blend different theories and use a combination of methods to get innovative results. The more you experiment during your PhD, the better your chances are to find solutions to various challenges in your field of research.

Multiple research roles

PhD candidates play an important role in making new innovations, conducting complicated research and identifying potential solutions to common problems. As PhD candidates are better equipped with the knowledge needed to solve challenges, they are offered multiple research roles in different industries. PhD candidates are often preferred in areas such as medical, healthcare and technology. Here you will hold an important position to identify new drugs, offer solutions to complex healthcare processes or identify loopholes in the existing technology and offer feasible solutions.

Recently, there has been a growth in the demand for PhD candidates in the finance and economics departments. As economic activities are the major driving forces of the growth and development of society, they are subject to multiple challenges. With the help of prominent research, PhD candidates can predict the trajectory of the economic growth of a society and offer suggestions to overcome the negative influences. Moreover, other sectors such as social work, humanities, manufacturing and scientific research and development also have a number of research roles for PhD holders.

Better credibility

Unlike any other study programme, completing a PhD needs years of dedication and hard work. PhD candidates invest a significant amount of time and effort in completing their doctorate. As a PhD needs more discipline than any other study, candidates need to manage their time well to meet their goals. Completing a PhD is also associated with a good reputation and credibility. It gives candidates a sense of accomplishment.

The credibility built by completing a PhD is not only recognised at the institutional level but also plays a key role in building professional relationships. Employers believe that the dedication with which candidates work to complete their PhD will be shown in their future job positions. This makes PhD holders strong candidates for higher management job roles. Additionally, with your dedication, you can set an example for other co-workers and influence them to work towards their goals.

Collaboration

During your PhD, you will get multiple chances to collaborate with others. Whether it is attending a research conference or a seminar, it will give you an opportunity to meet with like-minded people. Moreover, while working on your research, you might have to collaborate with other researchers from different fields and countries. This will assist you in learning through others experiences and by understanding the perspectives of different people. Acquainting yourself with several scholars, mentors, peers and other researchers will increase your network. The relationships that you make during your PhD can also help you at different stages of your career. Many PhD candidates who do not want to follow the traditional path and want to start their own venture can also develop strong relationships that can lead to further business associations.

Gain transferrable skills

Many businesses, organisations and institutions constantly need candidates with good transferable skills. Apart from having a knowledge of the local market, a PhD gives candidates exposure to the global market. Once you complete your PhD, you will have expert knowledge of global trends and will be in a better position to forecast or create a growth trajectory. While pursuing your PhD, you will gain different transferable skills that can be used in any career path. A PhD will also teach you how to incorporate these skills into different settings.

Whether it is conducting research, knowing the best practices, managing a team or planning the operations, you will gain several valuable skills during your PhD. Furthermore, dissertation writing and presenting your research at conferences will boost your confidence. It will help you improve your written and verbal communication skills. Potential employers give more importance to candidates with good communication skills as they are more confident in presenting information to stakeholders or co-workers.

Access to high-paying jobs

Getting a PhD gives a competitive boost to your career. It acts as a key to getting access to several high-paying jobs. PhD holders are considered proactive and more willing to manage large projects. This is why, for several top-level job positions, PhD candidates are given priority over other applicants. In addition to building a career in academia, you can establish a successful career in different innovative fields. Adding a PhD to your resume will add value to it and persuade the hiring manager to consider you for the position. Having a PhD degree will make you eligible to more authoritative job positions in government organisations.

Disadvantages of a PhD

Time consuming

A PhD can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. Although a full-time PhD programme is said to last for three years, sometimes it takes candidates much longer to complete their research, get it approved and earn a PhD degree. On the other hand, candidates who opt for a part-time PhD take almost six years to manage their job and research. In addition to this, some countries require candidates to spend two years on a master’s degree before enrolling for a PhD. As a PhD is not just about research and dissertation writing, candidates have to spend time in attending research conferences, presenting their research, teaching undergraduates, attending classes and appearing for other tests or examinations.

This limits the amount of time that PhD students can spend on other activities or learning new skills. As most of their time is spent on their research, they gain skills more specific to their subject area with little knowledge of other fields. Instead of spending several years on a PhD, many candidates prefer to enrol in other short-term courses or get training for a specific job role. This gives them more time to explore new areas of interest.

No significant financial benefit

In many countries, there is an imbalance between the supply of PhD students and available job positions. This results in little financial benefit over a master’s degree. PhD candidates often have to invest a lot of money to earn their doctorate. Most of the research is funded through grants or funding organisations. However, some PhD candidates have to spend personal money on their studies or to cover additional costs. For example, if you are planning to pursue a PhD at an international university, you might have to spend on accommodation, food and travel. As these things are not covered in grants, this adds some pressure on the candidates.

Moreover, due to the changing job scenario, PhD students also find it difficult to secure a full-time job and get a return on their investment. By the time you complete your PhD, you will be in your late twenties. Some employers also believe that PhD candidates have little on-the-job experience. As you will spend most of the time on your research, you might get little time to gain practical knowledge of working in a live environment.

Unsupportive supervisors

PhD candidates are always assigned supervisors that help them through their research. Your supervisor will act as a mentor and will give you continuous feedback to improve your research. However, some PhD candidates find it difficult to establish a good relationship with their supervisors. Some also complain about unsupportive mentors who never contribute towards the research.

As a supportive supervisor can help you with making your research excellent, make sure to maintain a good relationship with your supervisor. Before selecting your supervisor, you can also take a look at their published papers, subject knowledge, interests and credibility in their field. Talking to other PhD candidates that worked with the same supervisor can give you some idea of how to deal with them. However, if things do not work well with the supervisor, seeking advice from the university support centre can be helpful.

No work-life balance

Pursuing a PhD is likely to make you an introvert. As most of your time will be spent on your research and dissertation writing, you might get little time to spend with your family or friends. Moreover, there are chances that you do not get enough time to look after your mental and physical well-being. Many PhD candidates complain about having no work-life balance. They often feel burned out and develop issues such as stress or anxiety.

Experts suggest that while doing a PhD, candidates must follow a good routine. Creating a schedule will help you manage your PhD better. It will also give you enough time to socialise and interact with people. Taking short breaks in between your research can reduce the strain on your mind. You can also follow a good fitness regime to reduce the effects of constant work on your health. Additionally, following a healthy diet and creating a good sleep pattern can help you deal with stress and anxiety. It will keep your mind relaxed and will make you feel fresh for the next session.

Less creativity

Due to the changing market demands, there has been rapid growth in the creative field. While having a career in academia has its own advantages, it might also limit the exposure of a PhD candidate to the creative fields. For example, writing lab reports or a PhD dissertation, giving research presentations and spending months researching and analysing will only give you technical knowledge. As you get little time to follow your passion, your chances of indulging in a hobby such as art, gardening, music or dance will reduce drastically. This can make you more knowledge-centric and less creative. Moreover, it might reduce your chances of getting jobs in creative fields. Following a similar path for a long time can make your work monotonous and reduce your chances of exploring different career options.

Conclusion

Enrolling for a PhD is often a personal choice. Your decision to pursue a PhD can be influenced by several factors. However, once you enrol in a PhD programme, completing it can be your greatest academic accomplishment. To make your PhD more rewarding, try to keep up with the changing trends in your field as well as other fields. Taking some time off from your research and investing it in learning other skills can make you more flexible and open to various other job positions.

Author

  • James_L_PhD_Writer

    James is a psychologist who has worked as a PhD lecturer and is now a full-time writer. He's authored scientific publications, government reports, and thousands of academic articles, and he can assist you with a variety of topics.

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