When I was considering applying to start a PhD, I had a lot of questions. Having been out of university for 5 years by the time I applied, I wasn’t sure where to start. I didn’t know what I didn’t know!

So inspired by that, and some conversations with my fellow PhD students Agathe and Josh who started putting together some resources for potential new PhD students, I wanted to write a bit about how PhDs in the UK work, and how to get started with applications if its something you’re interested in doing.

My Personal Experience

Before I dive into answering some of the questions I’m commonly asked, I want to share a bit about what my experience of being a PhD student has been like so far.

I absolutely love being a PhD student. I am so lucky to have found a PhD project that fully aligns with my personal interests (space!), and to have a really supportive, positive and social research group, who I feel I fit in with really well. I feel like I have found my people and my purpose, and that this is something I was always meant to do.

You can find out more about my PhD project on my Research page,

Some key facts about my experience:

• I am around 6 months into my PhD at the time of writing. I applied for my PhD from September-November 2023 and started my studies in April 2024.
• I have a fully funded studentship from the Strathclyde Centre for Doctoral Training, which funds my research for 3.5 years.
• I am a full-time student at the University of Strathclyde, and have a part-time role as a teaching assistant at the university, supporting Electronics and Python labs.
• I graduated with a first class BSc in 2019, and worked as a software engineer for 5 years before starting my PhD.

What’s your motivation?

The first question you should ask yourself when thinking about studying for a PhD is ‘Why do I want to do this?’. Your source of motivation is what will carry you through the trickier days (and PhDs are one of the most difficult things you can do!), so you need to make sure you have a good reason for studying for one. This reason might be something like:

• It’s been a lifelong dream.
• I have an idea for a research topic that I find incredibly interesting.
• I want to have a career in academia.

If your reason for undertaking a PhD is something along the lines of ‘Having the Dr title would be cool!’ or ‘I’m not sure what else to do’, it may be worth having a deeper think about whether or not a PhD is right for you.

What does a PhD student actually do?

What a PhD student gets up to day-by-day varies from project to project, but typical activities include:

• Reading (and lots of it!). This includes reading journal articles, conference papers, blogs etc.
• Learning. You will be learning new skills, maybe completing a few specialised training courses either online or at your university. This could include learning a new programming language, or improving your time management.
• Experimenting. What this looks like exactly depends on your subject area, but could include doing experiments in a lab, running code, interviewing people, travelling to do field work, etc.
• Writing academic papers, conference papers, making posters and making presentatons.
• Public speaking, either through delivering posters or presentations at conferences, or through outreach activities.
• Extracurricular activities, like part-time work or volunteering on a university committee.

How long does a PhD take?

PhDs in the UK typically take 3-4 years to complete if studying full-time. They are a big commitment! Some PhD projects have options for part-time or even distance learning, and this could extend the length of your PhD. This is something you’d need to discuss with your prospective supervisor and the university you are applying to.

The project itself will have a defined length. After that time, PhD students enter the ‘write-up’ phase, where they put together all of their research into their thesis ready to be assessed (more on this later). The length of this phase varies, but is usually around 6 months. So if your project is 3 years long, you will actually be doing your PhD for 3.5 years.

PhD students must also pay tuition fees in the UK, which at the time of writing are around £4,712 per year. Depending on how your PhD is funded, this fee may be covered by your funding, you can pay these fees yourself, or you can request a student loan to cover these costs.

How are PhDs funded?

There are two main routes to funding a PhD:

• Apply for a PhD that comes with funding.
• Present a research project proposal, and secure funding separately.

Funded PhDs

Funded PhDs can be found by looking on sites like findaphd.com, or looking at university-specific websites for what research projects they have available.

As a note, PhD courses are also referred to as Postgraduate Research or PGR courses. Searching for these terms can help you find more opportunities.

Applying for a funded PhD means:

• Your project will be fully funded, and you will usually be paid the UK Stipend Rate (at the time of writing, £19.237 per year – tax free). This is normally either paid every month or every term (dependent on your university).
• Your tuition fees may be covered. (This is dependent on the exact source of funding).
• You do not need to reapply for funding during your studies.
• You may need to submit certain deliverables or evidence of your research to your funders (dependent on the source of funding).
• Your project will likely already be outlined for you. You will need to complete research within the projects’ defined scope and timeline.

Funded PhDs are often competitive to apply to. When applying for a funded PhD, you will likely need to send a CV and motivation letter to your prospective supervisor, and you may need to attend one or more interviews, similar to applying for a job.

Academic CVs are different to corporate CVs! The Prospects website has guidance on this.

Self-Funded PhDs

You can also pay for a PhD yourself. This may be an option to take if:

• You have an idea for a PhD research project that isn’t currently being offered.
• You want to have more autonomy over the scope of your project.
• You work for a company who may benefit from your research, and who may be able to provide you with funds.

Sources of funding include:

• PhD Studentships, Scholarships and Bursaries from universities.
• Post Graduate Research Loans.
• Funding acquired from a funding body such as UKRI or ESPRC.
• Funding from a private company.
• Self-funding from your own money.

More information on funding types can be found here.

Important: Your ‘write up’ time after the completion of your PhD research is not funded. During this time, some students will move back home to save paying rent, will work other jobs to cover living costs, or may live off of any savings they have.

What other financial considerations are there?

Additional Part-Time Work

Many PhD students take on some additional part time work to supplement their income. Some universities and sources of funding enforce limits on the number of hours a PhD student can work in a job that is not their research. This is to help you maintain a work-life balance.

It is common for PhD students to take on teaching assistant work at their university, helping with sessions like running labs or marking assessments. Teaching assistant roles normally pay quite well too! You can also look for part-time roles outside of the university.

Tax, Pensions and Discounts

The UK Stipend that PhD students typically receive is tax-free. You also do not get any ‘standard’ benefits like pension contributions, like you would in a corporate job.

You are officially classed as a student, meaning that you do not pay council tax in the UK and are eligible for student discounts.

What will your supervisor be like?

PhD supervisors have a different role to corporate managers or bosses. When you are studying for a PhD, you are managing yourself and you are responsible for conducting your research. Your supervisors(s) (it is common to have a primary and secondary supervisor) are there to support and guide you, and provide you with information, connections and feedback where needed.

Having a good relationship with your supervisors is key for success in a PhD as they will be involved in your assessments, and will help you with your research. So before accepting any PhD role, make sure you get to know them and check that they will be a good fit for your personality and working style. My top tips for this are:

• Chat with any of their existing or past PhD students (you can ask your supervisor for their contact information)
• Chat with your supervisors directly.
• Have a quick Google and LinkedIn search!

How are you assessed?

The research you conduct during your PhD studies contributes to your thesis. This is a document that is 60,000 to 120,000 words long, or 100 to 300 pages (dependent on university and subject area) and summarises your body of research. You submit your thesis once you have completed your research.

Your thesis will then be read by a panel of assessors, and a few months after submission, you will need to defend your PhD through an oral viva voce, known in academia as the viva. During your viva, you will give a presentation of your work to the reviewers and you will then have a discussion with them about your thesis and your work. Vivas can range from a few hours to a day or more, depending on your subject area and university. Once your viva is complete, the reviewers will discuss their thoughts.

A PhD assessment is Pass/Fail. You can pass your PhD with either no, minor, or major corrections, and you will have earned your doctorate! In rare cases, you may be downgraded to an MPhil degree (with or without amendments), or immediately fail the PhD. Failing your PhD is not something to worry about at the application stage, or even early stages of study. Your assessment will be based on the work you’ve done, not just whether its what the reviewers hoped it would be. If you’re not on track at any point during your studies, the doctoral college at your university should feed that back to you with plenty of time before your viva!

Many PhD students also contribute to academic journal papers, conference papers and presentations, posters and other bodies of work during their studies. Whilst this is not required for you to pass your PhD, it certainly strengthens the case for your research being novel, and can help you acquire funding and opportunities if you choose to stay in academia after completing your studies.

What qualifications do you need?

The qualifications you need to study for a PhD will vary depending on whether it is funded or not, the subject area, and the university. But generally, you will need an undergraduate degree (either a first class Bachelors degree or a Masters Degree, or equivalent). Some PhD projects may also accept relevant work experience in industry to supplement your qualifications.

Do you need to start your PhD immediately after finishing your undergraduate degree?

No! You can start a PhD any time after completing your undergraduate studies. However, it may be more difficult to get accepted onto a PhD programme if you have spent a long time working in an unrelated field after completing your undergraduate studies.

Where can you go for advice?

• Your university from your undergraduate degree. They will likely have a Student or Alumni careers service that can meet with you to discuss your thoughts.
• The internet! Sites like Prospects, UCAS or findAPhD.com are all very helpful.
• Reach out to people who have done PhDs. This includes me! You can contact me by clicking the Contact button on the menu at the top of this blog.

I always knew studying for a PhD was my dream, and until this time last year that’s all it ever was – a dream. Now it’s my reality, and I am so glad I took a chance on myself and submitted my application. If you’re considering starting a PhD, take that chance on yourself! It can be a daunting thought with a lot to consider, but it could end up being the best choice you ever make.