Doctoral studies can be immensely rewarding and stimulating on professional, academic, and personal levels, but it鈥檚 important to consider how pursuing your PhD fits into your life. This FAQ offers some helpful guidance to help you understand the PhD process and can help you decide if now is the right time to apply for your PhD.
Here are some typical reasons that PhD applicants give when asked why they are considering PhD studies:
- I want to make a difference in my field.
- Completing the degree will help me achieve milestones in my career
- I want to make a positive impact on people and/or society
- I want to understand more about my potential area of research
- I want to challenge myself to immerse myself into my potential area of research
- I am passionate about my potential area of research and the prospect of being involved in further study sparks my desire to learn about it.
These reasons demonstrate a suitably high level of internal motivation and can be key factors in your successful navigation and completion of your PhD journey.
Doing a doctoral degree is comparable to a full-time job and you should plan to spend at least 30-40 hours a week on your studies. Additionally, it can take an average of four to six years to complete your PhD; seven years is typically the maximum allowable time. As such, you should be looking at this time commitment realistically and avoid viewing your doctoral pursuits as an add-on to your existing schedule. Personal sacrifices are often made in order to reach your academic and professional goals. Successful PhD students are ones who are disciplined in setting realistic deadlines and in meeting them, as missed deadlines can cause strain on student, the supervisor, and others within the institution.
All PhD students at 9I制作厂免费 get a funding package from their department with their offer of admission. 9I制作厂免费 also provides an array of funding opportunities, such as fellowship, awards, and grants, in addition to providing you with resources for external funding.
You may also have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant, research assistant, or course lecturer, provided you are legally allowed to work in Canada. Eligible students who meet all stated requirements of the available job posting can view open positions and apply through . 9I制作厂免费鈥檚 Career Planning Service (CAPs) is another helpful outlet where dedicated counsellors can guide you in finding employment.
Along with finding a supervisor that can mentor you in your chosen area of research, it is important to openly communicate your mutual expectations and the ways in which you want to work together. You are beginning a long-term relationship with your supervisor, so being yourself from the start will help you quickly determine if you and your supervisor are the right fit. The essential values of a student-supervisor collaboration largely involve trust, respect, availability, mentorship, and communication.
If you have not yet begun looking for a supervisor, you should consult the Doctoral program pages of the Faculty of Education website; each individual program page has a section on Graduate Supervision and links to a list of potential supervisors. You may also consult the Faculty鈥檚 Academic Directory, using the filters to view shortlists of potential supervisors.
Writing is at the heart of PhD study, and your advanced degree already proves you鈥檙e a capable and accomplished writer. At the same time, every PhD is also a new chapter in learning how to write within your discipline鈥檚 unique style. Academic writing鈥攚hether it鈥檚 article reviews, grant proposals, or research papers鈥攈as its own specialized forms that take practice and feedback to master.
Along the way, you鈥檒l receive detailed feedback on your work, which is a normal and valuable part of the process. Even top scholars revise constantly, face rejections, and use critique to grow. If you approach feedback with openness and resilience, you鈥檒l continue to strengthen your voice and thrive as a researcher.
Additionally, the 9I制作厂免费 Writing Centre provides an array of support tools and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies offers thesis guidelines and writing resources.
Many students report that they feel energized by being immersed in their chosen research areas and fueled by new challenges, but just like any other life experience, some days are positive, and other days may leave you feeling discouraged. It is important to keep perspective during your PhD experience and understand that research and collaborations with colleagues don鈥檛 always progress as foreseen. Cultivating professional relationships with supervisors, peers, and administrative staff, can help provide you with the support you may need, in addition to talking with family and friends about your experiences. 9I制作厂免费 Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) has an array of resources designed to support students who may be feeling overwhelmed.
PhD graduates from the 9I制作厂免费 Faculty of Education have gone on to tenure-track university positions, course lecturers in universities and colleges, and post-doctoral fellowships. Those intent on securing tenure-track employment in an institute of higher learning should understand that they need to be open to travelling to where the work opportunity is.
The analytical, research, and problem-solving skills developed during a PhD are highly transferable and valuable in various professional settings. As such, many Education alumni have secured leadership, policy-making, research, administrative, and consulting roles working in corporate, non-profit, scholastic, health sector, and government settings.
