• Question: what is a PhD

    Asked by Sans trash to Craig, Devon, Marta, Natalie, Nicholas on 6 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Natalie Doig

      Natalie Doig answered on 6 Mar 2017:

      A PhD is a ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and it is a postgraduate degree, meaning you can only study for a PhD if you already have a University degree (like a Bachelor of Science, BSc). To get a PhD in science you have to do research for about 3 years and then write it all up in a thesis. The requirements for getting a PhD are different in different countries but they all involve doing some of your own research. Once you have a PhD people call you ‘Doctor’ but a lot of the time you have to explain that you are not a medical doctor so you cannot prescribe medicines or examine their elbows.

    • Photo: Marta Varela

      Marta Varela answered on 6 Mar 2017:

      It’s a degree you can take after you’ve done a “normal” university degree. People that do PhDs usually really enjoyed studying for their first degree and want to learn more about the topic and also learn how to be a scientist.

      I see it as a scientist apprenticeship. At the end, you get to write a thick blue book about what you’ve discovered called a thesis and attend a party wearing a Harry Potter style costume. That means the world then sees you as a “professional scientist”.

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