Find a Phd
Finding the right PhD program to suit your needs need not be a long or difficult process! There are many things you can do to increase your chances of finding the best PhD position for your interest area or specialization.
- Do some research! Determine your interest area and read widely. This will help later on with the writing of your PhD proposal and in discussions with potential PhD supervisors.
- Look for topics that have research potential. The likelihood of winning a PhD position with additional funding increases dramatically if you are proposing to undertake research in an area that has previously had little attention, or if your idea or theory is ground-breaking.
Speak to the school staff at your current or former university. They may know of research possibilities within their area, or may have colleagues at other universities that are seeking PhD candidates.
Take a look at www.jobs.ac.uk and www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgdbase as both list PhD vacancies by research area. This is particularly helpful if you are from a Science or Business background, as there is generally a good selection of vacancies listed from both of these academic areas.
- Another great tool for finding research vacancies is the specialist publications in your area – academic journals and magazines frequently advertise PhD opportunities, so this is a great place to look. Browsing these publications can also be helpful for determining your PhD topic selection.
- Visit the websites of the universities you are interested in gaining a placement with. Some schools will list their staff research interests and suggested PhD topics, and they may even advertise research vacancies or projects. It is also recommended by most universities that you contact the academic staff that have specialties in your area of interest, as they are the staff most likely to be your PhD supervisors. This is a great way to make yourself known to the staff, and to gauge possible vacancies or PhD projects. Potential supervisors can also help with putting together a research proposal and with information regarding scholarships, so it is certainly a good idea to get in touch as soon as possible.
- Consider your research needs. If your proposed PhD topic requires you to spend a portion of time working in the field (away from your home university), or cannot be achieved without advanced equipment or resources, this should be factored in to your choice of university. Some universities may specialize in the Sciences or in Information Technology, for example, and thus they will be more likely to have the technology and resources to suit your needs.
It is important to remember that even if you cannot find an advertised PhD research opportunity that matches with your proposed PhD topic, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any PhD vacancies available! Universities are generally keen to take on unique or ground-breaking research projects even if they haven’t specifically listed a PhD opportunity in that area. Finding a PhD position doesn’t need to be stressful – all it requires is a little background research! We hope you find a Phd