Final year research projects introduce university level research, and allows students to assess their suitability for Ph.D. studies

Many undergraduate programmes around the world have introduced the final year research project as a graduation requirement. This is perhaps the most challenging course outside of the important design project for engineering students. So, why is there a need for final year research projects for undergraduate students? Firstly, the final year research project introduces another … More Final year research projects introduce university level research, and allows students to assess their suitability for Ph.D. studies

Graduate coursework adds depth and lateral dimension to Ph.D. studies

Modern Ph.D. studies typically has a coursework component. So, what does coursework add to a Ph.D. programme? Briefly, graduate coursework is designed to add depth to the disciplinary knowledge required to qualify a candidate for a Ph.D. degree. Specifically, this dimension seeks to equip the candidate with the necessary skills and thinking framework to solve … More Graduate coursework adds depth and lateral dimension to Ph.D. studies

How to assess if you need a post-doc to advance your scientific career?

Post-doc fellowships appear to be the straightforward career path after your Ph.D. studies. But, there are other options available. So, how do you assess if you need a post-doc to advance your scientific career? One criterion is to assess your experimental skills. Specifically, are you able to design experiments that can control the error in … More How to assess if you need a post-doc to advance your scientific career?

Types of financial support available for Ph.D. studies

It is important to realise that undertaking Ph.D. courses represent a significant opportunity cost for you as you can spend the time to find a job, earn income, and build your career. So, how do you finance your Ph.D. studies? Worldwide, there are several options for financing Ph.D. studies, and it is better to have … More Types of financial support available for Ph.D. studies

How does Ph.D. studies fit in with your career development plan?

Ph.D. studies is the necessary qualification for many senior research jobs. But, there are also Ph.D. graduates who later went on to become CEO or Vice-President of companies or Director of government agencies. Thus, when should one consider Ph.D. studies under the overall framework of career development? The key consideration is what are your career … More How does Ph.D. studies fit in with your career development plan?

Deciding on a graduate school offer

Typically, applicants for Ph.D. studies apply to a few universities, and there is a chance of receiving multiple offers from different universities if you are really good academically, and with good research potential. So, how should you decide on the different offers, and what factors should you consider before making a decision? One key consideration … More Deciding on a graduate school offer

Searching for a research field for post-doctoral studies

In general, post-doctoral studies is a stage of graduate training where the researcher has more independence in their research direction and approach. It is a phase of training where the researcher learns how to direct and manage a research project, albeit with some help and guidance from the supervisor. Project supervision is usually minimal, and … More Searching for a research field for post-doctoral studies