
January 23, 2025, by Leah Sharpe
Challenging perceptions that a PhD is not real work
By Rebecca Bull, final year PhD student in the School of Sociology and Social Policy studying post-sentence discrimination faced by people with criminal records.
When are you going to get a real job? Are you going to be a student for life? Is it nice not having to worry about working? These are all accusations that have been thrown at PhD students like myself.
Despite only being in my mid-twenties, some have made me feel as though I should already have been ‘working’ for a lengthy period of time. Friends who are outside of university, who have been in their employment positions for numerous years, present a stark contrast to us ‘lazy students for life’.
In private, family members say they are proud of you for deciding to complete a PhD; an opportunity they never had. Yet, as soon as social situations arise you become the butt of jokes about being a ‘long-term student’ destined never to work. Sometimes it is even easier to live up to this and mock yourself than explain that completing a funded PhD is, essentially, a job.
You are not alone if you have had friends, family and even people you do not know negatively judge you and make you feel less than other people who are ‘progressing’ with their lives. Unfortunately, there are always going to be people who put you down for not living in the ‘real world’ yet. I encourage you to remember that you are doing something incredibly worthwhile and in ten years’ time it will not matter that you spent a few more years studying than others. Likely, completing your PhD has given you useful skills and experiences that will provide you with more employability options once you finish your studies.
While completing a funded PhD I get paid monthly, like a normal ‘job’. I am also not allowed to work more than a set number of hours outside of my studies. This is because funding bodies assume and expect your studies to be considered your priority. However, there are opportunities to do part-time work, placements and internships. Although some people will conveniently fail to recognise these opportunities as ‘work’ too, these are wonderful to take full advantage of during your PhD.
During my own PhD studies, I have completed paid roles in marking in undergraduate courses, research with the Rights Lab, and work as a student co-creator in the development of the Criminology MA. I am also completing an unpaid placement with my local MP offices.
My advice to you is to try and take advantage of these options while you can. The chance to work in a variety of sectors and roles during your PhD is an advantage few people get.
Whether your PhD is funded or not, try not to feel disheartened when people ask you about when you are going to do ‘real work’. You have a community of other ‘forever students’ facing similar stereotypes and pressures to work alongside their PhDs, or even end their studies in favour of ‘real work’.
The Careers team are committed to supporting the career development of post doctoral research staff. Visit the Careers website for dedicated advice, support, and resources.
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