August 8, 2024, by Jackie Thompson

Discovering a love for research

By Rebecca Hall, PhD Socio-Legal Studies

Since being a young teenager, I knew I wanted to go to law school, with the ambition of one day going into legal practice – the idea of taking on a PhD never crossed my mind.

Despite receiving a place on a LPC course (now the SQE – the course necessary to progress towards qualifying as a solicitor), I decided to pivot towards an academic career path as I came to the end of my law degree.

The topics that inspire me

After discovering a love for research as I wrote my undergraduate dissertation, I decided to study for a master’s in international law before progressing towards a PhD. My decision to apply for a PhD was fuelled by what felt like a natural progression in my career as I knew I wanted to keep on researching the topics that I had developed a real passion for – namely international law, human rights and the law of armed conflict. I also realised that I loved the environment of a university and the inquisitive nature of research and academic writing.

Gaining a scholarship

Inspired by the work of academics I knew at the University of Nottingham, Nottingham’s School of Law was my first choice when I began to search for PhD opportunities. After seeking advice, I decided to apply for a scholarship from the Economic and Social Research Council, via a regional consortium, which funds students in the socio-legal field and provides significant researcher support throughout the lifetime of the PhD.

For me, this included completing an additional master’s degree in research skills before the beginning of the PhD and being provided with the opportunity to undertake an internship at a renowned defence and security think tank.

Nearing the end of my PhD

I am now in the final year of my PhD and it has been a journey, to say the least, but I could not imagine myself doing anything else…I remind myself of this during the tough times!

The skills I have developed, the opportunities I have had, and the inspiring people I have met because of my research, have been amongst the most enjoyable aspects of my PhD studies. In the future, I know that Nottingham has equipped me with the necessary skills to follow a diverse career path, both inside and outside academia.

Are you thinking about a PhD?

If you are thinking of embarking on the PhD journey, the most important thing to remember is that it is not a linear path and there are many times where you feel like you are going backwards, moving further and further away from the finish line.

I do not think I have spoken to a single person – from fellow PhD-ers to seasoned academics – who have not told me, rather reassuringly, that they too experienced many ups and downs in their own process. The most important thing you can do to combat this is to ensure you are appropriately supported.

Seek support

My advice would be to always take up support wherever it is offered, whether that be from your supervisors, colleagues in your department, or in the wider university network, such as the Careers and Employability Service.

If you are looking for even more support and help in developing a varied, multi-disciplinary skillset, I would highly recommend looking into the different research councils that offer funding to PhD students. Depending on what your chosen council offers, being a successful recipient of funding can often open the door to additional research qualifications, funding for field work and overseas institutional visits, as well as plentiful career opportunities. Start by researching the councils that best fit your discipline – a good place to begin is the UKRI website.

Finally, when applying for a PhD, do your research into potential supervisors. Choosing a good supervisory team makes all the difference so take time to think about the kind of mentoring style you respond to best, as well as the research expertise you are looking for. In my experience, the support of your supervisors is invaluable – especially when you are trying to navigate the harder parts of becoming a doctor!

If you’re thinking about applying for a PhD, visit our website for key advice and how to book an appointment with an adviser if you want to talk about your plans. 

If you’re already undertaking a PhD, our careers advisers are here to help you every step of the way. Visit our postgraduate researcher website for advice, events and how to book an appointment.

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