Route to a PhD. abroad
Navpreet Kaur Ahluwalia
By blending independent research, theoretical study and practical experience perfectly a PhD offers excellent career options to those with a research-oriented mind set. There is no doubt, that, pursuing a higher degree has always been challenging but it also helps to attain an expertise in the subject of interest. However, in India, research is facing a major conflagration and the reason is not lack of facilities and infrastructure but, the lack of motivation and encouragement to the students who want to pursue a career in research. Therefore; most of the researchers are choosing a different career path rather than going for research or are moving abroad to do PhD. Some of the steps that prospective candidates should follow to apply for a PhD abroad (Europe/Australia/New Zealand) are:
n A student needs to have a required English test score for example IELTS and TOEFL which is mandatory to apply for a PhD in any University.
n Every university demands an expression of interest which means you need to write one page of expression of interest showing why you are interested in doing PhD in a particular university/laboratory(proper study on internet related to a particular professor's research interest could help in writing expression of interest)
n A student needs to write a short research proposal which depicts your research interest in your chosen research field. Students need to have proper knowledge of the research going on in the concerned professor's lab they are sending an email by thoroughly studying literature online.
However, if someone is interested in doing PhD in United States then the process is not much tedious and you just need to have a good score in TOEFL and GRE and then apply directly to universities depending on your scores. There is no need of sending individual emails to professors.
The time factor in the case of US is a major factor. Although the admission process is straight forward, it takes minimum five years to complete a PhD. However, if you want to do a PhD in other countries then the process of application is very long and you need to devote a lot of time but it takes only three years to finish a PhD, as a project will be assigned to you from the beginning and there is no course work.
There are lots of career options for PhDs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) of which researchers are totally unaware of. One such option is industry engagement. A post doc earns an average of $40-60K per annum. However, an industry offers an average start from $80K to a PhD candidate.
Indian government, including research organisations, need to encourage students for a scientific career. Also, the researchers who have a strong fascination for science and technology should be aware of the options they can go for after a PhD. So, you have to make a mind and focus where you are really interested in doing a PhD and what are the steps you need to follow and then go for it.
— The writer is pursuing PhD at the University of Technology, Sydney
