Are you thinking of doctoral research?
Interested in doing a PhD, but can't decide? We provide advice, information and links you might find helpful.
A doctoral degree can follow immediately after an undergraduate or masters degree or later in your life and career. Either way, we hope to make it easier for you to decide whether research is for you and what to do next.
This section is the result of a 
funded project.
What is a doctorate?
What constitutes research for a doctoral qualification and some different types of doctoral study programme
What is it like doing doctoral research?
What is the UK research experience like and what does it cost? How does supervision work, and what do doctoral researchers think about their programmes?
Why do a doctoral degree?
Apart from your passion to do research on a particular theme, what are the other potential benefits of doctoral research, and for your future career?
Who does doctoral research and what do they do?
A snapshot of the number and range of people who undertake UK doctoral programmes and their disciplines and what they do after their doctorates
Should you do a doctorate?
Some things to think about in deciding whether or not to pursue an application for doctoral research
How to apply for a doctorate in the UK and get funding
Some of the practical issues about applications and the key choices you need to make, and some additional information for international applicants
