What you need to know about a PhD
(before you start)
Dr Lizelle Lubbe, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCT, gives advice on what to expect on your journey.
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A PhD is an opportunity to apply all that you have learned from textbooks and contribute novel knowledge to your chosen field of study. It is an exciting time where you are mentored one-on-one by an academic who is an expert in your field of study, and you get to fully immerse yourself in your research.
Your supervisor and group You will undoubtedly experience some failures through these years, and it is important that you learn how to cope with these. Your research group should offer you this support and it is therefore very important to choose your supervisor and project wisely. You will spend the next few years of your life dedicated to this project and it is far more likely to succeed with a supporting supervisor and a passion for your chosen research topic. If you are still unsure whether the group is the right fit for you after reading journal articles on their work, ask if you can be accommodated in the group for job-shadowing or a short internship. You can also speak to past or present postgraduate students about their experiences in the group.
Funding Dr Lizelle Lubbe completed a PhD in Chemical Biology in 2018, specialising in Biomedical Research. She now works as a GCRF START Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCT. 70 / CAREERS SERVICE GUIDE 2021
Before enrolling for a PhD, think of your motivation. It is a long, difficult, and costly journey to embark on and your decision to enrol should not be taken lightly. Find out if your dream job requires you to have a PhD. In some sectors, having a PhD can render you overqualified and lacking work experience while in others, it is a requirement. Moreover, realize that you will most likely have to financially depend on grants that are renewed annually, depending on progress. This can add stress and uncertainty to your life. A PhD is expensive and can be even more challenging to fund if you already have a student loan carried over from your undergraduate studies. As a supplement to your PhD grant, consider part-time tutoring.
