Is a PhD Right for Me?
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Raising awareness of what a doctorate is and why you might (or might not) want to do one.
This three-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the FutureLearn platform provides tips, wisdom and general guidance for those wondering whether doctoral study might be the right path for them. It also dispels misconceptions potential applicants may have about doctoral study from the moment they consider undertaking the degree through to the first years of their studies. Fundamentally, the course speaks to a wide range of groups and individuals traditionally under-represented in doctoral study. |
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As soon as you register, free access for three weeks begins. For extended access, there is an affordable upgrade. |
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Course Development
Project Lead / 'Lead Educator': Nancy Weitz
We had input from many stakeholders within the BLE member community: administrators and academics (including doctoral supervisors), careers services, student support services, widening participation specialists and, of course, current and recent doctoral students.
We had input from many stakeholders within the BLE member community: administrators and academics (including doctoral supervisors), careers services, student support services, widening participation specialists and, of course, current and recent doctoral students.
- Advisory Group: Kept an overview of the whole project and offering guidance where needed, particularly in meeting the needs of diversity.
- Working Group: Provided hands-on support, contributions to content and guidance with decisions on the scope and direction of the course. Some members of our working group appear in video interviews in the course.
- Development Team: Those who created the course through learning design, writing, multi-media and working with the platform. Members of Development Team also went on to monitor and oversee the running of the course.
Development Team
The Development Team included:
The Development Team included:
- Research, Writing and Course Design: Three Authors, current Doctoral students ranged around the UK, engaged in all aspects of the research and development, but principally in designing and writing the content.
- Video: One of the authors led and wrote for the two video streams: interviews and narrative dramas. A UCL film and documentary Master's graduate filmed the on-location footage and edited the narrative videos for the course, working with London-based actors: Molhim Ahmed, Luke Dunn, Chloe Pervez and Shervine Thompson. In addition we got invaluable assistance and studio time at UCL and Birkbeck.
You can watch a presentation from the project team on creating the course:
Is a PhD Right For ME? A collaborative approach to meeting individual needs in a MOOC. Delivered at the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE) conference on Research in Distance Education (RIDE) 2024.
Is a PhD Right For ME? A collaborative approach to meeting individual needs in a MOOC. Delivered at the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE) conference on Research in Distance Education (RIDE) 2024.
Meet the Developers!
Mark Dawson: Research, Writing and Course Design
Mark is currently a Postgraduate Research student at Coventry University. His research investigates student/staff experiences of Collaborative Online International Learning, also known as Virtual Exchange. When not working on his PhD (or MOOC development!), he loves travelling and reading about current affairs/the natural world.
Mark is currently a Postgraduate Research student at Coventry University. His research investigates student/staff experiences of Collaborative Online International Learning, also known as Virtual Exchange. When not working on his PhD (or MOOC development!), he loves travelling and reading about current affairs/the natural world.
Lindsay Nygren: Research and Writing
Lindsay is a postgraduate researcher in the School of Education at Glasgow University. Her research focuses on international student employability and the role of the university in graduate experiences through social network analysis. When she's not working on her PhD (or MOOC development!), she is very active in the UK international student community as an ambassador with UKCISA and creating podcasts for the School of Education's policy seminars.
Lindsay is a postgraduate researcher in the School of Education at Glasgow University. Her research focuses on international student employability and the role of the university in graduate experiences through social network analysis. When she's not working on her PhD (or MOOC development!), she is very active in the UK international student community as an ambassador with UKCISA and creating podcasts for the School of Education's policy seminars.
Tom Graham: Research, Writing, Video Lead
Tom is currently engaged in a PhD at Birkbeck in which he is conducting an Adornoian critique of the social history of the concept of Satan. He is very interested indeed in supporting and encouraging those who, like him, had long since written off ever being able to engage in high-level academic study because of their background. Tom has worked as an author, scriptwriter, art director and animator.
Tom is currently engaged in a PhD at Birkbeck in which he is conducting an Adornoian critique of the social history of the concept of Satan. He is very interested indeed in supporting and encouraging those who, like him, had long since written off ever being able to engage in high-level academic study because of their background. Tom has worked as an author, scriptwriter, art director and animator.
Lucas Renelleau: Filmmaker
Lucas is a content creator and videographer. A graduate of UCL's ethnographic documentary filmmaking program, he has undertaken several documentary film projects, which have been put forward for festivals, as well as a number of freelance projects ranging from working with bands to charities.
Lucas is a content creator and videographer. A graduate of UCL's ethnographic documentary filmmaking program, he has undertaken several documentary film projects, which have been put forward for festivals, as well as a number of freelance projects ranging from working with bands to charities.
Other vital contributors
Oladeji Oloko
Content reviewer and Advisory Board member (and interviewee!). Deji has just completed her PhD at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Content reviewer and Advisory Board member (and interviewee!). Deji has just completed her PhD at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Nichola Gretton
Learning Design consultant. Nichola is a Fellow at the University of London Centre for Online and Distance Excellence (CODE).
Learning Design consultant. Nichola is a Fellow at the University of London Centre for Online and Distance Excellence (CODE).
