What Exactly Is A PhD – My Own Definition
In the world of academia, a PhD is deemed the highest qualification one can achieve, with the exception of some very niche variants. Unlike other types of degrees, a PhD requires you to conduct original research and contribute new knowledge to your field. To discover how a PhD actually works, check out my other article!
The Traditional Definition
Whether you are considering undertaking a PhD, you are enrolled on a PhD program, or a PhD graduate, the chances are you know what PhD stands for. If not, let me enlighten you… It stands for “Doctor of Philosophy“. I know what you are thinking: what does the “h” stand for? In truth, I have no idea!
By contributing new knowledge to your field, you are deemed a Philosopher. This comes from the Greek word for “love of wisdom”. This refers to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding rather than the academic discipline of philosophy.
The term “Doctor” is often misconstrued with that of a Medical Doctor (MD). To clarify the term “Doctor” comes from the Latin verb which means “to teach” and has been used in academia since the 13th century. Before I undertook my PhD I was unaware that the “real Doctor” was, in fact, a PhD holder and not an MD.
My Definition of A PhD
Reflecting on my PhD journey I have come to realise that students aren’t expected to know everything, nor are they supposed to become experts within three years, but rather show that they possess the ability to work on a novel piece of work independently and draw reasonable conclusions that are concurrent with existing literature.
It is in this realisation that I discovered what the term PhD actually stands for, and I hope you will agree with me! So lets get to it…
The real definition of PhD stands for Perseverance, Hard Work, and Determination! No mention of Doctors, no mention of Philosophers, but rather an abbreviation of the qualities one must possess in order to achieve this qualification! Do I think it’s worth it? You can learn more about my PhD journey in my other article here!
To complete a PhD, you must have the ability to persevere when things don’t go right, and trust me, they won’t. I can’t even begin to tell you the number of things that didn’t go right, so you must be flexible and persevere through the tough times!
Likewise, it’s hard, so you must be willing to put in the effort, the hours, and everything in between. The difficulty here is that everything lies on your shoulders, no one else. That’s pressure, and having a strong hard-working ethic will carry you to the finish line!
You have to be stubborn at times. You must be determined to see this through. It’s not going to be easy, nor is it going to be fun 100% of the time, so in those tough times, you must develop the determination of a champion to see the whole process through.
The Truth About A PhD
I can’t lie and say that a PhD is super easy, but at the same time, I can’t say it was a terrible experience. When I was looking at doing a PhD, there were a lot of negative reviews from people, saying it was the worst experience of their life; never do it, etc.
I don’t think that is a fair reflection. In fact, your PhD experience can be determined by three main factors…
- Why do you want to do a PhD in the first place?
- Are you genuinely interested in the subject matter?
- Select your supervisor carefully!
Reflecting back on these very factors, my responses would be something like…
- I wanted to become an expert within my field which would allow me to combine my love of business with Chemical Engineering.
- I am super interested in learning about things that only a few people in the world know about, and so this motivated me to consume as much as I possibly could!
- My supervisor Dr Cristina Rodriguez, was my lecturer during my undergraduate and postgraduate studies. I knew from the way she taught and her passion for her work that she would be a great supervisor, and I wasn’t wrong!
The Hardest Part
This is of course going to vary from person to person, but for me, the toughest part about my PhD was learning how to actually analyse data and draw proper conclusions from it. Granted I used statistical software to help, but actually putting a narrative together was pretty tough.
Something that I feel is understated when it comes to doing a PhD is putting all your chapters together, formatting your references, tables, figures, equations, and everything in between was honestly one of the most challenging aspects for me.
Feeling motivated and keeping momentum is tough, especially when you have other commitments! For me I was juggeling my PhD studies, a full time lecturer position, running my Chemical Engineering Online Course business, tutoring, and trying to book public speaking gigs! I know it’s a lot. If you ask how I managed to do it, I honestly don’t know!
In addition to my professional commitments, my PhD journey was greatly influenced by my personal life too. I sadly lost one of my grandparents during my studies, came out of a long-term relationship unexpectedly, and lost a lot of friends due to work commitments, to name a few.
These are things no one actually mentions when doing a PhD as you don’t expect your life to be flipped upside down several times while trying to stay focused and motivated. Despite it all, I would do it all over again, given the chance!
Do You Agree...
Of course, this is my own personal view and experience of a PhD. I would love to hear your thoughts and learn about your experience of doing a PhD, so please leave a comment, share on social media, or send me an email at info@callumrussell.com, as it would be great to see what others’ opinions are of a PhD!