Oh...besides all the serious reasons, I do it for a very important personal reason. I worked very hard for my family in the last 10 years (and 5 years for myself before that). I think it is time for me to get my reward. Besides a personal achievement, I look forward to going UK every Feb, June and Oct. I go with 100% intention to enjoy the trip and learning. The last time I stopped over at Dubai, which I have never been. This time Paris, which I have never been too. Next time I will stop by Amsterdam. Last time I flew economy. This time I fly premium economy. Hopefully, I strike a lottery next month and I fly business in June. If not, economy again. All these remind me of my life, make me reflect that I am a person. Not a dog.

Having said that, I make plans too. I have discussed with a couple of banks who said that they would support me in terms of providing me with data (not giving me money). I have gotten a few developers who said that they will help me publish in China. I have made contact with 2 universities (starting to make friends) so that when I get my degree, they will hire me as a adjunct professor. I will only get my degree in 4 years time, but I have started doing all these (and more which I didnt list). This is called long term greed (Goldman Sachs motto). I have not achieved anything yet, but I have a game plan which is half way through my execution.

I get you about the financial costs of doing this. But there is bigger picture here. DBA/PHD is a 4-5 years program with a lots of commitment (a lot of work, trust me). What is the opportunity cost?? If you invest the RM200,000 into a business today and work as hard for it....you might even build a small listed company if you have the vision and network or a side business that make you stable income few years later. This sounds silly but its totally true. So, if you dont plan your DBA well, your IRR is definitely negative (Senior Lecturer income is only 10k per month, no bonus). So, it is very important about why you want to do it. So, why you want to do it?

what do u meant by accredited? By which body?

For my current university for example. some already get their theoretical framework ready, up to Methodology chapter, once they get the admission, they will start collecting data, so no surprise can do it within 2 or 2.5 years.

I also notice some PhD student register as part time student (so that they pay 50% fee), but work full time on his/her research so can get it done in short time, even enrolled as part time study mode, in order to save cost.



This post has been edited by cheahcw2003: Jan 20 2015, 10:20 PM

Well said and I glad you enjoy your trips

For me, getting a phd is beyond financial rewards but rather getting closer to the truth, understand it, and be able to use it in a beneficial way.

Here's a little story for those who doesn't know economics. Less than 300 years ago, a chap named Adam Smith was combining philosophy and psychology (to form a new field, Economics study) and use it in the determination of national wealth (ie allocation of resources). He was kicked from his university as economics study simply didn't exist.

Less than 300 years later, we now acknowledged economics as a scientific knowledge, with great significance to human. Economics study is part of Nobel prize and his final book, The Wealth of Nations, is often considered to be one of the most influential book in human history, up there with Bible, Principia and I-Ching.

So for me, phd study may looks irrelevant to Business owners and general public. Doctorates often employed by researching bodies to carry out research as their daily works and these researches may look irrelevant to general public. However, these researches build the better future for us and knowing that gave me great energy to continue.

This post has been edited by ru40342: Jan 21 2015, 09:24 PM

The accreditation bodies are AMBA, AACSB (I cant remember the last one). While I don't choose a school based on its accreditation, I was very skeptical with those without any. There were many advertisements in Hong Kong for DBA courses from various universities. Some say total costs of HK$200,000 to be completed within 2.5 years. etc (I have heard of that uni from Australia). Many similar cases. Besides my current school, I attended HK Poly U talk and they said that one cannot complete the course for less than 3 years because of the reasons I mentioned. I also know that another friend of mine who did the Phd of Finance with University of Melbourne, he also had the same problem. But I suppose you dont need to worry la. Your school is a good school.

The best reason for PhD is your curiosity to know something in deep.You create new KNOWLEDGE through the PhD process, which these knowledge is unique in the world. Not big knowledge as Newton and Einstein. It is normally small such as a better equation to calculate the velocity of flow in engineering or discover the pattern of currency change with low oil price in economic.

PhD developed two skills, which are SCIENTIFIC SKILL and TECHNICAL SKILL. Both skills are essential in the modern world. Once you put 'Dr' in front of your name, people will expect you are good in both skills. PhD bring you benefit in long term to carry 'Dr' as international title for life. You need times to digest the benefit of 'Dr'.

PhD will be very dissapinted to those aiming fpr instant benefit in term of money or fame. PhD is a long term investment as property. If you can flip in 2 or 3 years, it is good. Most peoples invest PhD for life.

Well said

In all of honesty, it should've been the ultimate long-years pursuit of knowledge.
It should, really.

on top of that, if i may add - get it from a good university, with good research centre and a good research supervisor. It makes a different.

a doctorate degree grad doesn't guarantee bright future, but it does make a good start in career, what lies ahead is unpredictable, you will still need to work it out, in most cases, more demanding, as ppl has pointed out in this thread, many expect more from one with the "Dr" in front of his name.

good luck.

The only way one can survive a PhD in a quality programme is with passion and lots of support from your loved ones. Doing a PhD means you want to challenge yourself, learn and open more doors in your career. Anyone doing it for just money is kidding him/herself... cause the financial benefits you get are indirect and not instant per se.

It is my pleausre to share quotations in the book of "On being a scientist". PhD holders can claim themselves a scientist and being a responsible citizen in the Republic of Science.

An opportunity came up recently on doing a PhD at one of the golden triangle. The research will be in an engineering / computation related subject.

There are a number of issues to consider, with funding being one of them because if I'm doing this, it'll be funded by my company possibly with supplements from EPSRC UK. I will most likely be working half the week, with another half working in the lab.

I already know my research topic (it'll be on the applied side) and the supervisor (we have collaborated together and produced joint papers) so I am still targeting a 3-4 years completion date.

What I can't decide is whether I should walk away from my current job (I am pretty nicely paid) and a good team, and will also require me to move back to UK (I'm currently in Australia).

My experience has always been in the industry, and I intend to remain in the industry. Not expecting a pay rise with a PhD, but wanted to do it because it'll open up doors for me in the really exciting stuff.

I am 30 years old currently with no commitment.

Welcome thoughts from those who have been through this process before. Many thanks!

Congrats on being given this opportunity. I can't imagine that this will be a simple decision to make. It's one of the reasons why I decided to do my PhD immediately after my undergraduate degree instead of working. My opportunity came and I chose to finish my formal education once and for all before venturing forth into work.

I'd say you should take this opportunity especially since you have no commitments. Not everyone is offered the chance to pursue a PhD. It will change the way you think as a person and in your career forever, like an evolution for the mind. As you have said yourself, it will open doors to many exciting things in your career or even outside of your career. No one should do a PhD expecting instant financial gratification but eventually it will repay you in full and more.

Pursue this PhD if you are really passionate about your field of work/study because it's not going to be easy juggling a career and your research. However, if you make it in the end, it will be worth it. Good luck!

1) If you have intention to put PhD as an experience in life, please go ahead when you have no commitment. You may find your true one in university. I interviewed an 38 years old American recently. He started from bachelor degree, master and now PhD after many years of working. The older you are, the chances to do a PhD is lower due to high salary and commitment.
2) Talk to your company to remain your position and relate your research to the current position if there is a conncetion. Three years are not long. I believe you will have new life after 3 years, and you may not need the position normally.
3) You must use full strength to complete your PhD. If you bring hesistation into your study, you may end up with a failure in first year differentiation. PhD is like fragmentating your brain as hardisk to increase your brain power. Process is challenging, but you will find new way to see the world after completion.
4) If you like your current life so much, look for another funding to do a part-time PhD in Australia.

I remember I am so excited when being offer a sholarship last time. Congrats.