I have been thinking for a couple of months whether I should convert to be a full time PhD student.

Pros of being a full timer
- More time to spend on your PhD research
- More time to write papers as well
- You can get it done faster

Cons
- No income unless you apply for a scholarship

Pros of being a part timer
- Steady income

Cons
- Less time to spend on research
- Distraction
- Work is your main priority
- It will take a longer time to finish the PhD


For me, I think income and time are the deciding factors.

I have an easy job (not stressful), pay is not bad (not that high, not that low), but of course there are still work to do. And work becomes my main responsibility instead of the PhD research. As at now, both of my supervisors find my proposal framework to be acceptable. So, I just need to spend more time writing on the literature review and the methodology at the moment.

I have already decided to resign but I haven't tendered yet. My main aim is to be an academic/researcher and I want to spend more time on my PhD research and to spend more time on writing research papers and to get it publish. If I continue to work, I don't think I have the time to write such papers and the place I'm working doesn't seem to be encouraging research activities. I don't think this is the type of institution that I want to continue working in.

My worry now is that whether I could get the MyBrain scholarship because I'm from the social science field and the chances are lower compared to the science and technology field. The requirement is that you have to resign from your full time job before you are qualified to apply for it.

So, what do you think, guys?

This post has been edited by Blofeld: May 5 2012, 11:35 AM

Actually you can still apply the MyBrain scholarship while working:

(h) Pemohon dari kategori kakitangan swasta dan pensyarah IPTS boleh mengikuti pengajian secara sepenuh masa atau separuh masa, tertakluk kepada syarat berikut:

•Kakitangan swasta dan pensyarah IPTS hanya dibenarkan mengikuti pengajian secara separuh masa di IPTA;
•Kakitangan swasta dan pensyarah IPTS boleh menerima penajaan atau pembiayaan tambahan daripada majikan masing-masing, sekiranya ia bukan biasiswa penuh;
•Pensyarah IPTS perlu mengikuti pengajian di IPTA atau IPTS selain daripada IPTS tempat mereka bekerja; dan
•Pensyarah IPTS boleh mengikuti pengajian selain daripada bidang pengajian yang disenaraikan.

My superior (whom is working of course) in private sector applied for MyBrain PhD and got it. So yeah, you can apply for it while you are working.

Yes, I am aware that kakitangan swasta is also eligible for MyBrain but I think I have decided to go fulltime because I want to spend more time on my research.

Apply first, secure it, then tender?

Cannot do like that.

They require me to have to a letter to certify that I have resigned from the job. That is one of the requirement.

Pretty sad huh.

I mean you apply as pekerja swasta + part time first. once it is successful, maybe they allow you to change status to full time. Doesnt work also?

Once you get the scholarship, you will be bound to a contract and I'm not sure whether they allow you to change the terms or not because a full time student and a part time student will get different benefits from MyBrain.

Part time student will not receive any monthly allowance whereas full time student will receive it.

maybe you can try asking them to get a definite answer. doing full time without any stipend or income is not advisable. any other routes like becoming research assistant or something?

Yes, there are those research assistant positions available in the university.

Or I can find part time jobs in other private institutions teaching by the hour. That's my back-up plan.

Does your current job related to your PhD study? If yes, keep it. If no, you can consider to go full time.

I heard the scholarship is easy to get as long as you fullfil all the criteria and submit proper documentation. (told by dekan pusat pemajuan pelajar)

None at all.

I will take the risk to resign and apply it later.

there's post grad scholarship given by uni as your back up. just in case...

part time la...later u got experience and paper....after dat u can demand for higher salary

I think part time lecturing or tutoring would give you flexibility in terms of hours contributed to work, rather than the fixed time that you do full time. you are half way through your PHD (long way to go or...)?

Anyway, all the best

Yes, that's my plan. There's more flexibility in part-time teaching.

I just started, it's my first semester. So, it's a long way to go.

And thanks...

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Added on May 7, 2012, 1:25 pmExperience, I believe I have it already.

What I need more are publishing papers and presenting papers at conferences.

Somehow, based on my conversations with some academics, publications are more important than experience, unless if you're some Bill Gates or Steve Jobs with 30+ years experience.


This post has been edited by Blofeld: May 7 2012, 01:25 PM

Yes, it is true but i would say it depends on the field as well. My opinion is that publications can indicate how experience a researcher is in his or her field.

depends on the type of institutions. generally college or private ipt care more towards teaching/practical experience.

Doing phd part-time is not an good idea unless your job is related with your phd research.

What about full time study and work.

Currently i'm enrolled in Industrial PHD with UTM,maybe can consider the Industrial PHD as I found that comparing with my friends that completed total 5 years of master + phd, they come back and work here and start work at slightly higher than Junior Level Engineer even with PHD (another option will be lecturer) Work experiences will deliver the positions better. But of course you need to built up the academic as this where the people judge your technical expertise(even though academic sometimes not related to what you working for)