How old are most PhD students?

The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has released a new report on the career aspirations of doctoral students – people undertaking a doctorate.

Bethan Cornell uses unpublished data to explore how doctoral students influence their career choices.

Career matters

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. It’s a long road.
   • If you already have a masters, you might get a 2-3 year PhD at some universities (eg in the UK), but almost never in the US. Allow at least 5 years, rather than 6-8 years, depending on the field of study.
   • Ideally, your program will cover your tuition and living expenses, and you won’t graduate in debt. You can calculate the monetary value of your winnings and it is likely to be significant. Many people are comfortable with this decision (I am), but they make a conscious choice.
2. Know yourself and recognize your possibilities.
   • Remember that your PhD counterpart is to invest 5-6 years in something else: your current job, a new career, skills outside of the PhD, etc. Some of these opportunities could actually be paid for. They will give you experience, respect and great opportunities. The opportunity cost of a PhD is high in terms of salary and other work. Of course, this applies to all ages. However, your opportunity cost as a more experienced person is likely to be higher.
   • Make sure you understand your career opportunities after your PhD. In some disciplines, such as economics, PhDs are in high demand, and almost all get a well-paying professional or academic job. Political science too, I think. Academic and even professional positions in your field are becoming increasingly rare in the social sciences and some humanities. I once heard that less than a third of the graduates of the best history programs in the world get a university job.
   • If you are not thinking about becoming a professor, think twice about a PhD. Yes, it could promote you in your field. But most jobs I know would require six years worth of intensive experience in many fields, not just a PhD. I don’t know if the promotion is more rewarding. You have to ask it for yourself.
   • Many people complain about the terrible opportunities for many graduate students and the poor treatment of associate professors. This tells me that many people are doing PhDs with the wrong expectations.
3. Older people will bring many good things to the table.
   • PhD students are not known to be good with people, projects or money. You’ve probably learned a few things about being a professional no matter what you do.
     
     It will serve you well and offset some of the inconveniences of old age. Maybe even more than in return. My experience as a management consultant has certainly helped me manage large research projects better and earlier.
   • When you graduate, faculty hiring committees will probably focus more on what you can do compared to your cohort than how old you are under 35 or 40. You can’t even look at your age or past experience. If you are over 40, then yes, I think you will see discrimination in the job market because of any major career change, regardless of career.
4. But there are some disadvantages.
   • You may or may not like being around a lot of 25-year-old classmates and your teachers will do the same.
   • If you have no savings or are in debt, you may end up living a much worse lifestyle than you are used to.
   • You’re more likely to have family or financial obligations in retirement, so after you graduate you’ll have less freedom to make high-yield investments that are distant or unpaid. Some jobs, postdocs or fellowships are not suitable for a more complex personal situation. You may be unable or unwilling to work 12 days for the same reasons.
   • Of course, this applies to all career changes later in life, especially in the non-profit or public sector.
5. Once you are in, remember that promotion is not easy for anyone. It’s a constant source of existential anxiety when you’re in the middle of it. Know that everyone thinks the same way and it’s not a special product of your age or what you brought with you.
6. As one commenter said, “I am tempted to fight, when you are too young?” Good point. Here is another person expressing the same view. A topic for another day.

Why do thirtysomethings do a doctorate in business school?

Most people start their PhD in Business Administration in their 30s, as those with an MBA or equivalent are usually preferred. Most of these MBA programs require you to have at least a few years of work experience before you apply. In fact, students are often reluctant to apply for an internship right after their bachelor’s degree.

Take part in the doctoral quiz! You will love it.

Student Loan Debt Considerations

If you are 61 and have loans, it will take time to pay them off. Debt is worth thinking about before you do a PhD. If you can get accepted into a doctoral program that pays your tuition or even gives you a scholarship, you may be able to graduate with much less student loan debt. This support may allow you to consider a doctorate later in life.

To be able to do a doctorate, you must have a bachelor’s degree. From there, some can go directly into a doctoral program. If you graduated at the traditional age of 22, you will receive your doctorate around the age of 25 at least.