Why you might choose to do a PhD
1. Major learning experience
First of all, a PhD is, of course, incredibly educational: you take your academic skills to a level that you cannot achieve with a bachelor's or master's degree. Not only do you become an expert in your own subject, but you also strengthen your analytical and critical thinking skills, your judgement, and your ability to view complex problems from a broad perspective. Moreover, you will grow on a personal level; you will learn to be resilient and solution-oriented, because not everything will go as planned. These skills will serve you well for the rest of your career and life.
2. Passion for research
If you want to do a PhD, you must be passionate about it! Do you enjoy doing research in general? And does the specific subject of the research match your interests and passions? Then you're in the right place! But if you are considering doing a PhD purely to impress others, to prove yourself or because everyone around you is doing it, then a PhD may not be such a good idea; with this (extrinsic) motivation, four years is a very long time…
3. Job opportunities and networking
A PhD opens many doors. During your PhD, you will meet all kinds of other researchers, companies and professionals, both nationally and internationally. This will significantly expand your professional network! As a PhD candidate, you will also have great job opportunities. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), PhD graduates are more likely to have a job related to their field and to have a permanent contract than other people with a university degree. Furthermore, with a PhD, you can go in any direction. You can stay in academia, become a university lecturer, work for a company or even start your own. So, there are plenty of opportunities!
Of course, job opportunities and expanding your network should not be your (only) motivation for doing a PhD, but it’s a nice addition ;).
4. Freedom
While doing a PhD, you usually have a lot of freedom. You can incorporate your own ideas and creativity into your project, as long as you can justify them properly. You also decide how to structure your days and weeks and how long you work. If you value autonomy and independence, this freedom is a significant advantage.
5. Impact
A rewarding aspect of doing a PhD is that your work matters. During your PhD, you will write several articles that will (hopefully) be published. By publishing your research, you share your knowledge with other researchers worldwide. This contribution to your field can be very fulfilling!
Why you might choose not to do a PhD
1. Salary
Doing a PhD comes with some downsides, too. The salary during your PhD is relatively low: the average salary of a PhD candidate in the Netherlands is around €2,809. That said, there are separate salary scales for PhD candidates. This means that after the first year, and possibly also after subsequent years, you will receive a pay rise. If you are considering a PhD, it is a good idea to take a look at your financial situation. You may prefer to have a part-time job alongside your PhD.
2. Working alone
As a PhD candidate, you will spend most of the time working individually. Of course, you may have fellow PhD candidates around you, and you will collaborate with other researchers and attend meetings, conferences and team events, but ultimately, you will work alone behind your laptop a lot of the time. Do you value frequent collaboration and interaction with others? Then this is something to think about.
3. Theoretical versus practical
A PhD is generally very theoretical. Of course, a PhD also has practical aspects, such as running experiments in a laboratory or supervising students. However, most of your time will be spent on theory, such as reading or writing articles. If you prefer mainly practical work, then a PhD may not be the best choice for you.
4. Mental endurance
A PhD is (unfortunately) not always easy. You will have to face many deadlines, flexible working hours, a lot of individual work and possibly a competitive environment. This can lead to pressure, stress and blurred boundaries between your work and personal life. That is why a PhD requires resilience, perseverance and the ability to guard your boundaries.
5. Less structure
Because you have a lot of freedom during your PhD, there is also less structure than you may be used to. You plan your own time, decide for yourself what your priorities are, what can wait until later and how you will tackle it. For a project lasting several years, this responsibility and lack of structure can be quite challenging. Some people thrive better in a fixed schedule with a clear structure, and that is completely fine.
In short, there is no simple yes or no answer to the question of whether you should do a PhD ;). Therefore, think carefully about what is important to you, what kind of person you are and how you like to work, and weigh up the pros and cons on that basis. Talk to PhD candidates, doctoral researchers and (co-)supervisors to get a realistic picture. Whatever you decide, the most important thing is that you choose what suits you best!
