Should we stop using the title of PhD student? This was a blog topic covered recently. The blog raised some good points, but the take home message was that many 'PhD students' don't fit the traditional student mould. Some are older, some are already employed and completing PhDs part-time. It was also pointed out that PhD students fulfill roles in departments that are above the status quo for a typical student role. Does this matter? Likely not. These days, there are large num

You’re at a conference volunteering at a career information session for graduates and postgraduates. You sit as part of a panel of ‘experts’ informing those brave/eager souls who approach your table (after a beer for courage of course). Your topic – moving for international graduate and postdoctoral positions. During the course of the evening one of your ‘expert’ peers asks how long it has been since you finished your PhD. You reply. Your peer informs you quite loudly that th

It’s a common question. A REALLY common question! Many countries throughout Europe and the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore) have 3-year PhD programmes (or programs for the US spellers). Meanwhile North Americans typically opt for 5+ years. Why is there such a difference, and is one system better than the other? https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/3503/is-it-true-that-it-is-easier-to-obtain-a-phd-in-europe-than-the-us-on-a