Reasons to study a research degree

Reasons to study a research degree and how to consider whether it is right for you.

Ten reasons to do a doctorate

This short animation features the voices of PhD students talking about the best things about doing a doctorate.

The animation is by David Hutchinson (MA in Animation, UWE Bristol). You can also watch a great range of videos showing UWE Bristol in action on our YouTube channel.

Is a research degree right for me?

It's important to think about why you want to do a research degree and what will motivate you through the research process.

A substantial commitment

Postgraduate research degrees involve substantial commitment in terms of time, intellectual energy, and for many, financial backing. It’s important for you to think carefully about what you wish to achieve by doing your research degree and why, as well as the impact that studying will have on your lifestyle, particularly for part-time students.

Consider your motivations

You should see doing a research degree as more than just ‘the next step up’ from taught study or solely for the improvement of your future earning power. It’s crucial to consider what will motivate you through the highs and lows of the research process over a number of years.

When you embark on a research degree at UWE Bristol you’ll be pushing boundaries – academic and personal. By the time you reach the end of your degree, you will have produced a high quality thesis and made a contribution to new knowledge, but also much more. You’ll develop a wide range of valuable transferable skills including research methods, critical thinking, academic writing, and perhaps gain experience in getting published, teaching, presenting in national and international conferences and engaging with the public.