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Anonymous reader request – is it worth applying for a new PhD program?

Is it worth trying to apply for a new PhD program (e.g. in the UK) given my current situation? I am a PhD student in a non-English speaking country at a small philosophy department. I am nearing the nominal study time for my PhD. However – given my current standing – it is not likely that I will graduate any time soon. Also, I feel that, once having completed the PhD here, I would not really have much chance of getting a career in philosophy with the degree. I am aware that all this might give the impression that I am simply a bad student. I could try to reduce this impression by explaining the various reasons why I’ve found myself in this situation. However, I prefer not to do so on this webpage. With one exception: at a certain stage I found myself working on topics that no one in my department knows very much about. So as one option to improve my situation, I am considering applying anew for another PhD program in a better school, possibly in the UK. However, as I lack insight into the acceptance policies and preferences of more competitive institutions, and into the nature of the job-market more generally, I am struggling to assess whether such a move would be reasonable.

My concerns are:

  • Would the more competitive departments even consider enrolling a student with my background?
  • Would it in fact enhance my prospect for a philosophical career to any significant degree?

My alternative is to graduate from where I am currently, try to publish some papers (on which I am working on right now) and apply for a post-doc position with these resources.

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2 responses to “Anonymous reader request – is it worth applying for a new PhD program?”

  1. Amanda

    I won’t delve too far into the should you or should you not go thing, other than to say it is a big and risky decision and be ready for the possibility that you will not get a job. I will say that unless you get into Oxford, I would consider going to the US rather than the UK. The US has an entire market of teaching schools that the UK lacks, and you will only get teaching experience if you are in the US. Look at the placement records of US schools, and you will find many lower ranked ones with very good placement records at teaching schools. I do think you have a chance at getting in as well. The downside of US schools is they take much longer, but you will probably be getting teaching experience during those longer years. I know several folks from Europe have gotten TT teaching positions in the US. All in all, you probably have to be single (or at least without kids) and willing to risk many years of low income and job insecurity if you want to transfer. It’s up to you if that is something you consider worth while. (Depending on your situation, you might try a couple years in the US and then leave after a Master’s degree if you don’t like it. Whether that is good idea will depend on how easily you can get a job in your own country I guess.)

    Reply
  2. professore italiano

    I am an Italian and I pursued my PhD in another country. I was lucky to land a TT job out of graduate school, but I wish somebody told me to look at the Philosophy Gourmet Report back then.
    If you haven’t done it yet, have a look at it.
    “Would it in fact enhance my prospect for a philosophical career to any significant degree?”
    I don’t know. I think it matters a lot where you want to pursue your career. If you want to work in US/UK/Canada, then a PhD from a “Leiterrific” institution is certainly an advantage. In my case, having a PhD from a non-Italian institution would not be a disadvantage if I were to pursue a career in Italy. Here’s the thing: networking is essential in philosophy, but my AOS is very narrow and I believe that a good 70% of folks working in my field in my home country knows my name – we met at conferences etc. I never had a career in Italy because of the dire situation there, but I am confident that, had the situation been better, my PhD from abroad would not have been a disadvantage. In fact, it might even be an advantage (Italians tend to like almost everything coming from outside of their country – that is, except food).
    But I don’t know whether this could apply to other countries as well. I know of many PhD students (from China or Chile) who came to well known programs to get their PhDs, with a job waiting for them in their home countries.

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