Getting a PHD ...

[monty_python]

I was wondering if for example i wanted to get a PHD in french at a uk university , would i have to do all the courses etc... ?? I'm already bilingual and was wondering if i can just take the test / do the dissertation right away ??

Tony , grateful for any comments you may have.

[daydreamer]

To get a PHD you have to prove that you have furthered understanding within your field.

There isn't a test therefore, you do three years of research and write it up.

[polar_ben]

er, no. taking a test doesn't really come into it...

At PhD level, we aim for students to make the transition into fully fledged, independent academic researchers, with the skills necessary to present their research orally as well as in writing, in addition to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. Such independence is achieved on the basis of a full appreciation of the hallmarks of good scholarship, such as original thought, the proper use of references and background material, appropriate use of methodology and accountable reporting procedures, and it is these priorities which we aim to impart to our students.

[stc_bennett]

PHD are not for that purpose, they are mainly research based, if you want to get a BA or MA degree you may be able to bypass some of the modules.

But even if you know how to speak to language to get the degree you have top know how to read write and understand everything as good as your main language.

[Psychobert]

Yup, thats about right. PhDs are basically training fgor life in academia, (or research in industry), so thats not really what you want at this stage. Plus, you would need a degree in the subject 1st and an idea of what to research. Its not so much a PhD in a subject, but a piece of research the end result of which is a reasoned argeument as to what you have done, why and what you found, (i.e. a thesis).

Your best best would be a degree or possibly masters which you will find easier than others starting the same route that are not bilingual, but I would be surpirsed if you don't need to prove you abilites somehow..

[Bodo]

If it would be that easy, I'd make my PhD in German at an English university

I guess it is more like that one:
www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/thesis.html

>> Edited to add: what ever happens, it'll be no PhD in English

>> Edited by Bodo on Sunday 30th March 21:30

>> Edited to add: aaargh! comma!

>> Edited by Bodo on Sunday 30th March 21:31

[pete_w]

-PhD...don't bother, complete waste of time IMHO. You're better off getting industrial (whatever) experience (and pay) after a first degree.

This of course assumes you don't want to be an academic

[twit]

If you are going to do one be sure you really want to or need to.

Doing mine was a personal hell, the work was actually quite easy! What was not was literally running out of cash in the third year, I had no money at all; nearly having the house repossessed, we lived off my wife's salery (at the time she was a fairly newly qualified teacher) and the general stress placed on relationships - not funny.

The net result... Complete waste of time! I came out with a loathing for academia, I shall never set foot in another university, and no real job prospects. I'm happily employed now in an area that was nothing to do with my PHD and to get the job I actually took the qualification off my CV - I had had a number of interviews where I was deemed overqualified. All in all 3-4 years I never want to repeat or remember!

Twit