Perhaps you are wondering "why did you choose to be a researcher?", "is it challenging or not?", "does this affect your life?" or other similar questions. If this is your case, here you have some of the predictable questions behind my choice of being a researcher.
Disclaimer: what you will read suit is based on my personal experience. You may disagree with me on certain points, but this is what I have faced insofar. You should seek advise or suggestions if you wish to have a smooth, flawless experience as a researcher.
Q: Why did you choose to be a researcher?
A: Because my Italian supervisor and I agreed that my MRes thesis was worthy of a follow up, which is my studies here at Reading. Plus, I am curious and, like Dante, do not accept facts and things "as they are". Yet, I do believe that cultural exchanges between Jews and Christians did take place during the Middle Ages. Dante was aware of them and did attend them.
Basically, these are the reasons of why I have chosen to be a researcher
Q: What are the requirements for a prospective/future researcher?
A: First of all, knowing what kind of topic you would like to research. It should be less studied or not studied at all. Then, think about how you might fill the void in the studies and why you would like this topic should be worthy of attention. This is fundamental because, once you have a research topic, you are halfway done!
Secondly, find a potential supervisor. This can be done by browsing universities' websites or attending International Study Fairs. Then, look to the department potentially interested to your studies. Write to the head of the department or to the professor ideally fit to supervise you.
Thirdly, look also for linguistic and study requirements. The higher your language level is, the better it is! Studies must be outstanding and adequate to your research area.
Lastly, be curious, attentive, determined, strong-willed and ready to live a semi-hermit lifestyle. Why quasi-hermit? Because, though there will be moments of sharing your findings, interactions with supervisors or attending seminars and conferences (sometimes even holding them!), most of a researcher's time will be spent on books, libraries, courses (if any) and web browsing. In other words, few social interactions.
Anyway, do not worry: these sacrifices are rewarded with high self-esteem, self-confidence and acknowledgement of contributing to general knowledge with your unique study!
Q: So, I guess that being a researcher is not a flat road...
A: Yes, it is. As I said above, there are lows and highs, happiness and sorrow, joy and crisis. However, it is like any kind of duties or works you are up to.
Q: How long does it take from contact the potential supervisor to be a postgraduate student?
A: I cannot tell you exactly how long this usually takes because this process varies according to one's own situation.
Speaking about my experience, it took me one month to contact my current supervisor and 6 months to begin (counting the on-line application, finding where to live, completing the inscription and moving to where I live). Overall, from the first contact to the first day of our meeting, this took 7-8 months. Almost a year.
Q: How did you find where to live? To whom I shall contact for living?
A: Though I found advice from the Student's Union of my university and from the Italian Community in Reading, I mostly used the Internet to look for rooms to rent and real estate agents to contact.
It is also possible to live in the University Halls, but you ought to seek advice for such accommodations as this vary from each universities.
Anyway, I would definitely recommend you to contact the Student's Union of your prospect university for an advice about finding and renting home.
Q: What about funding? Is Brexit affecting you and your University on funding opportunities?
A: I am a part-time student, thus I am a self-funded student (through my parents' finances). Nevertheless, I have been looking for funding opportunities since I began my application process.
At the moment, Brexit is not affecting me, my University and all universities across UK. UK is still seeking prospective researchers in the EU and still joining EU funding schemes.
As of February 2020, UK withdrew from the European Union. Now there is a transition time, lasting approx. one year, where UK and EU are negotiating many issues, among which about researching.
Q: What are the deadlines for apply to a postgraduate scheme?
A: Generally speaking, there are two tranches. One that ends in August/September (aka "Autumn Term") and another in January/February (aka "Spring Term"). Some universities have also deadlines for July/August (aka "Summer Term"), but they are more like Summer Schools than Academic Programmes.
Anyway, I highly recommend to you to check your prospective University for the deadlines.
Q: What is a typical Postgraduate Course? Are there any mandatory courses I shall attend? Are there either seminars or conferences I must attend? Are there any vacations?
A: Although there are neither mandatory modules nor recommended ones, a typical Postgraduate Course requires regular meetings with your supervisors, times dedicated to research activities, attending seminars and conferences (whenever possible), following some courses (if applicable) and meeting with the Graduate School officers at the end of the Academic Year for a check-up of your own research. Of course, at the end of the Postgraduate Course, there is the long-awaited Ph.D thesis!
Usually, vacations for PhD students are: Christmas Break (Mid-December to Early January), Easter Break (mid-March to mid-April) and Summer Break (mid or late July to August). Please keep in mind that you ought to ask to your supervisors when you can actually go to vacation!
Q: Are there any benefits for a Postgraduate Student?
A: Usually, benefits for a future researcher are: yearly budgets (for buying books, covering costs of travelling for going to a library or attending conferences), Campus Card, savings on bus fees and Railcard. You could also benefit of more reduction if you adhere to the NUS (National Union Students) card scheme, but this is not mandatory.
Q: What about Visas/Study permits?
A: Your future university should be able to tell you what would be your immigration status as well as what you should do to obtain the required documents. If this is not the case, try contacting the embassy or the immigration office of your country. Or the Student's Union of your future university, which also will be able to tell you how to register to the NHS (National Healthcare System) and to have your NINo (National Insurance Number).
Q: What do you recommend to do whenever I loose my will or I do not fell motivated anymore to pursue my postgraduate career?
A: It is better do deal with your problems as soon as possible, or otherwise they will negatively affect you. Whenever you are feeling blue, consider what is/are your problem/s.
If you are unsure on how the academic world works, speak with your supervisors. You should speak with them even if you feel headed to nowhere: in this case, be ready to rectify your research lines - you will do this more frequently than you could expect! -.
If you have issues with your home, the Student's Union will readily assist you with your living. They will also suggest you how to tackle down your motivation loss or loneliness.
Keep in touch with your family and/or friends, at least once a day.
Q: what are you currently doing?
A: I am continuing my research from my home country (Italy). This because living costs in the UK were, on the long term, unbearable to me. Hence, I opted to continue my studies back in my home country. My supervisors agreed to my choiche and they switched my status as a at-distance student. When you do this, you ought to expect a new fee status. Though they will be high, they will be more acceptable than being in the UK.
Q: Are there any differences between an M.Phil and a Ph.D.?
A: Differences are about your research quality. M.Phil and Ph.D. have their own requirements - i.e. writing style, formality, how a topic is analyzed and so on - as well as a different timeline. An M.Phil lasts for 4 years, while a Ph.D. may last from 4 years (minimum) to 6 years (maximum). In my case, the Ph.D. lasts from 2016 to 2020 (minimum) to 2022 (maximum). As my research topic falls withtin the M.Phil. criteria, I am expecting to conclude the M.Phil. toward 2020/2022.