What is it like doing a PhD course in Singapore?

[fnship]

Hi,

I'm not sure if I've posted this in the right section, but any advice would be appreciated.

I am hoping to move to Singapore to study for a PhD (starting next year) at the NGS, although I have not applied for a place yet.

I contacted them and was told that I should expect to be in the lab every week day, all the daylight hours (is that 12 hours?) and most weekends. This seems quite excessive to me.

I just cannot imagine what I would be doing in a lab all that time as I am quite certain it would not take me all day to do most experiments and I do not need to be in a lab to do internet/textbook research.

Does anybody know first hand if this is truly what I should expect?

Thanks.

[LoriW]

Hahahahaha!! Ummm............ that's pretty much true of doing a PhD in science in most countries!!

The more prestigious the academic you work for, the longer hours you will be expected to work. Unfortunately, a PhD isn't a skive, it's a way of life!

I don't know about doing a PhD in Singapore, but certainly in the USA and the UK in my field, you will find yourself in the lab for a good 10 to 12 hours a day probably 6 1/2 days a week, for the remaining 1/2 day, you will probably be at the pub/bar getting slaughtered just to unwind before starting again

That way of life will probably remain with you for the rest of your life as a habit.

Yes, there are research groups where you may work 9-5 for 5 days a week.

I'm assuming that you're a 2nd year degree student or a masters student right now? Talk to PhD students at your university and find out about their lives.

Most people will choose their PhD based on the research interest of the academic rather than the location though ..........

[fristromcan]

Agree with the previous poster. As a PhD student, working long hours, throughout holiday is a norm. Further, it depends on which area you working in. If there is expt component and you have to share equipments, you might find yourself having to be in the lab at night.

[fnship]

Thanks LoriW and fristromcan for your replies.

I'm a graduate from the UK, and in the field of biochemistry. I shared a lab with a first year PhD student while doing my final year project, we were working under the same supervisor. The PhD student spent less time in the lab per week than I did, and I worked from about 2 to 9 hours a day, depending on what I had to get done to get my results. I even took on more work than I had to.

However, I have heard of some supervisors who insist their students stay in the lab for a set number of hours despite having no lab work for them to do, so perhaps it is purely down to your supervisor and your research topic.

I only enquired as the person I contacted just made it sound like it was compulsory for PhD students to be at uni, in lab all day. It sounded something like what I mentioned above. I was wondering how different a PhD course in Singapore would be compared to England as it seems that generally Singapore is much less laid back than England.

Anybody taken/taking a PhD course in Singapore and care to share the experience? I would like to get a general idea of what is demanded from PhD students. I know in the UK it varies from one extreme to the other depending on supervisor and your research topic. Is this pretty much the same in Singapore or do things work differently there?

[fristromcan]

A PhD is a "universal" degree i.e. you attained certain "standard" of education and in theory, it should not matter WHERE you get it from. Having said that, as there is no fixed curriculum and most PhD is research-based, what is required/expected by the PhD supervisor varies a lot.

As LoriW already pointed out, doing a PhD is "way of life"... in many ways, there is "no life", in particular, if you are passionate about your work. So I am confused as to why the number of hours is important, as what should really matter is the project itself: why should you invest 3-4 years of your life on it. If you are so concerned about the working hour, it is best you talk to your potential PhD supervisor.

But if it makes you feel better, I have not seen a clock-in machine at NUS, nor in other university around the world. Hope this helps.

[LoriW]

But if it makes you feel better, I have not seen a clock-in machine at NUS, nor in other university around the world. Hope this helps.

Hahahahahaha!! LMAO!!!

Seriously though, Fristromcan's post is so true. If you are querying your working hours, I'd say you need to question why you want to do a PhD.

As a young undergraduate, I had a lecturer whose first words to his class were "What are you doing here? If you're here so you can get a good job at the end of this and earn megabucks, get out now!" Over 25 years on, I've never forgotten his words!

As a scientist, I'd never encourage a young person to study science unless it was a lifestyle choice! To an undergraduate in a pure science - Chemistry or Physics, my words would always be, get your degree and get out! Do accountancy or banking.

For the whole of my working life, I have lived and breathed my work and been pretty poorly paid for it. Even if you aren't working in the lab 24 hours a day, you will be waking up at 3am with the answer to a question, or being awake all night looking for the answer!

[fnship]

The reason I ask about the hours is mainly because I am a mother of two and a wife, working 12 hour days 7 days a week does not allow for much family life. Also, I am not familiar with seeing most PhD students (at least in the university I was at) in the lab for such long hours. The only time they complained of working into the night was once in a blue moon, when they had been slacking off for some time and needed to catch up... Although this is not my working habit, or yours it seems, LoriW, I know in the UK there are many universities that offer a more balanced and healthy lifestyle.

I am perhaps not as able to freely roam as most students, so where I choose to study is partly for my benefit but is also taking my family into consideration.

I know very well that non-lab research takes up a considerable amount of time, but when I was asking about working hours, I was referring to lab working hours done within the university, as I can do non-lab research at home.

Fristromcan, I think I'll take your advice and further contact with my potential supervisor(s). Thanks.

[LoriW]

The reason I ask about the hours is mainly because I am a mother of two and a wife, working 12 hour days 7 days a week does not allow for much family life. Also, I am not familiar with seeing most PhD students (at least in the university I was at) in the lab for such long hours. The only time they complained of working into the night was once in a blue moon, when they had been slacking off for some time and needed to catch up... Although this is not my working habit, or yours it seems, LoriW, I know in the UK there are many universities that offer a more balanced and healthy lifestyle.

I think that having two littles, you're very brave even considering a PhD so kudos to you

At the end of the day, it's not the university but the research group you're working in. Different academics have different personalities which in turn attracts different people choosing to work for them.

It is absolutely more than possible to get a PhD working 9 - 5 but at the end of the day it depends on who you work for and what you're aiming to do with it. If you're looking for prestige and publications with your name attached to that of someone "big" then I'm afraid that kids or no, you're still going to have to put the hours in. If it's just a paper qualification and personal satisfaction then go for it.

[fristromcan]

fnship: you are very brave indeed.

I essentially agree with LoriW, except for "If it's just a paper qualification."

IMHO, a PhD these days is not worth as it is say >30 yrs ago and having a PhD does not guarantee jobs. Not sure what is your career plan after your PhD. Typically, people go for postdoc, 2 yrs contract. After one postdoc, you may have another one i.e. total of 4 yrs, before you landed on a permanent position, if you are lucky.

With a family and two kids, you might have to work very hard to fit your plan into your husband and your kids career/education etc. plan.

Personally, I see doing a PhD as a commitment, probably for life. So maybe it is not so much your supervisor expects of you, it is more what you expect from yourself.

BTW, apart from talking to your potential supervisor(s), it is also worth talking to their current or pass students to find out how it is like working in the lab. Good luck!

[LoriW]

I essentially agree with LoriW, except for "If it's just a paper qualification."

OK, perhaps that was a bit unfair of me - I have known people start a PhD because they had no better idea of what to do after their first degree and not give a huge amount of thought to the academic, field of research etc.

A little thought ........ if you're going to be in singapore anyway due to family commitments, have you considered A*Star? You may well be able to choose to work towards a PhD in the group/department you're working in? Having a 9-5 job in a research organisation will mean that you have your feet under the table as it were, then you will know how it works there before committing yourself to something you can't actually manage?