Should you do a PhD?

University courses Medicine & Psychology
1

:white_check_mark: Reasons to Do a PhD

1. You Want a Career in Academic Medicine or Research

  • If you’re aiming for a lectureship, professor role, or clinician-scientist career, a PhD is often essential.
  • Specialties like oncology, neurology, cardiology, and genetics value research-heavy backgrounds.

:pushpin: Tip: If you’re interested in the Academic Foundation Programme (AFP) or NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs), a PhD can help but isn’t always required.

2. You’re Passionate About Research

  • A PhD isn’t just a degree—it’s 3+ years of intense, independent research.
  • If you love hypothesis-driven research, problem-solving, and publishing papers, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
  • Some people love the intellectual freedom of a PhD compared to clinical medicine.

:pushpin: Tip: Try a BSc/MSc research project or intercalated degree first to see if you enjoy it.

3. Competitive Edge for Certain Specialties

  • Some competitive specialties value research highly, including:
    :heavy_check_mark: Neurosurgery
    :heavy_check_mark: Academic Radiology
    :heavy_check_mark: Medical Oncology
    :heavy_check_mark: Cardiology
    :heavy_check_mark: Gastroenterology
    :heavy_check_mark: Genomics & Precision Medicine
  • If you’re planning to apply for a Consultant/Professor post in an academic hospital, having a PhD can give you a strong advantage.

:pushpin: Tip: If you’re not sure which specialty you want, a PhD might delay your training without adding much benefit.

4. Potential for Higher Pay & Prestige

  • Senior academic clinicians (Professors, Principal Investigators) often earn more than purely clinical consultants.
  • A PhD can open doors to leadership roles in research, pharma, biotech, and global health.

:pushpin: But: A PhD won’t automatically make you richer—clinically focused consultants often earn more, sooner, without the extra years of training.

:x: Reasons NOT to Do a PhD

1. Delays Your Clinical Career

  • A PhD adds at least 3-4 years to your training before you become a consultant.
  • If you love patient care and want to work as a doctor ASAP, a PhD might not be the best option.

:pushpin: Tip: If you just need research experience, consider an MSc, MRes, or clinical fellowship instead.

2. You Don’t Actually Enjoy Research

  • Many medical students think they want a PhD because it sounds prestigious.
  • But a PhD means writing grants, failing experiments, and long hours of solo research.
  • If you prefer hands-on patient care over lab work, a PhD might feel frustrating.

:pushpin: Tip: Try a summer research project or intercalated BSc/MRes first to test if you enjoy it.

3. Financial Cost & Opportunity Cost

  • No NHS salary during PhD (you may get a stipend, but it’s lower than an FY1/FY2 salary).
  • You lose 3-4 years of clinical earnings—consultants often start earning ÂŁ80K+ sooner if they skip a PhD.

:pushpin: Tip: Look for fully funded PhD programmes (NIHR, Wellcome Trust, MRC) to avoid financial burden.

4. A PhD Isn’t Always Necessary for Your Goals

  • If you want to do some research but stay mostly clinical, an MD (Doctor of Medicine research degree), MSc, or research fellowship might be better.
  • If you’re going into GP, emergency medicine, or psychiatry, a PhD usually isn’t needed.

:pushpin: Tip: Consider alternative research paths, like an NIHR Clinical Lectureship or part-time research alongside clinical work.