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  • CAREER FEATURE
  • 27 July 2022

Do two PhDs make twice the researcher?

  • Virginia Gewin 0

Virginia Gewin is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Despite pandemic-related university cutbacks and rising inflation in many countries, the PhD pipeline still churns. In 2020, more than 55,000 people received a PhD in the United States, which produces more doctorates than any other country. Roughly 1.1% of the population in the 38 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (typically democracies that support free-market economies) obtained a PhD in 2021. And the percentage of doctorates awarded in science, technology, maths and engineering (STEM) has steadily increased over the past decade. In 2020, 12,561 life-science doctorates were awarded in the United States — 23% of all PhDs granted in the country that year, and nearly double the number awarded in 1990.

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Nature 607 , 831-833 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-02042-x

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

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Before you go, check this out!

We have lots more on the site to show you. You've only seen one page. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time.

The Costs & Benefits Of Multiple PhDs: Will It Make You Successful?

getting a second phd reddit

When I was younger, I sometimes thought whether you can you get multiple PhDs. For example, can a rocket scientist have a PhD in Chemistry and Math. Now, after being a Professor for a while, I do know it is possible.

Absolutely, people get multiple PhDs. Having multiple PhDs is uncommon, but people do to get multiple doctorates. I have run across people who have done it on occasion.

Please watch this video if you want to see me in person talk about people getting multiple PhDs. I provide a lot more background and personal notes than in this blog post. Can you get a PhD in your 30s? Read this post to learn more. Read this post if you want to learn about the day and the life of a PhD student (You will enjoy it).

https://youtu.be/YkRqUw15BHg Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Is It Possible To Get Multiple PhDs? (Two PhDs At The Same Time Or In The Same Field) (https://youtu.be/YkRqUw15BHg)

Why Do People Get Multiple PhDs?

Generally, there are three reasons for the multiple PhDs:

  • Upgrading a research skill-set is also common if someone is interested in a particular topic and they want to dig deeper into that topic. For example, let’s say that you are studying human behavior, but you realize that you need to understand set theory to better explain the human behavior in a more elegant fashion. Getting another PhD might be an excellent way to expedite your development of a research program in that area that combines set theory and human behavior.
  • What is the average cost of a PhD program? You need to read this post to find out!
  • People get an PhD if they are transferring to a new area of research. When they transfer to a new area of research, they need to get extra skills in the new area. For example, say a person has a PhD in the Humanities, but they slowly realized that their research interests lie Mathematics. They will pursue the Mathematics PhD to get a better understanding of Mathematics, and so they can read and publish within Mathematics journals. In Business Administration, Law, Medicine, and another other professional program, many people transfer to these new areas from other tangential areas. For example, engineers or scientists sometimes move into business, and become Business School professors by getting a PhD in Business Administration or a similar degree (i.e., a PhD in Industrial Organization in Economics). 
  • How are PhD students evaluated? Check out this blog post to find out!

Why Don’t More People Get Multiple PhDs?

Brutal honesty? Getting a PhD is generally a tough process. Sure, I have heard some people say that they had a lot of fun during a PhD, but I am going to call them out on that. If the PhD was easy, then more people would want to do one over again a second and third time. It is just extremely uncommon for find people with multiple PhDs because there are significant costs (both in time and finances) associated with pursuing the degree.

Should you get another PhD or get a job? Take this PhD or job quiz to see if you think you should!

The closest thing where people may repeat a PhD, and it is somewhat common, is a Post-Doctorate. A post-doctorate is a paid (or non-paid) position where you extend your research program. You might work on additional papers, or continue to make your current research better. Basically, you are just extending the time you have before you get a tenure-track university position.

Need help to become a better writer? Check out this post!

Does The First PhD Improve Your Chances Of Getting Into The Second PhD Program?

Personally, I think that getting into the second PhD program is a matter of framing your first PhD.  People read a lot into what you did or did not say. Anything that is unusual gets more scrutiny than the usual.

If you frame the first PhD as a loss, or as a complete waste of time, then I really don’t think you will have good chances of getting into the second PhD program. People are going to believe that you will be not satisfied with the second PhD either. You would be surprised, but some people (not many) do just collect degrees for the sake of collecting degrees. This happens a bit more with Masters degrees, though.

Do you need tips to apply to PhD Programs? You need to read this helpful post!

If you frame the first PhD as a matter of discovery, and that you found your passion in the topics covered in the 2nd PhD, you will have a considerable easier time convincing people about why you are going for another. Really, this is what your 2nd PhD should be in the first place. It should be about discovery and your passion for the new research area, and the 2nd PhD just accelerates this discovery process.

Do you want to learn the best software to get for PhDs and researchers? This is a crazy post with a lot of data on the best software that you should get, crowdsourced from 100s of PhDs.

If you are interested in doing a PhD in Business, you have to read the following resources that I created for you.

  • This blog post is an i n-depth look into doing the GRE or the GMAT , and which one you should choose to do.
  • This blog post is about tips for writing your statement of purpose . I really do think these tips work, and they are not what you see elsewhere.
  • This blog post is about the advantages and disadvantages of getting a PhD (in Business, of course). You should read this post if you are on the fence about doing a PhD and need additional information.

Do You Need The Multiple Doctorate Degrees?

Before you pursue another doctorate, you should really think about whether you need the other doctorate. Some people just start doing research in the new area, and slowly gravitate to that new area. You would be surprised how much you can learn on your own. Melissa Schilling , for example, has done research in both the study of strategy and Alzheimer’s. You might save yourself a lot of hassle, just by picking up some journal articles and learning about the new area.

Are Multiple PhDs Recommended?

Doing multiple PhDs is really just a personal choice. You already know that the first PhD was rather challenging, so doing a second one might go quicker given that you have this information. Most often, I believe that people that stay within similar domains appear to do their 2nd PhD quicker than those that go to another domain. Of course, this is just a qualitative gut-feeling, but I suspect this is true. Eggers and Song’s paper  shows that this may be the case for entrepreneurs, so I suspect it is also true for 2nd time around PhD students.

However, in the end, all of these really just depends on your abilities to get the second PhD done. What predicts PhD success? I really, really think it has little to do with intelligence, privilege, or natural endowments.  Rather, it is all about your passion to get it done, and your passion to do work. If you love work, than the 2nd PhD makes sense. Some people just have grit to do the PhD, and those that want to do a doctorate for a 2nd time are just curious, and they see the value in education.

Want to know how to get a PhD in Strategy and Innovation? This post will greatly help you get into top ranked PhD programs.

An Aside About the R3ciprocity.com Project.

Before I go, I wanted to let you know that this is part of my r3ciprocity.com project. There were so many people that helped me out to get my PhD, and to allow me to become a professor, I wanted to create something that I could pay the favor forward. I am building a sharing economy proofreading website so you can get feedback on your work (it’s a work in progress, so please be OK with errors in this blog post. 🙂 ). I have also created a pretty extensive catalog of questions and stories on YouTube. You ought to check it out, so you can find out more about me as a person.

A Couple Of Bonus Videos.

I wanted to leave you with a few more videos that I think are worth watching. One is about whether doing a PhD is worth your time. I personally think it is, but I truly have to wrestle with this question. It was not clear to me, but I was in the ‘trenches’ and did not see the immediate value of my PhD. Now, a few years later, I really see the value in getting a PhD. However, the reason why is not what most people think. Personally, I think it is the knowledge you gain, and the opportunities you see when you have a PhD that is truly something you cannot get without it.

https://youtu.be/Aq2TE4WCWbE Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Is A PhD Useless?: What Are Valuable Skills You Gain During A PhD? (https://youtu.be/Aq2TE4WCWbE)

My last video is about whether getting multiple Master’s Degrees is better than getting a PhD. It turns out that this is a rather common question because many scientists and engineers will get a Master’s Degree in their field and then decide to get either a PhD or an MBA. I kinda did both – I did my PhD in Business Administration. A PhD is a research degree, but I am able to combine my love for research and business. Anyway, you should watch this video if you want to learn about getting a PhD, or getting multiple Masters.

Did you benefit from this post? Do you know of anyone at all that could use feedback on their writing or editing of their documents? I would be so grateful if you read this post on how to get feedback on your writing using R3ciprocity.com or let others know about the R3ciprocity Project. THANK YOU in advance! You are the bees knees.

I also have a blog post that goes much more into detail about multiple Master’s , and I think will be quite helpful for you.

https://youtu.be/Pg7i7dxOgjc Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 2 Masters Degrees Vs PhD: Is It Easier To Find A Job With Masters / MBA Degree Than With A PhD? (https://youtu.be/Pg7i7dxOgjc)

David Maslach

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Best 5 PHD Reddit Posts Everyone Should Read

Getting a PHD is a big decision. This article lists the top Reddit posts regarding getting a PHD.

Sep 10, 2021

As a current or prospective PhD student, Reddit can be an excellent place to share your experience and learn from the experience of others. It's also a good way to get advice if you're not sure whether a PhD program is right for you. 

The good news is that there are already plenty of PhD Reddit posts that provide a wealth of information about the process and what to consider before you pull the trigger on a doctorate program.

Here are five of those posts and how they can help you make the best decision about your education.

1. There's no guarantee that a PhD will improve your career path

Many people pursue a PhD program in order to increase their chances of getting a good job or earn more money. According to data gathered by  Michigan State University , the expected lifetime earnings for someone with a PhD is $3.3 million, compared to $2.7 million for Master's degree holders and $2.3 million for graduates with a bachelor's degree.

But just because the averages work in favor of getting a PhD — some career paths offer more potential than others — that doesn't mean it's going to work for you.

In one  post , user AltAcAcct shared their regret of going through a PhD program. Despite attending a prestigious "public ivy" school and having many other impressive experiences, AltAcAcct was in their second year of trying to find a job with no luck.

They implored readers to reconsider why they want to obtain a PhD and think about the potential downsides. While they had more pointed advice leaning toward not pursuing a PhD at all, it's important to decide for yourself if it's worth it to you.

The important thing is that you take the time to research your options — including ways to excel in your field without a PhD — and determine whether the potential risk of not getting a return on your investment of time and money is worth it to you.

2. Have a plan B

Going along with the idea that a PhD program doesn't guarantee future success, user acapncuster shared a tip in response to a  PhD Reddit post  asking for advice: "Have a plan B."

Some other commenters agreed, with one going so far as to say: "Have a plan B, then make that your plan A." Another user recommended having a plan C as well, just to be safe.

The idea that you should expect your first plan to fall through — and possibly even your second — may be enough to turn some off to a PhD program completely. 

But that's not to say you should ditch the idea. After all, many PhD graduates find success in their field, so it can pay off. The worst thing that can happen, though, is if you go through the program and spend the time and money earning your PhD, only to not have a backup plan when you don't accomplish your original goal.

Take some time to consider alternate plans before you commit to a PhD program. Think about asking others who have pursued your particular field of study and learn some potential options that you can pursue in the event that your plan A doesn't work out.

3. Understand the importance of time management

A PhD program can be time-consuming, with one Redditor saying they spend roughly 50 to 60 hours a week keeping up with coursework and doing additional research. But user SnowblindAlbino, who is now a professor, mentions in their  comment  that a lot of that time is unstructured.

In other words, time management is crucial to a successful PhD experience, not only in how much time you spend but how you separate that time into different activities.

Another commenter on that post, user cosmospring, wrote that their time spent on their program varied wildly depending on whether or not they had a deadline:

"Not really average days/weeks. More like 'average days when staring down the barrel of a deadline' and 'average days when not staring down a deadline.' The former: 10-12h at the keyboard. The latter: 6-8h at the keyboard and 2-4h doing something else academic (teaching, reading, navigating bureaucracy...). Once or twice/week cut those by 50-75% (the days off) and do laundry/something fun, unless there's a looming deadline."

Every program is different, so it's important that you approach your time management based on what works best for you and your program.

4. Seek balance

A PhD program can be grueling, so it's crucial that you find balance, according to user Theblackswapper1. On one  post  where another Redditor asked for advice, Theblackswapper1 commented that students owe it to themselves to have a workout routine and to take breaks when needed — though not as an avoidance activity.

More importantly, don't neglect your mental health and get help if you need it, they wrote: "Most colleges and universities have free counseling services for students. Now everyone's path is unique, and everyone's story is different, but I know that I regret not reaching out for help earlier."

5. Consider the opportunity cost

While there's no guarantee that a PhD program will improve your career path, you can still use average figures to try to find out what the return on investment of a doctoral degree can be. 

As part of that formula, user buspsych comments on one  post , recommending that you consider the opportunity cost of pursuing a PhD. Even if you get free tuition, you're missing out on income you could be earning with a full-time job. Depending on how much the degree increases your salary, divide that by the opportunity cost to find out how long it'll take to make the degree worth it.

You'll also want to consider how pursuing a PhD program may delay your retirement savings and other important financial goals.

Ultimately, there's no right or wrong answer to whether a PhD program is worth pursuing, so it's crucial that you run the numbers for your situation to decide if it's right for you.

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Ben Luthi is a personal finance and travel writer based in Salt Lake City, UT. He loves helping people better understand their finances. When he's not traveling, Ben enjoys spending time with his kids, hiking, and watching films. His work has been featured in U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, MarketWatch, Fox Business, and many other publications.

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  • Second Master’s or PhD? – A Comparison
  • Types of Doctorates

A second Master’s degree is best suited for those who want to work in industry, but first either want to acquire additional knowledge in their current field or move to a new one. A PhD is best suited to those who want to gain advanced research skills and expertise in their current field and pursue a career in research or academia.

Introduction

It’s common for Master’s students to be plagued by the thought of what they will do next as they near the end of their current degree. Whether it’s taking a gap year, starting their career or continuing education, one thing is clear: there are many possibilities.

If you decide to stay in education, you’ll likely at some point consider whether it’s better to do a second Master’s or a PhD. You’d be right to give this serious thought, as the two degrees have significant differences, from their costs and durations, to the career paths they offer.

This page explains the differences between a second Master’s and a PhD, the pros and cons of each, and will help you to decide which of the two degrees is best for you.

Second Master’s vs PhD

Level of specialisation, master’s.

A Master’s degree, regardless of whether it’s an MSc, MRes or MPhil, aims to provide you with targeted knowledge that builds on what you would have learnt from your undergraduate degree. Although each type of Master’s degree has its own focus, such as an MSc on practical knowledge and an MPhil on research skills, the specialisation they offer isn’t as in-depth as that offered by a PhD. This is because they have a wider curriculum and usually utilise several teaching methods, including lectures and tutorials, which provide a range of knowledge around several closely related subjects.

PhDs are the highest form of academic qualification you can obtain and offer more specialised knowledge than any Master’s degree. Unlike Master’s degrees, which are based on a mixture of teaching methods and curriculum, PhDs are purely research degrees and focus on a specific research question.

A second Master’s degree will provide you with specialist knowledge in various subjects in your field. A doctoral degree will provide you with research skills and expert knowledge in a single topic within your field.

Programme Duration

Most Master’s courses take one year to complete, with an MPhil two years. However, the exact duration will depend on your specific course, type of Master’s and university.

A PhD lasts on average three to four years , with part-time studies lasting up to eight years.

Since a doctorate lasts several times longer than a Master’s, it requires a much greater commitment.

Programme Cost

The cost of a second Master’s degree will vary depending on its type, subject and host universities. Based on an analysis by FindAMaster’s , which summarises tuition fees from the International and Postgraduate Fees Survey 2019 , the average academic tuition fee per year for a Master’s degree in the UK is:

The average tuition fee per year for a PhD in the UK is £4,407 for home/EU students and £19,600 for international students .

There are other fees associated with doctoral research projects that aren’t present with Master’s studies. These include bench fees, travel costs for collaborations and conferences, and potential writing up fees for late thesis submissions.

Annually, a second Master’s degree is twice as expensive than a PhD for home/EU students, and slightly cheaper for international students. However, considering the typical duration of these programmes, a PhD becomes significantly more expensive; twice as expensive for home/EU students and four times as expensive for international students:

Notes: (1) The tuition fee values for the second Master’s is based on the average fees for an MSc. (2) The above table assumes a second Master’s duration of 1 year and a PhD duration of 4 years. (3) The fees and durations are indicative – the exact values vary depending on the course and university.

It’s also important to bear in mind that many PhD programmes come with funding which covers the cost of their fees. Many funding packages also include a living allowance (known as a stipend) which is comparable to a low salary. It is usually much more difficult to secure non-repayable funding for a Master’s programme unless it’s integrated with a PhD programme.

Employability

The skills and knowledge gained through a Master’s degree are general enough to apply to other relevant disciplines. For example, a Master’s degree in statistics would enable you to work in finance, medical analysis, and specific engineering fields etc. Due to this, a second Master’s could help make you suitable for an even wider range of professional fields.

Because a PhD focuses on advanced research methods and a specific research question as opposed to the broad field, your career path is usually refined to the more advanced positions which require expert knowledge. This doesn’t mean that you cannot apply your skills elsewhere, but most PhD holders remain in their field after completing their studies.

It’s worth noting, however, that there is a growing trend for PhD holders to use the transferable skills they acquired during their degree to successfully reposition themselves in careers outside of academia. In fact, STEM PhD holders are particularly sought after in the financial sector because of their proven ability to perform complex tasks under strict deadlines.

Both a second Master’s and a PhD offer excellent employment opportunities. However, a second Master’s usually offers greater career flexibility across industries, especially at the beginning of a career. A doctorate opens up the more demanding positions within a field, but can sometimes make it more difficult to change industries.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Second Master’s

Improving skills:  A second Master’s can strengthen your skills within your current field. For example, suppose you have an MEng in Biomedical Engineering. Here, you know of the technical aspects and their application, but you do not necessarily know how to innovate and develop them further. You could fill this skills gap with an MRes or an MPhil that would provide you with complimentary research and investigatory skills. Improving your skills won’t only help you advance faster in your career faster but may also open up future roles that would not otherwise be available to you.

Career change:  After completing your first Master’s degree, you may decide that the field is no longer suitable for you. In these scenarios, a second Master’s degree can facilitate career changes. This will have obvious limitations, for example, you shouldn’t expect to be able to do a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering with a Master’s in Classical Literature, however, if you already have a Master’s in another type of engineering, this transition would be possible.

Bridge between different Industries: In STEM subjects, there is extensive interaction between different industries. Although this interaction has always existed, it has grown steadily as more industries try to innovate and tackle more ambitious projects. There’s an obvious need for multidisciplinary roles, and a second Master’s degree in a relevant subject can make you desirable for this reason.

Disadvantages

Perception: If you carry out a second Master’s in a field unrelated to your first, even if to facilitate a career change, it can lead to potential employers perceiving you as unfocused. Although this shouldn’t be the case for large multidisciplinary organisations, it may deter the more specialised companies.

Salary: While a second relevant Master’s in the same subject field may increase your earning potential, a second unrelated Master’s is unlikely to. Although an unrelated second Master’s isn’t a disadvantage if being used to facilitate a career change, it will probably be an unnecessary use of time and money if you intend to stay within your current career path.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a PhD

Establishing yourself as an Expert: Any individual who holds a doctorate is considered an expert in his or her field. Therefore, a PhD has not only a prestigious status but also opens up roles in advanced research and academia.

Commitment: A PhD shows your willingness, commitment and motivation to learn. This makes you highly desirable for employers, as a strong passion for continuous learning usually correlates with the potential to become industry leaders.

Less freedom:  Taking three to four years to complete, a PhD is a huge commitment. As a result, many feel pressured to stay in their field to ensure that their PhD was ‘worth’ it, even if they no longer feel that the field is the right one for them. Although it is still possible to change paths after your doctorate, and many do so successfully, many feel ‘locked’ into their path after they finish their studies.

Over-qualified: You may find it difficult to find a job outside of research or academia, as employers may consider you over-qualified and therefore believe that you will quickly leap from the role to a more challenging one. They may also believe you lack practical work experience compared to your counterpart, who has a Master’s degree and has been working in the industry whilst you were working on your academic studies.

Cost: While PhD programmes can come with funding that helps to finance tuition fees and living costs, the funding usually covers only the first 3.5 years of full-time programmes and the first seven years of part-time programmes. You may be determined to complete your doctorate within this timeframe, but it is not uncommon for students to experience setbacks in their research that take them beyond the period for which they’re funded for. This means they have to pay the rest of the fee themselves, which can be a significant burden for some, especially if they lack the savings to do so.

Deciding between a second Master’s and a PhD may seem like a tough decision, but ultimately it depends on what your career goals are. Therefore, the first thing to do is to ensure you’ve thought about your future and have a good idea of where you want to go after your education.

A second Master’s is best suited to those who want to either gain more specialised knowledge in their current industry or make a job change by transitioning into a new industry. A PhD is best suited for those who want to gain advanced research skills and knowledge in their field and pursue a career in research or academia.

Either way, both options offer great opportunities and will open new doors for you. Which of the two degrees is better for you depends on which door you would like to open.

Browse PhDs Now

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IMAGES

  1. How to get a PhD: Steps and Requirements Explained

    getting a second phd reddit

  2. How To Get Into A PhD Program?

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  3. How to get a PhD: Steps and Requirements Explained

    getting a second phd reddit

  4. Full PhD Process in just 10 minutes || Steps in PhD from Admission to Degree || by Monu Mishra

    getting a second phd reddit

  5. Is Getting A PhD Worth It: Benefits, Requirement, Cons & More

    getting a second phd reddit

  6. Can You Do A PhD In One Year? How Do You Complete A PhD in Two Years? ( Tips For Getting A PhD )

    getting a second phd reddit

VIDEO

  1. What Purpose does Spiritual Knowledge Serve?

COMMENTS

  1. Second PhD? : r/Professors

    The main limitation is that there is no compelling reason to do a second PhD. Once you have learned how to be a researcher, that is not an effective way to change fields. The statement of purpose would not be able to match up with our expectation of training researchers. A PhD with us isn't adding enough value.

  2. Are there people who obtain two PhD degrees? For what reasons ...

    The PhD will obviously teach you a lot, but it will also come with commitment, restrictions, and administrative overhead for potentially several years. If you already have one PhD as your "license to do science" then getting another wouldn't be worth the effort compared to just learning about things in a less formal manner.

  3. Looking for some advice on possibly getting two PhDs, or a ...

    The main purpose of a PhD is to learn how to actually do science, rather than just learn science. The topic of the research is secondary. Therefore completing a 'second' PhD is somewhat redundant. If your goal is have deep knowledge of two subject areas, there are more efficient and expediant ways to do it. groovypuppies.

  4. Doctoral or Second Master's? : r/GradSchool

    realFoobanana. •. Biggest thing to realize is that a PhD is a whole other ball game from a Master's — a Master's focuses on coursework, and mayyybe you do some research. A PhD is entirely a research degree, and you'll spend 3-4 years doing research and writing a dissertation. Now, I'm not saying a PhD is the wrong path for you — I ...

  5. Doing a 2nd PHD: convince me not to : r/AskAcademia

    Doing a 2nd PHD: convince me not to. Interdisciplinary. I've seen largely arguments against doing a 2nd PhD, but I'm seriously considering applying for a second program. Not only because considering entering a new line of study excites me in a way I haven't felt for years, but also because it expands my expertise as a researcher.

  6. second degree

    Getting the second PhD is unlikely to be directly helpful once you have it, let alone worth the sacrifice of 4-6 years of your life! Added: By the way, when you mention "mathematics" and "electrical engineering": I think of Raoul Bott, a brilliant and beloved professor whose long career at Harvard ended while I was studying there. I think that ...

  7. Do two PhDs make twice the researcher?

    Different institutions vary in how comfortable they are with that level of flexibility, but getting a second PhD is doable if you can find a place that is receptive to the research you want to do ...

  8. Did anyone do second Bachelor/Masters degree after a PhD? : r/PhD

    Bachelor's demonstrates basic competency. Master's for more advanced (on-paper) expertise. After a PhD, I'd think a whole second bachelor's degree would be a tremendously bad decision. People who want to remain academics and switch fields of research have the freedom to learn on their own, so I'm guessing this is to transition fields where you ...

  9. Double Doctorate: Can You Get Multiple PhDs?

    Christopher Wells pursued two related PhDs simultaneously. He says, "I have a double major doctoral degree that can be seen as two PhDs individually, in inorganic and physical chemistry, and pursued both of the majors at the same time during my nine years at SUNY Albany, from 2002 to 2011.

  10. Second thoughts about getting a PhD degree. Should I go for it ...

    The three most important factors are your interest level in doctoral research, your interest in career paths that are unlocked by having the PhD, and the work conditions / research lab (in the broad sense) / typical PhD duration for students of the advisor.

  11. Would it make more sense to get a second Master's in an ...

    The degree I am currently in is a Master's of s Social work, which I will definitely complete. The second one I am considering would be either History or Appalachian Studies. I'm leaning more towards a second Masters because of the broader overview rather than focusing research on a specific narrow area.

  12. The Costs & Benefits Of Multiple PhDs: Will It Make You Successful?

    Generally, there are three reasons for the multiple PhDs: People get a second or a third PhD (a third is extremely uncommon) if they are upgrading their research skill-set. Sometimes people upgrade with an additional PhD within their previous area of research. The PhD they have is from another geographic location that is unrecognized in another ...

  13. Best 5 PHD Reddit Posts Everyone Should Read

    Here are five of those posts and how they can help you make the best decision about your education. 1. There's no guarantee that a PhD will improve your career path. Many people pursue a PhD program in order to increase their chances of getting a good job or earn more money.

  14. Should I do a second PhD after a bad one? [duplicate]

    Reasons to do a second PhD: Funding. Sometimes it is just about how someone can be hired. Also, in some countries PhD researchers are rather well paid so it can be an economic decision. (Also, in the country where this happened considers the PhD years as work experience, so years spent on the PhD are not "lost".)

  15. Why do a second PhD in a "neighboring" discipline?

    6. You didn't mention what country you are in or the relative standing of the two universities & supervisors involved. Sometimes people apply for a second PhD because their first one is not sufficiently well respected to get at good job. Another reason is because the candidate really is just enjoying that stage of life.

  16. Little bit concerned

    So I'm a PhD student in Aus. Approaching a second year review end of next month. For that I need to have 30,000 words done and I think I have just hit 20,000 - although I have overwritten in some sections and so might be more like 14,000 once sections or overwriting are cut out (which I won't do now).

  17. Studying a second undergraduate degree part-time while doing a PhD?

    I feel like someone who's competent enough to be a PHD student wouldn't need to spend 37 hours per week studying for a full time undergraduate degree. Especially because the liberal arts are less rigorous than what the OP is used to, and their main goal is to enrich themselves (instead of necessarily getting a 4.0). -

  18. Second Master's or PhD?

    Notes: (1) The tuition fee values for the second Master's is based on the average fees for an MSc. (2) The above table assumes a second Master's duration of 1 year and a PhD duration of 4 years. (3) The fees and durations are indicative - the exact values vary depending on the course and university. It's also important to bear in mind ...

  19. graduate school

    A PhD is not very different from a job in the sense that you have to show up and do some work, most of which you don't necessarily want to do. The difference is, with a PhD you get something at the end, but with a job there is just endless tedium. Also with a graduate degree you get to use your brain a bit more.

  20. Is it possible to obtain a second PhD degree in Europe?

    There it is in fact possible to get more than one PhD degree. Different departments award different types of PhD degrees, depending on the academic field. In physics, you will typically earn a "Dr. rer. nat." (PhD in science), while in engineering you will get a "Dr.-Ing." (PhD in engineering).

  21. Should you consider another degree after your Ph.D.?

    As Atherton's story illustrates, Ph.D. holders who are planning transitions to new careers have a lot to consider when it comes to pursuing additional degrees. The training, credentials, and connections made through a professional program can open the door to that first job and bring more opportunities down the road.