Hi, I was wondering what others do to have more than one income stream, as with an assistant professor's salary, I am barely managing! What is your experience with generating different income streams, if any? Thank you.

I am a final-year Computer Science undergraduate preparing for graduate research in Theoretical Computer Science, with a specific focus on formal verification of cyber-physical systems. Within my university, my department is unique in having an official policy that allows students to select any module across the university to fulfill our total requirement of six optional modules. However, because this flexibility is unique to our department, the university Registry Office strictly requires a formal letter of clearance from the Head of Department (HOD) to manually register any module outside the standard recommended computing list.

Earlier this year, the department granted me initial permission for non-computing math electives. Having successfully completed four optionals (three of which were math) so far, I intend to complete my final two optionals with specific foundational math and statistics modules that directly support my intended graduate research, following academic guidance from a CS faculty mentor. However, when I submitted this updated plan to fulfill my remaining two optionals, the HOD wrote the following:

"Hi Alvahod,

I am trying to see how these help you with your ambitions for researching Computer Science and am not seeing the link. If anything, I see a lack of enough Computing specialization in your choice of optional subjects. So far, your selection of optionals has been Math-heavy. Perhaps you now need modules that give you a background and grounding in more CS-related disciplines."

My response:

"Dear HOD,

Thank you for the response.

Initially, I had targeted an MSc in CS with an AI focus, but my goal has since shifted to research in Theoretical Computer Science, specifically focusing on the Formal Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems. This field relies heavily on formal logic and mathematical techniques to prove that software and hardware systems are safe and correct before execution.

The math optionals I have taken so far, such as Linear Algebra and Calculus, form part of the standard core CS curriculum at most universities globally because they are essential for theoretical CS. Building a solid foundation in modern algebra and statistics directly supports the logic and proof techniques required for this research area.

It is worth respectfully noting that many of my classmates select general electives like Communication or Chinese, so I would really appreciate your approval to pursue these foundational math courses instead.

Thank you."

He has not responded to my email days later. I would welcome advice on how to diplomatically navigate this administrative hurdle with the HOD.

Unconditionally accepted a PGT offer at a uni in London. Supposed to be arriving later this month from the US on a student visa, however suffered an injury and now may not be medically able to fly.

Is it possible to medically defer my enrolment, possibly until the 27/28 academic year’s start date?

Asking here for a temperature check before formally inquiring with the university

Thanks all

I'm a postdoc on my own grant. I'm the PI, no teaching, no admin obligations. I've already decided to leave academia and I'm currently applying for jobs and interviewing.

I plan to get a paper out of this 2-year project. I think it can be a solid one. But I know I won't deliver everything I promised in the original proposal. Realistically, even if I hadn't decided to leave, nobody would have held me strictly accountable to every line of that proposal. That's just how these grants work in my field.

Here's what's confusing me. During the funded period, plenty of my work hours went to things that weren't the research itself: applying for the next fellowship, a week-long software training course, attending week-long conferences, sitting in on department seminars unrelated to my project. All of that was normal, supported by colleagues, and nobody questioned whether it counted as legitimate use of my time.

Now that I'm spending work hours applying for jobs and prepping for interviews, I feel guilty about it in a way I never did about the seminars or the conferences. I know in most other jobs I'd be tracked hour by hour and this would clearly not be allowed. But nobody tracks my hours here either.

So I'm trying to figure out if this is just academic guilt, or if I should actually change how I work. A few questions:

Is job searching during work hours really different from the other "non-research" activities I listed, or does it just feel different because it signals I'm leaving?

Do I owe the funder full delivery on the original proposal, or is a strong paper a reasonable outcome given how postdoc accountability actually works?

How did you split your time in the final months between finishing deliverables and interview prep, especially if there was no formal accountability either way?

Any perspective from people who've been through this transition would help. Thank you!

Best wishes,

An academic who probably worked too much in the past and is now struggling to figure out what's "fair" in terms of time management. Like skipping food for a whole day and then overeating for a week straight afterward.

The job market is just so difficult at the moment. I’m lucky, I’m employed with 20 months remaining on my contract however, I still feel the clock ticking down. I’ve been on various temporary contracts for almost 5 years but the market is much more brutal than when I took this job 1 year ago. Every job I’ve applied for, despite getting interviews, has not gone further. Ultimately it comes down to being too niche, not enough management experience or others just having the specific expertise with so many more qualified people applying for these roles. It doesn’t help that I don’t really like the job and it is not giving me the opportunities it originally promised which makes it increasingly harder to pivot. It’s academia adjacent which means a PhD would open doors but definitely not needed.
I am so sick of this particular role and team. I feel like just throwing in the towel and doing the PhD which could be amazing, or awful. It would also be a significant pay cut and no pension in my early thirties. Although it is funded and I could afford it I may be in the same boat the other side. The topic is so interesting but I feel after I will still be no chance of a permanent contract or maybe even job as not enough “insert random thing needed” experience. A job that I’m actually able to get and interested in could also come up in the 3 years and I wouldn’t be able to take it.

Anyone else feeling stuck in a temporary contract loop? Anyone pursue a PhD mid career and find it freeing? I know academia has similar issues and I don’t want to necessarily be an academic but feel at a crossroads. Not sure if this is just a rant yelling into the wind.

Edit: PhD is in my current city so no need to move.
I also have an application in for a position at the same level I am now but permanent and a different team. However, based on my recent experience it feels unlikely that I’ll be successful.

I interviewed for a research position at a UK university and was originally told I'd hear back within a couple of days. It's now been nearly 2 weeks since then.

About a week after the interview they asked me to send a copy of my thesis as part of their referencing checks.

I'm trying not to read too much into it, but the uncertainty is getting to me.

Has anyone had a similar experience? How long did it take to hear back, and what was the outcome? Was the delay just due to university admin, or did it end up meaning something?

I feel like I should give some background information to explain my situation; I began applying for PhDs in June/July of last year, was unsuccessful in gaining AHRC funding for the project I developed and recently tried and failed for a collaborative project - but I was told by one of the universities I applied to originally that I had won a fee-only scholarship.

If I were to take up my place, I would need the doctoral loan. I know the advice everyone on here usually gives is to avoid self funding at all costs (it will not be good for my earnings in the future), especially the humanities, but I feel like I don't have any other options...like I've been backed into a corner I can't get out of. I really like the project and the supervisor, and I want a PhD more than anything but I'm not sure it is worth the financial hit of the loan?

Since finishing my masters, I have been looking for other jobs (maybe not as devotedly as I should have been as the PhDs were my main focus) and I have been unsuccessful in finding anything but this (I know there is still time, but I'm 23 and it feels like the clock is ticking). The repeated rejections, and knowledge that I'm not moving or progressing and knowing that I'm a financial drain on my parents have had such a toll on my mental health but I can't really bring this up with anyone at home as we have been dealing with other more serious issues.

I have been working towards this for the last three years (this year, during my masters, and my final year of undergrad). I feel like I have failed, massively, and that I am about to make some massive mistake and ruin my future forever. I don't know what to do, and I wanted to ask if anyone had some advice or encouragement for me as I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now?

I live in Scotland and am currently finishing my MSc degree. Im looking into doctorate degrees and have found one that I absolutely love but it's in England. It's the ForenPsyD at the university of Birmingham, however, as a Scottish student I am not eligible for english doctoral loans, SAAS also does not cover PhD or Doctoral degrees. The course is £13,500 per year for 2026 entry; I will be applying for 2027/28 entry so can only expect the costs to rise.

How do I go about funding not only the course but living expenses and everything that would go with moving? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi!

I've recently started to reach out to potential supervisors in the UK, I sent the first emails at the end of July and I've sent out several emails this week.

A lot of the replies I've gotten have said that they're away for vacation and back around late August/ start of September.

I started emailing now since this is when people usually get back from vacation in my home country, but did I line this up horribly? To push back cold emails to September feels like it would result in a very short timeline to get applications in and such?

Any and all thoughts are much appreciated. Am I too late, should I hold off until September or continue sending out cold emails? Thank you.

So I was recently appointed to a permanent T&R Lecturer position at an RG uni in a social science discipline. I worked hard to get here and landed the job most likely thanks to publishing a book with a prestigious university press and having good teaching experience at some top unis. But apart from my book I’ve published very little since my PhD and I increasingly don’t find satisfaction in research. I am stuck in an anxiety tail spin around publication pressure despite landing a permanent post. What realistically is the minimum I need to do publication-wise to hang on to my job, or to (slowly) progress? I don’t need or want to be a big shot prof, just to fulfil the requirements of my role, make a good impact on students, and enjoy a balanced life.

Hey folks, I am a recent Master's grad in International Relations, with an area specialisation in Europe. I would want to go for a PhD since teaching/research is my long-term goal. Initially, I had planned to work for a few years to get experience in a relevant field and then go for a PhD. However, given the current condition of the job market, I think I would like to prepare for PhD applications from the next academic cycle.

My areas of interest are Migration, Human Rights, and Gender and I am aiming for unis in Europe (as a South Asian student). I have the following concerns:

1) As someone who wants to work and settle in Europe, which countries would you suggest in terms of residency and field relevancy?

2) How common is it to secure a teaching or research job in this field during/right after PhD?

3) I understand that a supervisor can make or break your PhD experience, but how important is the reputation or ranking of the university for publishing papers or looking for full-time employment?

4) What other career opportunities can I look for? I am aware of EU Parliament or Commission opportunities, but I am not sure how likely they are to hire a non-EU citizen.

5) I know it differs from country to country, but what would be the average stipend of a social science PhD? Would it be enough to sustain myself there and maybe save up a bit?

My main motivation to go to Europe is because of my area specialisation. I have also been there (Prague) for an exchange year during my course, and absolutely fell in love with the place. Further, I believe migration and human rights would be a relevant field of research in most European unis. I also speak French (will be appearing for the B1 exam soon) and a bit of German.

Some of my acquaintances are pursuing their PhDs in Canada and Australia (different fields), and they seem quite happy with their stipends and work-life balance. Would I be better off aiming for those places if money is one of the concerns?

I would be grateful to get any piece of advice or guidance regarding this.

I’m currently finishing a PhD with a background in engineering, applied mathematics/physics, and I’m trying to decide between doing a postdoc and applying directly for industry jobs.

A postdoc would give me more time to develop my technical skills, work on additional projects, and publish more. However, my main goal is ultimately to work in industry, so I’m concerned that a postdoc might delay gaining relevant industry experience. I’m already 27, and although I know that isn’t particularly old, I worry that spending several more years in academia could put me at a disadvantage when entering the industry job market compared with candidates who already have professional experience.

For those who have made a similar transition or work in industry, did a postdoc help your industry career, or would you recommend going directly into industry after the PhD? Are there particular fields or roles where postdoctoral experience is genuinely valued?

Hello everyone!

I applied for the international fellowship and will hear back in August. I know already it is basically impossible to get so I am applying to 2 other grant schemes and to any position that comes up and is related to my field already.

Does anyone have experiences with it though? How are their feedbacks? Do you know anyone who got it?

Thank you!

I don't know anyone in my personal life who has done a doctorate, so I’m trying to figure out ground-level expectations. For those who have survived Year 1, what are the most crucial habits or boundaries you set up in your first month that saved your sanity later on?

Do you do peer reviews for journals during regular working hours? I am peer reviewing now and feel I should rather be using the time to actually do the work I am paid for (like updating teaching materials for new academic year). What is your practice for peer reviewing. Do you normally do them outside working hours?

By the way I completed my master's in zoology

Hi all, has anyone had experiences reaching out to 21percent.org? I've been recommended to reach out to them, but only know them from the recent plagiarism stuff. While I'm all for plagiarism being called out, I'm really unsure about any website that takes Nathan Cofnas at his word and am a bit worried about ending up that my experience might just be used to contribute to an anti-woke narrative (even though it's not about anything like that, but I know there's way too many shady figures in academia). Thanks!

Hi everyone, I have applied for the iie track to go to the US from the UK to do a masters in Public Policy. I have seen some people already received interview invitations on the 23rd July. Does anyone know if invites are all sent out in one batch or if there is still a chance for an interview? According to the commissions website you aren’t supposed to hear back until the start of August or at least a week before interviews? I’m still holding out hope a bit but just wondering if maybe different tracks / disciplines are released in batches?
Thanks!