Postgraduate Prospectus

Electronics and Telecommunications | www.essex.ac.uk/csee
Studying for your PhD involves
person-to-person interaction with your
supervisor, who will guide you in developing
your chosen research topic, refine your
research skills, and advise you in capitalising
on the technical knowledge you already
have from your taught degree. Supervisors
often keep in touch with their PhD
graduates throughout their careers, and may
work on scientific collaborations with them
after they finish their doctorate. Our PhD
graduates generally go on to pursue careers
as academics or as researchers in industry.
Although you will become an expert in a
specific area, your PhD will also develop
your appreciation of the research
methodology and experimental skills
appropriate to your topic, and develop the
high-level research skills listed below:
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the ability to recognise and validate
problems;
original, independent and critical
thinking, and the ability to develop
theoretical concepts;
knowledge of recent advances within
your field and in related areas;
an understanding of relevant research
methodologies and techniques and their
appropriate application within your
research field;
the ability to critically analyse and
evaluate you findings and those of
others; and
an ability to summarise, document,
report and reflect on progress.
We have a number of studentships and
bursaries available, however these are
highly competitive, and the total number
is limited. You should state very clearly on
your application form whether you have your
own private funding, funding from a sponsor
(such as your government), or whether you
wish to apply for a scholarship from our
University. We also employ a number of
our PhD students as Graduate Teaching
Assistants and Laboratory Assistants on
a part-time basis. As well as earning extra
income, you gain valuable experience of
communicating your subject in a learning
environment.
98 | Postgraduate Prospectus 2012