Assisting the Apprentice: Applying for a PhD abroad

The “Assisting the Apprentice” (ATA) series is a series of columns where we look at popular qualifications, career paths and/or examinations that the law student of today is interested in. Through interviews and feedback from those who have already trodden down these paths, we try to help the lawyers and law graduates of tomorrow.

In this edition, we discuss the how’s and why’s of enrolling for a doctorate degree outside the country.

For the purposes of this post, we interviewed four Indian law graduates who are pursuing a PhD in different universities across the world. These four individuals are:

·      Harkiran Sehgal (University of the Western Cape)

·      Pulkit Mogra  (University of Ottawa)

·      Shivani Salunke  (Mcgill University)

·      Umika Sharma (Natioanal University of Singapore)

And this is what they had to say.

How should one go about selecting where to enrol for a doctoral program?

Harkiran: When choosing a programme, many PhD candidates place the institution and its reputation at the top of their list of priorities. While these factors are vital, the faculty's research interests and advising potential are more crucial. Finding a programme with a faculty member whose work you are interested in and who you would want as an advisor or mentor should be your first priority. It can pay off to align yourself with a researcher who is an authority in a field that interests you and it will help you in your career.

Umika: I usually suggest following a simple list. Pick your topic first because you will spend every waking moment working or thinking about it. Then seek potential advisers who can guide you on that niche topic.

You might have to make a judgment call on whether their expertise aligns with what you want to research on and whether they can be a good guide. Speaking to former students might be helpful here. I sincerely believe that your adviser can make or break your doctoral experience.

Then look at the university and its support for your kind of research. Do they have a well-established research environment in your field? Do they offer courses that could be useful in training on a method that you are unfamiliar with but want to use for your doctorate?

Another consideration is professional development within the ecosystem of the university. Will you get an opportunity to teach or work as a teaching assistant? Will the university support you if you want to take part in conferences or courses? These often-logistical considerations can be the difference between a smooth doctoral experience and a difficult one.

Shivani: Once applicants have decided to pursue a doctorate and identified their research topic/question, I think it is important to identify a suitable research environment. In addition to the supervisor’s pivotal role, there will be multiple other sources of influence during the course of the program and need to be considered beforehand.

So, this step would include looking for not just potential supervisors, but also other faculty members and graduate students with shared research interests, university research centres, and also, more broadly, the university and department/faculty’s vision and values.

Another facet to the research environment would be the location as it may have a direct connection with the proposed research (particularly, if empirical or comparative). Location-linked factors (including cost of living, language, culture, climate, immigration laws etc.) are also important to consider, as the candidate will spend considerable time there.

A list of universities identified as above can be narrowed down further based on the institutional support. This includes looking for financial support (eg. scholarships, stipends, guidance on additional funding); quality of supervision (eg. number of supervisees working with the potential supervisor); academic and learning resources (eg. research/writing courses and workshops); healthcare/wellbeing resources; and more broadly, a sense of community and belonging.

These factors are very subjective, so I would recommend reaching out to current graduate students at the identified department/faculty, to see if their positive experiences align with the applicant’s own priorities

Pulkit: One must look for the professors that have expertise and research under your own area and has done substantial work in the field. Secondly at the same time you should also look for the University ranking be it THE rankings, Shanghai rankings or QS rankings. The higher the universities might be the more the chances that you may have for qualified professors in your zone and at the same time you may also find completely funded programmes of the prestigious universities.

Some PhD scholars have said that one of the toughest bits about the doctorate degree is the loneliness that comes with research - thoughts?

Harkiran: One of the most critical challenges that PhD candidates run through while pursuing the degree is isolation. This is primarily because they work alone on their research. This can occasionally result in feelings of a lack of motivation and the belief that nobody can connect to or possibly understand their condition.

Contacting a graduate student or other PhD students is advised if you ever find yourself in this situation.

Umika: A doctorate is a lonely and isolating journey that nobody warns you about before you begin. It's also difficult to foresee the mental resilience required to complete a doctorate. It’s a gigantic project, spread over years and years.

You can work every single waking hour on your PhD and still feel like you are not doing enough because it is such a big undertaking.

Sometimes, the deeper you dig into a topic, the more you realise how much you don’t know. So, in a way it is also a deeply humbling experience.

Added to this is the fact that you are living away from your friends and family for extended periods of time in a different cultural context. I often joke about the fact that during lockdown, while all my friends were complaining about their lonely existence at home, absolutely nothing in my life had changed!

Shivani: Yes, loneliness could be an issue given the nature of doctoral studies. I believe this can be addressed through three measures. One, staying connected with family and friends, and building connections within the university, where one will often find that others are going through similar experiences. This is also where the institutional support I mentioned above becomes important.

Second, finding relevant co-curricular activities or volunteering opportunities to stay involved on campus can also be helpful. And third, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and taking time out for other activities or hobbies that one enjoys would help prevent loneliness as well as burnout.

There is a perception that a PhD is only for those interested in academia - thoughts?

Harkiran: Not every student who pursues a PhD intends to work in academia, and many go on to succeed in careers in the private sector, such as industrial research. PhD holders can be found in all walks of life.  At any point in your career, you could transition from academia to industry (or the other way around). The good news is that your PhD will provide you with a wealth of practical knowledge and skills.

Umika: I don’t agree with that. While a doctorate (and often a post doc) is now an essential step to get a tenured position in top universities, many doctorates go back to the industry.

Finishing a doctorate is no easy feat and various industries value candidates who hold a doctorate degree from a prestigious university.

However, I think there is also a cultural aspect to how a doctorate is perceived by professionals, and it also varies from industry to industry.

For instance, in arbitration, law firms have engaged with my research on diversity in this field because they consider academic findings on such issues useful for redesigning their policies.

In many industries, law firms often view a doctorate as a quality marker for a candidate. There are also policy roles where a doctorate degree helps a candidate stand out.

A doctorate also gives you the time and space for honing various skills that make you a good lawyer. Formalised training in research and writing is one example.

The ability to systematically conduct deep research, break down complex ideas and expressing these ideas in a simple manner is a skill that you spend years developing as a doctoral candidate. It's also a skill that a legal professional can deeply benefit from.  

Shivani: I would not say the degree is only for those interested in academia. If not taking up teaching or post-doctoral research positions, one could pursue a career in consulting or research with the government, intergovernmental and policy organisations, think tanks, or even law firms and other private entities that hire consultants.

Legal practice could also be an option since the expertise and skills gained through a doctoral degree are valuable in themselves, but I imagine it could be a bit difficult to reorient oneself.   

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of the PhD program?

Umika: I think doing a doctorate is the perfect opportunity to work on a topic that you are passionate about. It can be a meaningful experience to spend years researching and writing on something that you find interesting and engaging.

You can finally go down rabbit holes of literature that you did not have the time to explore in previous degrees!

There is also nothing more rewarding than seeing your work published in a journal and when people who have read your work reach out to you to talk about it.

Also, finding a community of scholars with whom you can engage with is a fantastic experience. They could be your PhD cohort or academics in other institutions.

I have spent hours and hours on calls to understand methodology and explore intellectual debates with people working in my field and many times outside of my field. The sheer amount of intellectual growth during these years is something that I cannot put into words.

I believe that a doctorate is not only suitable for someone who wants to learn how to research well but also for individuals who are curious about something. A doctorate is the perfect place to expand the boundaries of your intellectual curiosity and get a fancy title at the end of it all.

Shivani: Personally, it is the opportunity to study in depth a topic that I am interested in, and the time and freedom to choose the way I do so. I see the potential to apply my research to real-world problems; so, if I am able to contribute on that front, it would be the most rewarding aspect.

Pulkit: Some of the most rewarding aspects of the programme is that it gives you a perspective globally and is not restricted to merely a geographical location which is very common when it comes to legal studies.

This allows you to move globally as well if you are looking for academic opportunities. Another aspect is that it helps in developing various skills sets such as time management, strategic thinking, communication and delivery skills etc that can be useful for your entire life.

Anything else you think prospective PhD candidates ought to know?

Umika: Doing a doctoral degree abroad is an expensive affair not just because it’s a long degree (ranging from 3 to 5 years) but also because you must think about the cost of the course and the living expenses.

Often, funding also comes with strings attached, like teaching responsibilities and administrative work. Funding opportunities are also an essential aspect of selecting a university.

You don’t want to go through months and months of application processes, interviews, and preparation just to realise you can’t afford to attend the program.

Another factor to think about is the fact that a doctoral degree is not an easy degree and is different from a master’s degree abroad. You are the only person specialising and researching on a niche topic. You don’t have classmates who can empathise with your tough work schedule, and you spend most of your time by yourself.

Sometimes, you might have an adviser you only see once in a blue moon. Other times, you might be in a country where you don’t have a support system of family or friends.

Because the degree is so long, realistically, you must also think about your appetite for integrating in a new country and culture. Language barriers, lack of access to the food you might be more comfortable with, and the weather should climb up the hierarchy of considerations for a doctoral degree as opposed to a master’s degree.

While these might look like minor inconveniences during a 9–10-month long master’s program, they become major issues for a doctoral candidate on a limited stipend in a foreign country. 

A doctorate is an unstructured degree. You don’t have to attend classes or have regular exams. There are only a few milestones, and these are far and in between.

So, the level of self-motivation and discipline required to sustain momentum to finish is a high threshold. It's difficult to foresee these real experiences and put them into a list of warnings for anybody daring to enter a doctorate program. 

However, all is not bleak as a doctoral researcher. It can be a deeply rewarding experience to work on something that you are passionate about. It is also the perfect way to build on several transferable skills that are useful in any profession 

Harkiran: Start early to give yourself the best chance of finishing a good application. This means that well in advance of the deadline, you should start gathering resources and formulating a plan to apply.

Also, I believe it is crucial that you take this advice carefully as it might be risky to make too many compromises and start doing research that you are not interested in simply because it will result in a PhD.

Shivani: I think it is most important for doctoral students to be open-minded, adaptable and patient since the journey involves a lot of learning and unlearning, and could be quite unpredictable.

Sometimes, the candidate’s proposed research may not fall strictly within the domain of law. So, one may want to look up other relevant departments.

Some applicants may even find that another department at the same university would be a better venue for conducting their research, instead of the law school.

(Anuj A is the co-founder of Amicus Partners)