Industry, commerce and education need people who have proven their research ability.

Depends what you mean by 'necessary'. As the number of Masters graduates increases, a PhD can give you a qualifications edge over others. In many countries, most doctoral graduates do not go on to work in academia - the PhD is increasingly oriented to other careers. If you have a passion for a topic, doing a PhD is an extraordinary privilege (and challenge!)

I have been a part of such a discussion before and what I found from the responses is that a post doc will be useful in the long run whether the field is industry or academia. But people have emphasized that if you want to pursue a career in research, post doc is very helpful and rightly so. Obviously a specialist in a particular area would be more beneficial for any industry specializing in the corresponding field. Even for academia, this thing stands too. But academia is a broader aspect as it needs an all-rounder of the subject rather than a specialist in most cases. It also depends which part of the world onoe wishes to settle in - industry or academia. Personal preferences, time, money and resources are other factors which largely affect this decision. Hope you will find something informative from the discussion thread given below:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_better-a_post_doc_from_a_foreign_university_or_a_job_search_after_doctorate_degree

Regards

It depends what you want from life: for instance, if you wish to open a restaurant or a shop, then you do not need a PhD degree. You may need the degree if you wish to find work in a private research company, a ministry or become a politician (but not necessarily: other qualities may be more important)...

Pursuing a PhD study without planning to work in academia is counterproductive. There is a real danger of wasting three -four years and become overqualified for most jobs outside Academia. Three years experience in a field beats three years PhD study in most jobs, except universities and research.

I guess this is s waste of time and resources if your are not going to benefit others from your learning ans most of all in developing countries we need scholars in institutions to make it more effective

The criteria for awarding a PhD is to demonstrate to a reasonable extent that you have made an original contribution to knowledge. Thus, if one is keen on making such contribution through the writing of a Thesis, then i think it does not matter if the person intends to be in academic or not. Besides, other routes such as professional doctorate exists if the person wants to undertake his/her studies from applied research perspective. Research is the backbone of every progressive society and the idea of adding on to existing knowledge is definitely an option that one should be encouraged to follow if the person is really motivated. Good luck

So far - the context of 'older' people wanting to undertake a PhD purely for the personal challenge has been omitted. They are not as uncommon as people might think - and certainly add to the academic community intention, spirit and ethos.

If you pursue a professional doctorate rather than a research doctorate, you have the ability to work in both areas. A specialty area is always a plus and required in many cases for academia and industry.

Many people think that doctoral studies is meant only for academic departments. Though that is true to a great extent, many commercial establishments do require academic caliber to do comprehensive research. Also many organizations have their own research establishments. We need people with Ph D's for those setups.

The fact of the matter is that though today a majority of Ph D’s are employed in the Universities, a large number are also employed by the industry. Increasingly the way the products are evolving it is imperative that sooner or later most of them require a high skilled researchers to provide the necessary inputs.

Dear Dr Carr, I think pursuing phD is important point for all bachelor holders, and till you learn more you think you need more and more to learn, then nowadays knowledge, learning and globalization is essential for everyone not only for academic person. PhD open you a new gate for progressing to better and better. Now I am phD holder, I hope one day I will get offer to study post doc, really I hope. I promised myself to study, doing research, writing until end of my life. TQ

There is nothing like necessary. People take birth and die illiterate too. All that matters is your interest, the time you are available with. Can you manage to balance your Interest and your profession without affecting any one of the two negatively. If you can balance out well.. nothing like it..otherwise think twice before you make a move. Good Luck !! :)

The question carries a yes or no answer:

if you are not really interested to pursue a carrier in research or would like to be a teacher at a University, then you have to ask yourself about the benefits of having a highest qualifications, however, for your own satisfaction and if you would like to be called as Dr….. then it is ok. Some young people see that entering into the job market is more important than pursuing a Ph.D which will put them about 4-5 years behind in the job market. Some government organisations that donot have a focus on research, there a Ph.D can be considered as an over qualification and you may or may not get an interview. In summary, you can utilize your highest qualification (Ph.D) where it is appropriate either at a professional level or a personal life and you always feel proud that you have achieved a highest academic qualification!

Is there age limit for PhD? Would the supervisor take age into consideration when the applicant is older than 40?

It depends on the cost: If the cost is only as time needed and not a financial one, then it's ok. But if you have to pay a relatively big amount of money regarding your income, then maybe it is not a good decision. Personally I pay by my time spent and not financially. Of course it is a 'course' where you have to work 'hardier' than outsiders understand, since you have to collaborate, to negotiate and read & write & ...

@Zoi: No age limit for Ph D admission. I have seen a grand mother join for Ph D in arts in our university a few years back after retiring from her job.

@Zoi, there exists no such a limit, I guarantee it to you :)

The problem is not the age, but the time to combine so different tasks when you do a PhD study. At least that is my experience.

@Nageswara Posinasetti @ Demetris Christopoulos - Thank you, wish me luck :)

Unfortunately, I do know too many talented people with their Ph. D. who are wasted.

Also, as my old friend used to say, "good mark does not prove anything, but ability to pass the test"

Also, to get good position "it does not matter, what you know, it matters who you know!"

Yes, I totally agree, "Doctoral Studies is increasing your knowledge in a particular subject area." Yes, bright, friendly, knowledgeable person/teacher beside you could help a lot! Communication with your peers would help too.

I just don't really agree that "you" should pursue anything in case "you" do not want to do it

Don't forget, that education is a business too. :-) Someone earns money while you study. And if you are mature person, you would be able to continue your education without entering any program.

Doing Ph d brings in

a ) lot of discipline,

b )ability to think independently,

c) Pursue a theme of your choice,

d) ability to stand on shoulders of previous researchers, and

e) a sense of humilty

I think these are the skills desired even if you are NOT going to join academia.

I agree the points put forth by Dr PN Rao. Ph Ds are welcome in industry, govt organisations, NGOS, and consultancy units.

Dear Mardeen,

Lucy made a couple good points. I was shocked by one of them not long ago when a colleague told me that for the classes prior to the dissertation, grades do not matter. This is in line with the thoughts of Lucy's old friend. The grades do not matter, it is the dissertation that matters.

It goes beyond increasing one's knowledge in a given area, however. My professors had told me that as doctoral students, we are in fact creating new knowledge. While the point of whether the individual stays in academia is debatable, they have contributed to the body of knowledge on a given topic due to their dissertation.

As for me, I will simply keep learning. After my dissertation, there are a few master's programs that have seemed rather appetizing. Or maybe I will finally sit down and learn how to play the piano.

I left academia after my post-doctoral studies, and worked for four years for private companies, then started my own consulting business, which I have run until the present. It was always clear to me that the PhD opened doors that would not have been otherwise available to me. I do not think a doctorate is necessary for anyone, but if you love the topic, it is worthwhile to pursue both for your own knowledge as well as for gaining access to interesting job opportunities EVEN outside of academia. I think maybe the question should be, do you love the topic you are studying? Are you passionate about it? Amazing consulting opportunities exist for people who are creative self-starters, in many different fields. Creative people can make their own jobs. My PhD studies gave me transferable skills that I use until this day.

@Zoi Amprazi: That is the spirit. You can do it with your determination. Keep your options open and continue interaction in RG for any advice and support. All the Best!

@Zoi, good luck and don't worry so much, just like everything, after a little time it is being demystified...

Doctoral studies are needed as well  into academia, economic and industry. All these sectors are subject of continuous development and progress which could be generated by research programs; However  the purpose of doctoral  studies should be identified, example in academia are doctoral studies  the right aim  for being a good teacher??

Doctoral studies could be summarized as a subject or a question from a scientific, artistic, or literature field to study, analyze, explore or compile under the direction of a professor during 3 years of studies; is it sufficient to  connect them with  real needed competencies of teaching?

I think that  the access to each job needs minimum requirements from  fundamental knowledge learn at school/university/college. The skills and know how from professional competency could be obtained only by practices.

So it is more beneficial for the institution (academic, research, economic; industrial...) to recruit best graduates, to train and trail them in the field of the job, to encourage them for best performance and wait for their inputs, when some of them need more studies or specialties, the institution could organize their doctoral studies.

In academia doctoral studies are a mean to acquire more theory in a specialized field (how to compile its knowledge), from a specific scientific question and to learn how to be able to give solutions and  communique/write them following scientific standards. That means it is a tool to learn how  performing research on a subject from a scientific question. The same case in industry, economic, literature and art. However is it sufficient to be good professional researcher??

A professional researcher could be more skilled and could acquire more expertise and knowledge in a research job/institution than who has followed only doctoral studies. So it is more beneficial for research institutions to recruit good graduates and train them  with research teams and organize their reports in dissertation and thesis format than to recruit doctorates from dissimilar fields and to wait for their apprenticeship of the job and its specificity/specialty.

Hi Mardene,

Agreed with what you'd commented in your question.  Even though I'm not in academia yet, but I find doctoral study especially research doctorate provided me certain values that I hardly find in other courses or industrial work life.  You can see my comment on some of the values pursuing a research doctorate in the following RG link:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_value_of_a_doctorate

Wishing you all the best.

Regards,

Fung

YES, USA organizations equally welcome Ph.D. as there is no gap between academic research and industry need. most practical and applied approach for doing Ph.D> where is other places more theoretical research for shake of PH.D. degree. 

May be doctoral studies could be sound as a specialization in a field or a job. For example in academia, at the end term of graduation, people get diploma in a specific  field. Who wants to pursue teaching job, should follows teaching science and pedagogy  programs. The best mean is to take a doctoral study in this thematic; the future teacher through his study and analyses will get more specialization in cognitive science for example and could performs for his final dissertation and report a new or improved method in pedagogy science for instance. In industrial jobs, may be some specializations will be required; through training and practices periods or doctoral studies for industries who organize research labs.

The aim of a doctoral study is to gain more data and information in a specific question from a thematic i.e be specialized in it, and through the analyzed knowledge be able to give some solution or idea to the studied  issue.

PhD is a pathway by which persons are trained to find out gaps, solutions to problems, findings on ideas, etc. in a scientific way. It therefore applies not only to academia but also to communities, industries and countries as well. This is even more important with the advent of the 21st paradigm shift. 

PhD needs many years of hard work, patience, motivation. Only to gain knowledge in particular area, one should not waste this huge time and energy. To gather knowledge, he/ she may choose less rigorous ways.