So, you want to do a doctorate?

So, you're thinking of doing a doctorate? Well, well done you! I'm genuinely pleased you are considering this not insignificant commitment. That said, before you embark on such a life-changing process there are some things I think you should consider. Things that can, if ignored or over-looked, change a positive, enjoyable act of personal development into something akin to being stuck on some Dantean level of Hell. What I hope this book will do is answer some of the more obvious question you might have, and more importantly, get you to think through some of the decisions and choices you are going to have to make before you sign up for a doctorate. Why is this important? Well, you are going to be giving a significant amount of your time, effort, and money to this cause and once you start, I'm sure you will want to know that you stand a good chance of finishing.

Hopefully, as you work through this short book, I will help you avoid some of the more common misunderstandings potential candidates encounter when starting out. I will also provide many answers to the questions you may have but, more importantly, I will also ask you to question your own reasons for potentially pursuing this path. This is not because I think doctoral research is only for a very small and select group of intellectuals. Not at all. Some of the best and brightest doctoral candidates I know have followed very non-traditional educational paths.

Simply put, this book is for anyone looking for a more informed and independent way to see and think about the world in which we live. If you are interested in finding things out for yourself, and not simply relying on the word of experts, social influencers, celebrities, and politicians, then this could be the starting point for you. That said, you've picked up this book, because you have more than a passing interest in the doctoral process. Perhaps your interest is more than a whimsical inquiry, perhaps it's more like an itch that's been annoying you for some time. You might be working and looking for something challenging to throw yourself into, or you're a current student in third level trying to decide if doctoral research is the right next move. Either way, this book should help you move closer to making a decision that is right for you. However, be under no illusions. Don't expect to turn up, attend lectures and hand in assignments. With the doctoral process you are expected to become your own teacher and the setter of your own learning goals. You are embarking on a journey to develop and enhance your own ability to seek out information, determine its veracity, and critically evaluate the world around you. Whilst the doctorate is an academic pursuit, many incorrectly consider it to be wholly theoretical in nature. However, the doctoral process is anything but. As the onus for learning rests with the doctoral candidate, you will be expected to show that you know how to formulate a practical and robust approach to answering your research question, can carry out the necessary research, then effectively defend your findings to a panel of experienced research-active academics.