Question: What is a PhD student?

Hephzi Tagoe answered on 10 Mar 2015:

So usually when you’re doing a degree or masters at University, you are with other people in the class studying the same thing a bit like being at school. With a PhD you don’t have lectures or classes and you’re on your own doing your own research. You have to manage your own time, plan your own work, and do your own investigations. If you need help you’re usually paired with a more experienced scientist in your area of research who advises you. By the end of the course you need to submit a report known as “thesis” of what you’ve worked on and discovered during the period which is usually 3-4years. You also do what is called “viva” which is basically being put in a room with senior scientist who question what you’ve written and this can last from 2-5hrs on average( pretty intense huh!). Some are paid others are not but you have to treat it as a job. When you graduate you become a Dr of Philosophy.