• Question: Helena Paterson- Did you require a PHD to be a lecturer?

    Asked by anon-284774 on 5 Mar 2021.
    • Photo: Alex Baxendale

      Alex Baxendale answered on 5 Mar 2021: last edited 5 Mar 2021 2:29 pm

      Unfortunately it is usually the case when you want to be a lecturer. I have met a small number of lecturers who don’t have a PhD, but as a whole you are expected to have one because the job usually come with a section for you to do research, as it can generate publicity and money for universities. A PhD is basically proof that you know how to do research properly, so that is what really gets you ahead! You also need a training award to be able to teach as a lecturer called A Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, which proves that you are experienced enough to teach at University level, my University only lets you do this course if you are doing a PhD, and make it compulsory for new lecturers who don’t already have the award.

      – oops sorry I only just noticed you specified this for somebody

    • Photo: Harry Piper

      Harry Piper answered on 5 Mar 2021:

      I think generally speaking you have to! It shows good research etiquette and development of skills! I think (but am not sure) the general rule (in teaching) is you usually have to have one qualification above the level you are teaching – so if you want to teach A-level you have to have an undergrad level degree. Naturally this only get s to a point because at some point qualifications stop going up!

    • Photo: Helena Paterson

      Helena Paterson answered on 5 Mar 2021:

      Hello Grace,
      At my University, you do need a PhD to get a full-time lecturing job. However, as a PhD student, I lectured a few classes and some of our current PhD students also teach psychology in lectures. To do research as a permanent job it is usually the case that you need a PhD as well, but some junior staff members do not always have PhDs. It takes a team to do research and some members might have a PhD while others are students or technicians. Typically, though, to progress with your career as a lecturer you will need a PhD

    • Photo: Dennis Relojo-Howell

      Dennis Relojo-Howell answered on 8 Mar 2021:

      Hi Grace! Just like what my fellow scientists have already said, in the UK, you would need to have a PhD to be a university lecturer. But I would also like to share my experience: I was a university lecturer in the Philippines at two universities before I came to the UK. At that time, I only had a master’s degree. Different countries operate differently, of course. The reason why someone can be a university lecturer in the Philippines without a PhD is because there’s a shortage of lecturers there. In other countries where there are more people doing a PhD, having a PhD cannot guarantee that you will be a lecturer; some PhD holders will choose to work in other industries where their PhD degree can be valuable.

      Some people also study for a PhD without any plans of becoming a lecturer – I’m one of those people. I’m doing a PhD simply to pursue a personal research interest, and I also want to hone my research skills. But when I finish my PhD, I have no plans of working in academia again. My reason for doing a PhD is more personal than career-related. I also don’t think I’m going to be a good lecturer. As you can see, I’m not quite good at explaining things. 😊

      Good luck with your studies and I hope you become a lecturer someday! 😊

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