PowerPoint Presentation

							              Why Get a
             Postgraduate
             Qualification?
Graeme Paton
Professor, Soil Science and Environmental Technology
Director, Remedios Limited

                                                   www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
My Background


 BSc Hons (1991)
 PhD (1995)
Been running MSc Environmental
  Science since 1997
Supervised over 60 PhD Students

                           www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Student Stereotype




                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
My Student Reality




                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
My View of 21st
Century Science


   Pharmaceutical business
   worth $450 billion

   Environmental business
   worth $350 billion

                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
State of the Art Facilities -
Vibrant Environment




                                www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Why Study at Aberdeen?

   Teaching quality rated excellent
   Critical mass of research excellence
   Course content is always current:
       subject specific + transferable skills
       emphasis on career (not job) development




                                        www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Why do a Postgraduate Degree ?



     You can’t face the real world
     It beats getting a job
     Because YOU really want to!




                                 www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Why do a Postgraduate Degree ?


   Mature and grow in confidence as a scientist
   Focus on a particular area of science
   Maximise career opportunities
   Avoid the “glass ceiling”
   Use MSc as route to PhD




                                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Great friends, great social life and life-long network

                                       www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Two Types of MSc


   Taught MSc (12 months)
     Predominantly lectures plus 3 month Project
     Exams, Essays, Short Thesis, Brief Oral
   Research MSc (12-15 months)
     Predominantly research few formal lectures
     Substantial thesis and Oral examination


                                   www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Learning Environment


  Confidence, maturity, empowerment
     Student led !! (less spoon feeding)
     Group working
     Extended project
     Use of more tutorials
     Focus on presentations (science to non-
      scientists)

                                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Industrial Placement

                 REACH Summer Student        (Undergrad)


                 Student placement (1 yr)    (Undergrad)


                   MSc student 16 weeks (postgrad)
                    MSc student 1 year (postgrad)


                    PhD student 3 years (postgrad)

                KTP Initiative 1-3 people (1-3 yrs both)

                                    www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Applying for an MSc


   Courses available across the College
   Further details available on UoA home page
   Secure a place via CV and application form
   Bursaries available to off set fees
   Typically 2:2 degree or better required




                                          www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
What is a PhD?




    “A challenge”
    “Hard work”
    “Long hours”


                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Applying for a PhD


   Choose a research area that interests you
   Research the University
   Research your chosen lab (Supervisor)
   Apply in good time with CV   - now




                                         www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Applying for a PhD

  “The Interview”
     Read around the subject
        Search papers
        Find out about your supervisor
     Be confident
     Will be expected to think on your feet
     Be honest
     Dress for the occasion

                                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
What does a PhD involve?

  Work with supervisor, postdocs, PhDs
  Demonstrating
  First year - 9 month assessment
     Write a report
     10 minute talk
     Half hour viva
  Second year assessment
  Third year talk – 30 min
  Thesis – approx 200-250 pages, 3 hr viva
                                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Industrial CASE PhD

Competitive
     Larger grant (+ £1500)
     3 months per yr in Industry
     Opportunities typically in UK
     Exciting learning opportunity
     Maximise career opportunities




                                      www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
What makes a good PhD
student?
   Enthusiasm and passion for subject

   Ability to cope with disappointment

   Good time management

   Good communication skills

   Confidence to take ownership




                                     www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
What are our students
doing now?
    Postgraduate studies (PhD, MSc) approx 50%
    Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Food Industry
    Other Professional Qualifications
    MBA, MBChB, Law etc
    Patent law, law, accountancy
    University research
    Teaching
    IT
    etc. etc…

                                      www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
What are our students
doing now?
September 2009

 Starting salary Aberdeen Graduate
  £20 000 (approx)
 Starting salary Post-Doc approx £29,000
  (approx)


 11th on UK University list
 Remove London & Oxbridge weighting
    Aberdeen 3rd on UK list
    2nd in Scotland

                                       www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
 “The University leapt to 129th spot
in the Times Higher World University
              Rankings
            (30,000 HEI)”




                          www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
Better able to withstand
the credit crunch

  “A strong economy, along with good
  Universities/schools and a low crime
   rate have helped Aberdeenshire to
  become the area with the best quality
       of life in Scotland in 2007”
                     Tim Crawford, Group Economist
                                   Bank of Scotland



                                  www.abdn.ac.uk/sras
“Best University city in UK”
2005/06
  In 2005 the people of Aberdeen were voted best
   looking in UK
  Based on computer aided symmetry analysis of
   submitted digital face images
  Edinburgh came 9th


  Not sure how many scientists took part



                                            www.abdn.ac.uk/sras