Getting started

The first steps (by Ian Sanders)

If you are sure that you want to do a postgraduate degree and have the time, finances, resources, etc. to do so (see Be Realistic) then the first steps along the road are to identify a topic and a supervisor!

It is a fact that in doing a postgraduate degree there will be times when you hate your topic and are really depressed/frustrated/demotivated. Choosing a topic that you are really interested in can alleviate this problem, but, so too, can a supervisor who knows how to encourage you and keep you moving forward even during the rough times.

Choosing a supervisor (by Ian Sanders)

Recognise that you are entering into a relationship and think about what you would like to get out of this relationship!

• Know yourself
  • Think about how you like to work and what you think you would like from a supervisor. Do you need structure (e.g. regular meetings etc.) or do you work better without the "constant interference" but like to have access to your supervisor whenever you feel you need advice/assistance? Can you deal with harsh criticism or do you need a "softer approach"? Will it frustrate you if your supervisor promises feedback in a week but actually takes 3 weeks?
• Know your [potential] supervisor
  • Is he/she available? Are they overworked? Will they have time to give you the feedback that you need? Do they have lots of students? Will they meet their own deadlines? What do their students say about them?
  • Obviously this is easier to do in a residential university than in an Open Distance Learning environment but you can still go some way towards understanding a potential supervisor by considering how they sell themselves and how they interact with you in the initial stages of their discussions with you. You could also try to make contact with one or more of their current/past students.
• Think about the "relationship"
  • Could you work with that person? Will they allow you to grow as an academic? Do they want a research assistant or will they really develop you?

Choosing a topic (by Ian Sanders)

Often the best way to find a suitable topic is to talk to various supervisors in the general area[s] that you are interested in and see what topics they have lined up. Experienced supervisors often have a number of topics in mind and also have a good idea of whether each of the topics is appropriate for a Master's or for a PhD. So get out there and talk to the various supervisors, read related theses (dissertations), read some papers, etc. Then focus in on topics that you might like, with supervisors that you think you could work with.

Proposing your own topic can work but this approach requires even more discussion with potential supervisors and more work on your behalf (especially if you are trying to persuade a supervisor to take on something which might be [slightly] out of their comfort zone.)

What is the difference between a PhD and a Master's topic? (by Ian Sanders)

A Master's degree is typically considered an apprenticeship in doing research. Your research topic should allow you the opportunity/scope to show that you understand the process of doing research without necessarily making a new contribution. The marking guidelines which are sent to the external examiner of a Master's dissertation often emphasise this outcome. Your topic should allow you the scope to show this mastery.

A PhD requires that you make (at the very least) a small contribution towards furthering knowledge in the discipline. In assessing a PhD thesis an external examiner is asked to assess the significance of the contribution.

For example in the field of machine learning, an appropriate Master's level topic would be to apply a known technique to a new area or in a new domain. This would not be appropriate for a PhD. A PhD would require you to develop a totally new technique or possibly to combine known techniques in a novel fashion.

Sometimes scope is the difference between doing a Master's degree and doing a PhD. For example, doing a study which considers open source adoption by students at one university would probably be sufficient for a Master's degree but would not be sufficient for a PhD. Extending the investigation to a number of institutions would possibly make it a reasonable PhD topic but there would still be an expectation of something new.

Read at least one complete dissertation or thesis (by Ian Sanders)

There are important reasons for reading a dissertation (if you are doing a Master's) or a thesis (if you are doing a PhD). Doing so will

• give you a good idea of what your final product should look like,
• give you a good idea of how you should present your argument, and
• allow you to determine what is required for the external examiners to recommend a pass for your dissertation or thesis.