Tue, 15 August, 2023
To help clarify your thinking, here are 5 top reasons why undertaking a PhD that is closely linked to Industry is considered a good move...
1. Better employment prospects than with a degree alone...
Industry experience within the field you are interested in, like the energy industry, will give you an advantage over other applicants you may be up against. In a 2020 survey of alumni, all NISRC PhD and MSc graduates reported having secured employment in industry within one year of graduating. Since 2012, they have gone on to work in the fields of oil and gas engineering, aerospace engineering and other structural integrity-related careers.
2. Your salary could be higher if you have a postgraduate degree...
Going into a future job interview, for a position at project management level, you can offer your prospective employer a combination of experience-based learning and industry training, gained during your time onsite at TWI, and the academic knowledge and skills that come hand-in-hand with a higher-level research degree.
3. Postgraduate courses that help you make a significant contribution to your subject area...
Our postgraduate study options give students the exclusive opportunity to conduct funded research that leading organisations across industry and academia are calling for.
Upon completing your degree, you will have the opportunity to test your new-found leadership and management skills within an exciting new career. Or, if you have published PhD research you will have the opportunity to promote yourself, and the value of your research, in the form of journal articles, international conferences, and maybe even in hardbound books.
4. Become a world-leading expert in your field...
If you have already decided to focus on a specific interest, then a PhD within industry, or an MSc, could provide the problem-solving, leadership skills that are vital within a workplace environment. Global economies want PhD students with the personal and business skills to collaborate, learn and drive innovation forward. There is a global workforce shortage of highly skilled engineers. So by taking your skills to the next level, you will position yourself favourably in a job marketplace with many incredible opportunities.
5. Learn new skills that will help your career as well as your personal life...
Your manager will want to see that you have the ability to think and act critically, effectively manage, and not be intimidated by problems. To go from completing your undergraduate degree to your postgrad within industry, you will develop a level of perseverance that will set you up well for work and life.
Learn more about the Postgraduate opportunities at NSIRC, and take the next step towards an incredible career.
PhD students at the NSIRC Research & Innovation Conference 2023. Photo: TWI Ltd