I have two offers, a PhD in KCL and a MPhil in Oxford. I visited both campuses and I loved Oxford a lot. My application to Oxford was for a DPhil (PhD) but they offered me an MPhil instead basically adding two more years to complete my PhD. My ultimate goal is to finish my PhD. Now, I am really confused. Should I accept a PhD from King’s College London (only three years) or should I accept the five years (both MPhil and DPhil) from Oxford? Both programs are funded. The only difference is spending two extra years in Oxford if I choose Oxford. I already have a Master’s degree and the MPhil is a bit of a turn off, but yet giving up Oxford is really really hard for me. Your feedback and advice on making a final decision would be greatly appreciated.
What subject?
What goals?
Are you guaranteed entry to a DPhil at Oxford after the MPhil?
What costs?
At KCL, I am offered a PhD in War Studies, but in Oxford the MPhil is in Social Anthropology. I really like both fields. Since my long term goal is teaching at the University level, the latter might serve me better. There is no automatic entry into the DPhil in Oxford, but one of the professors told me that it is very common to transfer from MPhil to DPhil in Oxford and that I should have no problem, especially when there is supervisory support. Cost is the is a bit unclear right now. Waiting for both to confirm the scholarship in a couple of weeks…but I am ready to get a loan if the scholarship doesn’t go through. I really find it hard to decide.
What is your MA in?
What is your specific research interest, and how would that be better served at Oxford than at KCL?
What do you know about the track record of the group at KCL for finding permanent academic positions for its graduates? What do you know about the Oxford group?
My MA is more in line with the KCL’s War Studies. It was in Peace and Conflict Resolution. But I get a vibe that a PhD from KCL might increase my chances toward a professional career rather toward an academic career. I feel like a PhD from Social Anthropology from Oxford might position me well toward teaching. I actually do not have any insight on track records on any of these institutions.
To be perfectly honest, if you don’t have any notion about the track record for either place in the job market, then you applied too soon. The life of the mind is all well and good, but taking out a grad loan to go do something just because you feel like it makes no sense. You want to have some kind of reassurance that you will be able to pay the loan off.
I have until June 1st to decide and will do more research. I know that whichever degree I pursue, my goal is teaching, and for that, I will ultimately need a PhD rather than a MPhil, but I also know with a degree from Oxford, I can get teaching positions easily, especially internationally, perhaps not the US so much, but in the rest of the wider world.
While you are doing your homework, do a little research into how you actually get a permanent (not necessarily tenured) teaching job at a university. Don’t over-bank on the value of the name of the university on the diploma: remember that pesky details like work visas, the specific research work that you do / want to continue doing, your publications, etc. will affect your ability to get a university-level teaching job. You might find Mandarin, Arabic, or a Turkic language to be helpful as well, as (even if you will be teaching in English) the universities in those parts of the world seem to be hiring more than some other regions.