Question: how much money do you get a year

Jean Bourke answered on 16 Nov 2012:

Cheeky question. I am not technically working as I’m doing a PhD so I’m still a student really. I get a stipend every year of about 16000. The rate is set by the chemistry department, that’s how much all the PhD students in the department get. Most colleges have this info on the websites of each department.

To do a PhD you need to secure funding, some funding bodies fund projects, some fund particular students. The lecturer you are applying to do a PhD with will apply for funding. The funding that you get pays your stipend for you to live on, your fees to the college (about 6000) and also includes some money to be spend on materials for your work (glassware, chemicals, etc.). So the actual value of the funding is much higher than just your wages as you are getting a degree.

Once you go into industry if you have PhD you can expect to start on about 30-40 thousand, without a PhD you can start off on about 25 thousand but you do get to work your way up. I know this because I was at a careers event today! It was great because it really emphasized how much you can do with a science degree.

Are considering doing a science degree then possibly going on to do a PhD?