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PhD Life: University vs Research Institute

Every PhD is different, and sometimes this can depend on where it is located, such as whether it is within a university or a research institute. Although this would not normally be the primary reason for taking on a particular PhD topic, you might have a specific institute or university research group that you would like to work with due to their reputation in a scientific field.  


Read ahead to find out about the experiences of our blog editors in different settings. 


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The University Experience  

Kate Dewally 


Hi, I’m Kate and I am studying my PhD at the University of East Anglia and am not linked with a research institute. For me, this was not a factor that influenced my decision to take my PhD. Below I summarise what I see as the key advantages and disadvantages of being a PhD candidate at a university. 


Advantages to the University PhD: 

  • Flexible working pattern. 

  • May be more academic freedom depending on your research group and the funding that you have. 

  • More of a student experience due to higher PhD student numbers. 

  • Teaching opportunities within a university setting. 

  • Access to university lectures and academics. 


Disadvantages to the University PhD: 

  • Less experience of ‘real world working’. 

  • University facilities may not be as good as at research institutions. 

  • May have less frequent contact with team members at a university.


The Research Institute Experience 

Hayley McIlwraith 


I’m based at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and I’m associated with the University of East Anglia (UEA). When applying for my PhD I intentionally chose a project that would be based at PML because of their world-leading reputation in the microplastic pollution field. However, I have spent time at both PML and UEA and can offer insight into my PhD experience at each institute. 


Advantages to the Research Institute PhD: 

  • Good community feel – with a smaller staff size, it is much easier to get to know staff members and students. There are still lots of social events to get involved with.  

  • Feels more similar to a professional workplace. 

  • Work-life balance is much more encouraged and enforced by the stricter access hours (our building closes at 7pm and on weekends).  


Disadvantages to the Research Institute PhD:  

  • Less flexible working – due to the stricter access hours you can’t rely on catching up on lab work at the weekends (not that you should be!) 

  • While still possible, it is harder to access courses and teaching positions.  

  • There are fewer post-docs and technicians around to help you with training. You tend to be more dependent on your supervisor for training but there are lots of experts in the building that can help if needed.  


Ultimately, there are pros and cons to both types of PhD locations. However, your experience at any place will be highly dependent on your research group and the facilities available, as these can be different for every research area. If you're looking at applying for a PhD, it's worth asking previous students about how they have found the PhD experience at your lab and/or institute of interest.

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