PhD now or later in training?
I’ve intercalated after my fourth year, meaning that currently I’ve only got one more year left of medicine after this.
My supervisors have offered me the chance to continue straight into a PhD before returning to final year, adding an extra 3 years.
The project is something I’ll enjoy, with room for expansion and tailoring. I love the team and the university, both I trust and have been supportive. It’s fully funded tuition + stipend.
I’m not too distraught about having to relearn parts of the curriculum for my return, retraining my brain would be unavoidable no matter what stage I choose to do it at.
I have always planned on doing a PhD at some point, and didn’t consider that I’d be given that opportunity earlier (I expected that I’d end up doing it during specialty training). I’m aware that doing a PhD later on may mean that I get more generous funding, perhaps some benefits of already being a doctor.
Has anyone been in this situation? What did you decide?
Is there anything in particular I should consider before relaying my decision?
Does doing the PhD now have any benefits?