Choosing
the Right PhD
A handbook for understanding research, supervisors, universities, countries, funding, cost of living, research ecosystems, and life beyond the degree.
Where should I pursue my PhD — and why?
Pertanyaan tentang PhD memiliki beberapa lapisan. Pilihan yang baik harus mempertemukan research direction, supervisor, university, funding, country, living environment, dan future career.
What should I research?
Who should supervise me?
Which universities should I consider?
Which countries are realistic for me?
How much will the PhD actually cost?
Which funding opportunities are available?
What research ecosystem will I enter?
What kind of life will I have there?
What career opportunities may follow?
Which option has the strongest overall fit?
ranking.
Ranking adalah informasi, bukan keputusan. Yang dicari adalah research ecosystem yang paling sesuai dengan research trajectory, supervision, funding capacity, life, dan future career.
From research fit to life fit.
RESEARCH FIT
Does my research belong here?Topic, methodology, problem and contribution.
SUPERVISOR FIT
Can this person guide it?Expertise, publications, projects and supervision.
UNIVERSITY FIT
Can the ecosystem support it?Research centre, facilities, network and culture.
FUNDING & LIFE FIT
Can I sustain the journey?Funding, cost of living, country and quality of life.
Ten fields.
One decision.
RESEARCH
Know what you want to investigate.Research direction, problem, methodology, and potential contribution.
SUPERVISOR
Find who can guide the research.Expertise, publications, projects, research group, and supervision fit.
UNIVERSITY
Find where the research can grow.Department, research centre, facilities, academic network, and research culture.
COUNTRY
Understand where you will live.Visa, culture, safety, climate, language, transportation, and quality of life.
FUNDING
Understand how the PhD will be financed.Scholarship, tuition coverage, stipend, insurance, research allowance, and additional funding.
COST OF LIVING
Calculate the real cost of living.Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare, academic expenses, and personal expenses.
RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM
Look beyond the university name.Laboratory, archive, technology, collaboration, fieldwork opportunities, and research networks.
CAREER
Look beyond graduation.Academic, professional, research, international, and post-PhD opportunities.
COMPARISON
Compare the alternatives.Use consistent criteria and evidence to compare every candidate.
DECISION
Choose with evidence.Build the primary target, alternative candidates, and application strategy.
Compare the alternatives.
Setiap kandidat dievaluasi dengan kriteria yang sama. Tujuannya bukan menghasilkan angka yang sempurna, tetapi membuat keputusan menjadi lebih transparan, comparable, dan evidence-based.
a university.
A PhD adalah beberapa tahun yang dihabiskan di dalam research culture, academic network, supervision relationship, country, city, financial system, dan way of life tertentu.
The questions behind the choice.
What should I research?
Who should supervise me?
Which universities should I consider?
Which countries are realistic for me?
How much will the PhD actually cost?
Which funding opportunities are available?
What research ecosystem will I enter?
What kind of life will I have there?
What career opportunities may follow?
Which option has the strongest overall fit?
where the research
can grow.
Tempat di mana supervision dapat bekerja, funding dapat sustain, kehidupan dapat dijalani, dan future career dapat berkembang.
01 / Research Identity
→
Before asking “where?”
Ask first:
researcher do I
want to become?”