Doing a PhD is full of challenges and difficulties. Today we're taking a look at some of the personal qualities which will help you to push through when you encounter a problem. 1. Creative Thinking

Your supervisor should play a helpful and supportive role in your PhD – but you should also be realistic about what to expect from them. Here are 8 things you'll never hear your PhD supervisor say: Browse our job listings for more opportunities 1. “There's no rush with that. Take your time.”

When you're starting out as undergraduate student, there is so much to think about and to remember that it can be hard to know how to manage your course load. With that in mind, these tips can help you balance your courses so that your undergraduate experience can be as rewarding and positive as possible. Prioritise

Writing up your master's thesis is a big job, and you need to take some time to think about administrative issues as well as the content of your thesis. We've talked before about the final steps you need to take to make sure that your PhD thesis is ready to submit. Today, it's the turn of the master's students. If you're finishing up your master's, take a look at this checklist and make sure you're ready with everything you need to submit your thesis.

The big day is here – you're finally ready to hand in your PhD thesis! Years of work have culminated in this one piece of work, and you're prepared to submit it to your university office. You're almost certainly stressed, exhausted, and very glad to be done. But there are a few quick points you need to check before you formally submit your thesis, so take a look at this checklist and make sure everything is in order. 1. Put in your thanks or acknowledgements.

If you're working your way through your degree, you may well be required to write a number of essays for your assessment. This can be tricky if you don't have a lot of experience in essay writing, so today we're sharing tips on how to manage the essay-writing process. Researching

Oral exams can be an daunting experience for students, so today we're sharing some advice on how to get through an oral exam with as little pain as possible. 1. Preparation

Technology is changing the way we work, especially for students who are learning in an increasingly technology-rich environment. There are a ton of smartphone apps which can help make your life easier as a student, so here we're recommending some of the best. Pushbullet

If you're a student and you're looking for fun and engaging ways to learn, then there are a broad variety of educational materials available for purchase which can help promote your learning. As well as books as magazines, you can find lessons, learning apps, and electronic goods which offer educational benefits.

In the intensly competitive and narrow job market, prospective job seekers are increasingly discovering that a Bachelor’s degree is not enough, as more and more job profiles require you to have a Master’s (or similar postgraduate diploma/certificate). Whereas once postgraduate qualifications were reserved for the rare elite, today they are increasingly becoming the norm.

An interdisciplinary degree is one which covers more than one academic discipline; bringing together knowledge and working methods from multiple fields to give a broad perspective on a topic. Some common interdisciplinary topics include behavioural science, criminology, or mind and brain studies.

With fees ranging up to six digit figure sums, choosing to enrol in an MBA program can be an enormous decision, particularly if you’re leaving a well-paid career or trying to juggle work and family commitments. Regardless, more and more executives, students and business people are taking the time to earn an MBA.

If you’re looking to get into Business School, you’re certainly not alone. Going to b-school, whether for undergraduate study or to do your MBA, is becoming an increasingly popular study option. Business school teaches students the practical application of theory into practice, as well as providing access to a network of contacts. In this post, I’ll offer some comprehensive suggestions for getting into the business school of your choice.

Why move to a new field for postgraduate study? Perhaps a topic caught your eye during your undergraduate studies and you always wanted to pursue it further. Perhaps you're confident in your understanding of the essential facts of your field and feel that it's time for a change. Perhaps you want to broaden your skills and gain some variety to your studies. In any case, postgraduate study allows you to delve deeper into topics and to learn more independent research skills.

For a student faced with the daunting decision of which university to attend, paying a visit to a university fair can be a great way to get your thoughts in order and discover some of the programs and institutions on offer. These fairs can vary in size from the small to large-scale (such as UniFair in the UK), and can be quite confusing. However university fairs are well worth attending! A visit to a university fair is an opportunity to:

Instead of relaxing by the pool, engaging in night long barbecues or taking long awaited beach vacations, do you find yourself smoldering in the summer heat at your local library, or at your very own disheveled desk, mustering what little willpower you have left to write your thesis? As a current graduate student at the American University in Cairo I share your woes, and perhaps sleep depriving fears, but believe me when I say there is light, and the promise of a blissful graduation, at the end of that slightly terrifying thesis tunnel.

Take the Student Survey 2014 We know how difficult it can be to choose a Master’s program, particularly as the number of programs around the globe continues to grow. While many students take their time in finding a specific focus during their Bachelor’s studies, you’re expected to have narrowed the scope by the time you’re ready for graduate school.

As another season of graduate school applications comes to a close, we wanted to offer a few diverse perspectives on the matter for any of you still on the fence, or for those of you planning ahead for next year. Although deadlines for this coming fall have already passed for most schools in North America, potential PhD candidates looking at European, Asian, African or Latin American schools may still have some time to send in an application.

Every year thousands of economics students decide to continue education, either straight away after graduation or after a year or two of “real world” experience. Often at this point comes the question: should I pursue a PhD or enroll in an MBA program? This crucial question includes important considerations ranging from “Which path fulfills my career goals?” to “What is the possible return on investment of the study course?” There is no single correct answer, as personal priorities and intrinsic rewards differ immensely.

The literature research students need to rely on throughout all of their thesis writing is diverse. Broadly categorized there are three types of literature useful for PhD students: research/topic literature, methods literature, and ‘how to do your PhD’ literature.

After finishing high school many students think of applying for university and getting at least a Bachelor’s degree. After 3 to 5 years of studying some choose to take their first degree and join the job market, while others decide to continue in university to complete a Masters Degree or even a PhD through additional academic and/or applied research. If you are thinking about taking this final step and doing your PhD, but you are still not sure whether it is right for you, check out the links below to see what you can expect from a PhD program.

A PhD was something I always dreamed of doing. On the one hand, it was a natural continuation of my, it now seems, life-long learning curve after my Master’s degree. But, more importantly, it was also a faraway dream on the horizon that seemed worth pursuing just for its own sake. I probably knew my love of research should last me the entire doctoral spell but no one will ever be able to fully explain to you what it is like to undertake a PhD until you have finally let yourself fall into its subtle embrace.

A PhD can be a very expensive endeavor regardless of your background. There are many opportunities to finance your PhD and they are all worth considering prior to committing to a specific program.

Source: National Science Foundation, NSF/NIH/USED/USDA/NEH/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates After our recent blog-post comparing the number of PhD graduates in the US and China we decided to have a closer look at the number of graduates in specific disciplines in the US, focusing on the change in the numbers of PhD graduates between 2001 and 2011 and see where Economics stands in comparison.