Why choosing to do a PhD was the best decision I’ve ever made

As I was finishing my BA(Hons) degree in Business Studies I saw an advert on LinkedIn from the University of Huddersfield for a PhD Scholarship in Cyber Security.

I had developed an interest in data privacy and cyber security during my undergraduate degree, and my final year dissertation focussed on collecting people’s perceptions of privacy in the online environment.

When I heard that the University was opening the Secure Societies Institute I was thrilled, this would be a great opportunity for students to take part in interdisciplinary research that would be relevant and up to date with the issues that arise in various areas of technology, criminology, psychology and computing.

I was even more ecstatic to find out that there was a PhD student scholarship funded by the Secure Societies Institute. The Scholarship would allow me to continue my studies with fewer financial pressures, allowing me to focus on my research. I emailed the supervisor listed on the advert to find out more and we arranged an informal chat to see if it was the right fit for me.

I was nervous that I would not be suitable for the course because of the change in discipline, but the guidance and discussions I had that day reassured me that this was the right path for me and though I had never in my wildest dreams considered myself to be worthy of the title of ‘Doctor’, here I am feeling evermore reassured and supported knowing that this was the perfect opportunity for me to continue my learning and expand my research in a field I have developed a keen passion in.