The trouble with an off spec Phd (one not backed alongside a company) is the subject matter is too specialised to be any use in industry (which is essentially what Merlin has stated), don't get me wrong I appreciate the fact that the research from Phds serves a useful purpose.
The majority of PHd holders I have worked with in industry are still doing the the exactly the same job as BEng or MEng holders, and on the whole you will get no financial benefit from having a PHd. If you don't go onto career in academia (research or lecturing) then all a Phd gets you is the title Doctor.
Essentially for the majority of graduate jobs in industry the thoery content of an HND is perfectly adequate to do the job, remember the majority of engineers whom designed the BAe1-11, Concorde probably only ever held the equivalent of an HND, misfortuantley the requirements for chartership have now been raised to fours years of acedemic study (MEng or Beng + Msc), so it is rare the HR department would now accept just a HND. I accept the current situation is forcing you to look to post graduate study, but in my opinion this isn't what the industry needs.
Planecrazy, I didn't do a year out in industry, but on my course it would be fair to say that those whom opted for the year most were taken on by same company after graduation, mind you the pay for a year out is nearly half to two/thirds that you would get as a graduate (at least it was when I was at University).
Last edited by portsharbourflyer; 31st Aug 2006 at 19:41.