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Embarking on your PhD Journey – Top Tips

Embarking on a PhD journey is often solitary, challenging and overwhelming. Some students, however, find the process liberating, fulfilling and academically stimulating. When I embarked on my PhD journey [1] I was certainly unaware of what was ahead: the precision of academic writing; the solitary process; the importance of the supervision team; my capabilities; and, the amount of reading and redrafting. Although most institutions insist on a few days of mandatory preparation training, I would have greatly appreciated knowing in advance what I shall now share with you.  

There are several reasons why people embark on a PhD journey [2], but there are two which I consider particularly important. Firstly, there should be a topic or theory that motivates your curiosity and secondly, there must be an interest in research and adding to knowledge. Personally, I was interested in a topic for a number of years and realised that if I could fill a gap in the knowledge I would be able to create a positive impact on thousands of lives.  

Top 18 Points to consider: 

Remember that this is a long road that will be challenging yet fulfilling. As your journey develops, you will become more comfortable with the process and everything that it offers.  

You are now part of a research team and having reliable supervisors is vital. If there are any difficulties, even if they seem minor, address these as soon as possible.Supervisors can be extremely busy but they have a duty to guide you along this academic road. Have regular meetings and consistent correspondence via email, skype, telephone or over coffee.  

You will not be motivated throughout the whole process. In fact, there will be many occasions when you feel like giving up. That is a normal part of the journey. During these times, remember self-care and take some time out to reignite your energy.  

We all do it but bear in mind that procrastination will only delay you in many strides in your research.  

It is vital that your supervision team, along with you, set clear objectives and deadlines. Stick to these.  

You will receive criticism- lots of it. Take note and receive it willingly as this will only make your research stronger.  

As the PhD can be such a solitary process, it is worth building up a network of research friends where you can share experiences, gain support and generally feel connected.  

This is vital, especially within the first six months. Papers, books, journals, articles- anything that is recent and relevant to your research.  

Do not be harsh on your initial attempts of academic writing [4]. As the journey develops this will progress naturally.  

Although passion, knowledge and enthusiasm is vital, you must have a clear outline of how you see your research journey progressing: the big question should always be at the forefront of your mind.  

Although the assessment and exam stages can be daunting, they offer you the opportunity to prepare, plan and practice which in turn will consolidate your own understanding of your research.  

One redraft is never enough. Be prepared to redraft chapters, tables, and even sentence structure several times. Always aim to showcase your very best work.  

The questions will guide you through the research. However, bear in mind, that as the research progresses, the questions continually change. In fact, I know quite a few PhD candidates who changed their main question the day before their viva! 

While it is beneficial to attend courses it is worth noting that not all courses will be relevant to you.  

Although this can be quite frightening for some, participating in conferences provides excellent networking opportunities and offer good practice at speaking and coherently organising and presenting your material. 

While it is great to present your absolute best work, it is also important to NOT be a perfectionist during your research journey. This can hugely delay progress and upset your focus and clarity.  

Chapter completions, initial assessments, 100-day viva, conference presentation, positive feedback from supervision teams are all worth celebrating. Recognise your progress, achievements and advancements in knowledge.  

Many people from all types of backgrounds will ask you about your research. Be able to share this in a few sentences: what/why/how.  

Embarking on PhD research, although challenging with many ups and downs, can be a highly rewarding process that will offer new opportunities and exciting advancements. With focus, determination, self-belief and hard work, you will not only develop as an academic but will reap the benefits of skills advancement in areas such as speaking, writing, presenting, refining, networking, and debating. Enjoy the creative journey and all the stimulation and challenge that it brings with it.  


This article is shared from jobs.ac.uk [6]

Launched in January 1998 by the University of Warwick [7], jobs.ac.uk has grown to become the top recruitment site in this sector, attracting the most qualified and talented people from the UK, Europe and across the world. Their website has an unrivalled track record in Higher Education and has helped 700+ organisations worldwide to recruit highly qualified staff including leading global universities, research organisations, FE colleges and charities. jobs.ac.uk is operated from and by the University of Warwick [7].