Together We’re The PhD People
We’re here to help you feel more supported and less isolated on your PhD journey
Whether you’re not getting the support or supervision you need from your university, or just want to feel part of something bigger, we exist to support PhD students at every stage of the journey.
Our golden rule is to treat students as we ourselves would have wanted to be treated during our PhDs. That means our support is accessible, empathetic, and driven by a simple belief that the PhD journey doesn’t have to be isolating and can be demystified.
By bringing you access to world class educators, thesis coaches, editors and mentors, we’re able to offer you an unparalleled suite of free and paid for services that will help you feel more connected and better equipped as you navigate your PhD.
Our Mission & Vision
Mission
A good mission statement is quick, short, and sticks in people’s brains. What purpose are we working toward every day?
Our mission is to offer services that allow PhD students to thrive, feel less isolated, and enjoy their PhDs.
Vision
A vision statement expresses the long-term aspiration of the organisation. What change do we want to make in the world?
Our vision is to offer unreasonable levels of support and hospitality and become thought leaders in the PhD student experience, vowing to address the injustices faced by PhD students and improve the entire student experience.
Our Values
Never forget the struggle of doing a PhD
We must never forget the stress, isolation and anxiety that can accompany a PhD. We must always bear that in mind when we’re communicating with or helping our students. We should be compassionate, and remind students that we know what they’re going through; we’ve been there ourselves.
Offer unreasonable levels of advice and hospitality
We should be saying yes to virtually everything, however outlandish. Every student is different, and every single one brings their own unique requirements, pain points and aspirations. We design our offer around them, rather than try to fit them into our box. We can arrange virtually anything.
Place the customer at the heart of everything we do
Our users entrust us with their money and their theses. Their ability to thrive, remain committed to their PhD and see it through to the end may rest on our ability to connect, inform and educate. We need to treat them and their work as we would like ourselves and our work to be treated. Respond quickly, speak clearly, and be kind in every communication.
Show our students the rest of the boat
Our students feel connected to us and other customers, because we’re all in the same boat. The more we can show the students what the rest of the boat looks like, and who is on the boat, the more we can help students feel less isolated and the better able we will be to execute our mission and vision.
Speak with one voice
We should be clear, answer questions succinctly, and make sure the customer has all the information they need for the next step in the journey.
Make our customers feel part of something bigger
Our customers consistently tell us that they are loyal to our brand because it helps them feel part of something bigger. We should always look for opportunities to remind them of this, and to show or remind them that they are not alone.
How The PhD People works
Monday Focus Session
Every Monday, 9am UK time. Four hours of structured PhD work alongside 30+ doctoral students. No prep needed — just bring whatever you’re working on. The most popular starting point. £14 a session.
Thesis Bootcamp
Finish a chapter in one weekend. A planning workshop, four days of intensive writing alongside 25 other PhD students, and an editing session to turn your draft into something submission-ready. The average word count is 17,500. Runs quarterly. £195 — double your money back if it’s not worth it.
The PhD Common Room
The home of ongoing support. Daily writing sessions, expert-led workshops, one-to-one office hours, and 150+ PhD students who understand exactly what you’re going through. Everything you need to make consistent progress — and never work alone again. From £30/month.
We’ve All Been Where You Are…
Collectively, we've over a century of experience as supervisors, academic and higher education professionals. We take everything we know about the PhD journey - and about the support students need - and apply it to the work we do.
Professor Jane Creaton - Head Coach & Writing Retreat Host
Professor Jane Creaton is Emeritus Professor of Higher Education and has published on professional doctorates and the mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate researcher students and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2019 for her work on doctoral education. Jane offers coaching, writing retreats and writing workshops. She also facilitates daily writing sessions.
Dr. Max Lemprière - Head of Community
Dr. Max Lemprière is the founder of The PhD People. Since his PhD he has supervised and coached over 100 students. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Royal Society of Arts, and runs writing workshops, writing sprints and offers one-to-one coaching.
Professor Gina Wisker - Workshop Host
Professor Gina Wisker is a leading voice in the PhD student experience and publication process. She has published 26 books, including: The Postgraduate Research Handbook,The Good Supervisor and Getting Published. She runs workshops on a range of topics.
Dr. Simon Pratt Adams - Writing Session & Workshop Host
Professor Jerry Wellington - Workshop Host
Professor Jerry Wellington has written 22 books, including Taking Control of Your Thesis and the recently published Examining Doctoral Work. He has also worked as Head of Research Degrees at the University of Sheffield School of Education, where he also oversaw the PhD programme. He currently runs skills workshops and offers one-to-one coaching for members.
Dr. George Byrne - Head of Content & Writing Session Host
Professor Jane Creaton - Head Coach & Writing Retreat Host
Professor Jane Creaton is Emeritus Professor of Higher Education and has published on professional doctorates and the mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate researcher students and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2019 for her work on doctoral education. Jane offers coaching, writing retreats and writing workshops. She also facilitates daily writing sessions.
Dr. Max Lemprière - Head of Community & Writing Session Host
Dr. Max Lemprière is the founder of The PhD People. Since his PhD he has supervised and coached over 100 students. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Royal Society of Arts, and runs writing workshops, writing sprints and offers one-to-one coaching.
Dr. George Byrne - Writing Session Host & Head of Content
Professor Gina Wisker - Workshop Host
Professor Gina Wisker is a leading voice in the PhD student experience and publication process. She has published 26 books, including: The Postgraduate Research Handbook,The Good Supervisor and Getting Published. She runs workshops on a range of topics.
Professor Jerry Wellington - Workshop & Mock Viva Host
Professor Jerry Wellington has written 22 books, including Taking Control of Your Thesis and the recently published Examining Doctoral Work. He has also worked as Head of Research Degrees at the University of Sheffield School of Education, where he also oversaw the PhD programme. He currently runs skills workshops and offers one-to-one coaching for members.
Dr. Simon Pratt Adams - Workshop & Writing Session Host
The PhD Behind The PhD People
During my PhD, I never got the support I needed, and each day was a struggle as I battled alone to work out what goes where and how to craft my thesis. I was lacking in confidence and felt isolated.
But I wasn’t alone. The more I spoke to other students, the more I realised how many people also lacked in confidence or felt disconnected. There were those who were being let down by their supervisors and institutions, or those who just wanted to feel part of something bigger and feel more connected to other students in the same boat.
So, I vowed that when I completed my PhD I would dedicate myself to helping other PhD students so that their life wouldn’t be as stressful or isolating as mine.
That’s why I created this company. And that’s why I prioritised one mission: to help you feel more connected and more confident as you navigate your PhD.
As always, if there’s anything I can do to make your PhD journey easier please send me an email.
– Dr. Max
What Other Students Say…
How The PhD People works
Monday Focus Session
Every Monday, 9am UK time. Four hours of structured PhD work alongside 30+ doctoral students. No prep needed — just bring whatever you’re working on. The most popular starting point. £14 a session.
Thesis Bootcamp
Finish a chapter in one weekend. A planning workshop, four days of intensive writing alongside 25 other PhD students, and an editing session to turn your draft into something submission-ready. The average word count is 17,500. Runs quarterly. £195 — double your money back if it’s not worth it.
The PhD Common Room
The home of ongoing support. Daily writing sessions, expert-led workshops, one-to-one office hours, and 150+ PhD students who understand exactly what you’re going through. Everything you need to make consistent progress — and never work alone again. From £30/month.