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Universities tend to go quiet in August. Additionally, fewer supervisions, fewer seminars, fewer reasons to be on campus. But for many PhD students in a phd writing group, this is when the writing happens. The pressure eases just enough to get your head down. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like when PhDs stop […]
The thesis is the by-product of a PhD. The transformation in how you think is the product. A practical guide to staying in your own thinking in 2026.
A January 2026 Wharton study named the habit doctoral researchers have been quietly building: cognitive surrender. Participants accepted wrong AI answers 80% of the time — and felt 11.7% more confident than people who reasoned for themselves. Here is why a PhD is the worst place in the world for that to happen, and what to do instead.
The flatness after finishing your PhD is grief — for the routine, the identity, and the community. Here’s why, and what helps.
82% of people experience imposter syndrome. For PhD students, it’s not a character flaw — it’s a belonging problem. Here’s the fix.
Last weekend, 25 doctoral researchers wrote 275,246 words in four days. Here is what we learned from 139 anonymous mood check-ins about doubt, belonging, and what happens when PhD students stop writing alone.
Mock viva vs real viva: 5 honest differences every PhD student should know before booking, so you use the simulation for what it can do.
How to prepare for a mock viva: a practical guide to what to read, what to rehearse, and the 7 feedback questions that make it useful.
Your methodology chapter is a justification, not a description. Get the ‘why’ right and it almost writes itself. Full guide inside.
Wondering what happens in a mock viva? A walkthrough of the format, examiners, and questions, plus how to use one to settle your nerves before the real thing.
PhD writing groups work because they replace isolation with belonging. The accountability is felt, not enforced. Find the right one.
Yes, the first year of a PhD is supposed to feel overwhelming. It’s not you — it’s the system. Here’s what actually helps.
In January, we opened a Zoom room and left it running. No facilitator. No fixed schedule. No timed sprints or check-ins or accountability prompts. Just an open room, available around the clock, where doctoral researchers could show up and write. Three months in, I pulled the data. 701 participant-hours of writing in March. Thirty-eight writers. […]
Your PhD upgrade viva doesn't have to be terrifying. Learn what examiners actually look for, common questions, how to prepare, and how to manage anxiety.
PhD writer's block comes from unclear expectations, isolation, and identity threat — not poor discipline. Here's what actually helps.
80% of doctoral researchers experience a sustained period where everything feels pointless, progress seems impossible, and you question whether you’re cut out for this at all. Welcome to what I call Shit Valley – the inevitable plateau phase that hits most PhD students somewhere between years two and three, where motivation disappears and every day […]
A new report from HEPI (the Higher Education Policy Institute) has found that AI use among UK undergraduates is now almost universal. 95% of students report using AI in at least one way, and 94% say they use it to help with assessed work. But here’s the finding that stopped me: 15% of students are […]
When PhD students come to me worried about their PhD thesis structure, they often frame it around the structure of chapters or the thesis as a whole. But in my experience, they’re rarely just asking about chapter order or what goes where. Whether they explicitly use these words or not, often I sense that they’re […]
The doctoral model has not changed in its essential structure for a century. A student is attached to a supervisor, perhaps assigned to a project, and sent away to design, execute and write up a significant piece of research. Along the way, the supervisor checks in, steers, and points towards training that may or may […]
Vitae have published their 2026 ‘What do researchers do?’ report. It details the employment outcomes and earnings of recent doctoral graduates. There are a few figures in there that I think can give us food for thought as researcher developers. Only 41% of doctoral graduates end up working in higher education, and that number is […]
What happens when a doctoral researcher doesn’t feel able to talk about how difficult they’re finding their PhD? In the decade or so that I’ve been working alongside them, I’ve seen that they retreat. And they start to internalise a belief that they aren’t good enough. Or that they haven’t got what it takes to […]
We’ve just wrapped up another Thesis Bootcamp and I wanted to write some reflections on how the weekend went. If you don’t know what the Thesis Bootcamp format is, in my view it’s the most powerful writing intensive around. Nothing is more effective at getting doctoral students to write. Bar none. It was developed in […]
56% of doctoral students report feeling like an imposter. 75% say they worry about failing. And 63% feel completely overwhelmed.
A large institutional survey (10,000+ students) found “an alarming picture of psychological distress associated to feelings of loneliness". How did it ever get so bad?
Struggling to understand how to write a PhD literature review? Learn what it is, how to structure it, and how to write critically — plus get a free template.
Developing a critical approach is one of the key challenges of a PhD. But what does ‘being critical’ actually mean?
You might have been told to ‘be more critical’ or to ‘make an original contribution,’ but what does that actually mean in practice?
The first-year PhD progress review is a significant milestone in any PhD journey. In this post, we'll advise you on how to best prepare.
Chances are you've got a writing project on the go right now. But are you sure you know what it is you're trying to say?
We've recently changed our name and updated our website. In this post we explain why and renew our commitment to being there for you during your PhD.
Noting can ever fully prepare you for the intellectual, physical and emotional assault that comes with doing a PhD. Everyone does a PhD for very personal reasons, and everyone finds them challenging in unique and varied ways. What for one person may seem like a death-blow may to others be nothing more than a minor inconvenience. However, in this post I want to discuss the six things that every new PhD student should know. They’re things that I learnt the hard way during my PhD, and which I've seen time and time again in my career as an academic, PhD thesis proofreader and PhD coach.
We all feel like imposters from time to time. We can carry with us a pervasive sense that, at our core, we’re intellectual phonies. That we don’t deserve to be on the PhD programme, and that any day now we’re going to get found out. Even when faced with objective evidence to the contrary, whether that’s our grades or our very existence on the PhD programme - with all its competitive application processes and rites of acceptance - we’re still left with a sense that we must have fooled everyone into thinking we’re capable or talented, and that we have what it takes to complete the PhD.
Half of all PhD students consider quitting. This guide helps you work out whether what you're feeling is a normal part of the journey or a sign it's time to leave — with practical next steps either way.
Your PhD discussion chapter is your thesis’s intellectual epicenter. Think of it as the scholarly equivalent of a courtroom closing argument, where you summarise the evidence and make your case. Perhaps that’s why it’s so tricky – the skills you need in your discussion chapter aren’t skills you’ve likely had to deploy before: it’s where […]
In this post, I’m going to give you what I think is the easiest win when it comes to improving your writing: using PhD thesis statements. These are short, one or two sentence statements at the start of any piece of writing that tell the reader what the destination is right at the outset. They […]
When you start a PhD, you’re thrown into the deep end. Unlike starting a new job, there’s often no onboarding process to guide you through. You’re lucky if you even receive methods training. If your PhD is anything like mine, you’ll be shown your desk on day one and told to get on with it.
If you ask the right questions, you get the right answers. You might not have expected them or particularly wanted to hear them, but if you ask right you get right. That’s one of the universal truths about a PhD, about every PhD. All unique, all individual, but all governed by that principle – among others. A truth, however you may find it.
Congratulations, Doctor; academic work is NOT your only option. If you’ve just completed your PhD, the grass may be greener outside the university gates. In this post, we offer advice and guidance for those thinking of leaving academic after a PhD. The Dream of a Life in Academia Whatever inspired you when you began […]
It has been two years since I successfully completed my PhD. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d known before starting it, which would have helped me to make the most of the experience. So I want to use this opportunity to share my advice for new PhD students. Doing a PhD […]
28 real PhD viva questions across 8 categories, compiled by a professor who has examined more than 50 PhDs. Each question includes what the examiner is looking for and how to prepare.
All it takes is for one person to be vulnerable to set off a cascade. Without that spark, shared vulnerability remains hidden.
Keep steady on your course, and trust the process. Have faith that by putting the effort in and trusting your instinct you'll end up where you need to be.
We won't get things right all of the time. The world just doesn't work like that. We're going to mess up. A lot.That's just part of being human and part of being a PhD student.
Your PhD should be difficult, but not a struggle. It should involve time alone, but you shouldn't be isolated. Build human connection into your journey, or you may not be able to complete it at all.
To be imperfect is to be human, so embrace the times you get things wrong and mess things up during your PhD.
Are you going to stay in academia post-PhD? Deciding to leave isn't just as simple as choosing a different career path, it can often mean having to reinvent an entire identity.
We often instinctively find ourselves accommodating the needs of other people, even if that means we put our own needs second.
Lean into the problems you face in your PhD rather than defer them to the future.
Doing a PhD can be a feel a bit like groundhog day. The same thing, day in and day out. It soon gets tedious.
Your thesis is doing its best to take over your life. Are you letting it?
A PhD often means long stints spent working alone. That can often breed loneliness. But alone doesn't have to equal loneliness.
There will likely times during your PhD when you lose all hope. Times where you want to give it all up, or where you question why you even started in the first place.
Over the years I've worked with hundreds of PhD students from around the world and, whilst they all have their own perspectives and pain points, it's surprising how many students struggle with the same things.
Often, we have a tendency to approach big tasks as one distinct piece of work.
Work expands to fill the available time, which is why you may work more effectively with strict deadlines in the PhD.
Navigating the PhD journey is as much an emotional challenge as it is an intellectual one.
There will always be things you don't know and as you first set out on the PhD journey you'll suffer from a lack of experience and expertise.
Your PhD is trying to break you. Sad but true. Look out for yourself and for those around you.
Never assume that everything will go to plan in your PhD. You'll make mistakes all the time - and that's fine.
You are always going to get criticised, whether in your PhD or otherwise.
You can't be 100% productive and effective all of the time during your PhD. Savour good days, go easy on yourself on bad ones.
It's important to reflect on how much you've grown and how many hurdles you've overcome on your PhD journey.
If there's one thing I can guarantee it's that the stress and anxiety you're feeling is shared by others.
As the seasons change, take stock of how far you've come in your PhD and the challenges you've overcome.
Most PhD students I interact with are, to lesser or greater extents, perfectionists. With that comes an innate fear of making mistakes, and a sense of panic when they actually do.
We can often forget to take care of ourselves and looks after the basics.
My point is this: research is messy and it doesn't progress in a linear fashion. You'll go round and round in circles and you'll make mistakes. You'll have to go back, start over and cover old ground.
It'll take a while until your PhD takes on a form you're happy with.
You're not a terrible student, you're just a terrible judge of your own work.
I want you to spend ten seconds visualising your own graduation. Do it right now.
‘Knowing the literature’ is a bit of a misnomer. It does not mean ‘know everything’.
Conducting your PhD literature review and worried about worried that there is no literature in your discipline? This guide is for you.
For many of us, our biggest critic is not our worst enemy. It's ourselves. Without realising it, we can be incredibly unkind to ourselves, even for the most minor infraction.
A PhD thesis has four distinct sections: introduction, foundation, core, and synthesis. Here's what each one does, how they relate, and how to plan your chapters around them.
Conducting an effective PhD literature review is hard. In this guide, we present an effective three-stage strategy that will help.
Conducting an effective PhD literature review is hard. In this guide, we present an effective three-stage strategy that will help.
In this guide we explain the purpose of a PhD literature review and why it's the most important chapter and how it relates to your research questions.
If you're not careful, you can come up with all sorts of reasons why you're failing and all sorts of things that aren't quite right.
A common misconception amongst PhD students is that writing a thesis is a linear process. In this guide we clear up that myth.
You probably worry about finding the thread that runs through the PhD thesis. In this guide we walk you through what's required.
Right now your PhD is taking up a big chunk of your life. For some of you, it might be your entire life. For others, it sits alongside other priorities, responsibilities and interests.
More often than not, comparing your progress to that of other PhD students you may know is futile at best and destructive at worst.
I came across a quote about the ups-and-downs of life that I wanted to share it with you. I've copied it at the end of this email, but I've taken the liberty of changing the word 'life' to ' your PhD'
Now more than ever, you'll need to draw on a full range of support as you navigate your PhD. But what does that support look like?
If you're like me, you start a new year with a sense of excitement and wonder. A new year for me is an opportunity to keep doing what you've been doing well, stop what you've been doing badly and start to do things you've never done before.
We read hundreds of articles and books for our PhDs, but do we keep all the information? Learn which strategies benefit long-term memory.
What’s been the most impressive thing about how people have reacted to the pandemic?
We've all got things on our to-do lists that we're putting off. We push them further down the list, pretending that, if only we keep doing so, they'll magically disappear.
Just starting out on your PhD? Here are our tips on how to survive the first year of your first year and make it out in one piece.
When you first start, you've got a pile of pieces in front of you and you haven't got any idea what goes where. The thought that you'll end up with a finished puzzle seems almost impossible.
Doing a PhD while struggling with mental health can be difficult, but there are things you can do to look after yourself and your well-being.
Yesterday I stressed the danger of letting the PhD control your life. Today I want to talk about what happens when it already does.
At the best of times, PhDs can be lonely, isolated places. During a pandemic, when you're away from your peers, labs, fieldwork or supervisors, that isolation can become more acute.
The first year of supervised training for PhD students is extremely daunting. But what if you have a not-so-great PhD supervisor?
LIfe as a mature PhD student can throw up challenges. Here we offer our advice on how mature students can thrive on the PhD journey.
If you find yourself going down a dead end, sometimes it’s best to turn around, retrace your steps and start afresh.
There will be times in your PhD when it makes sense to do the deep work. Take those opportunities when you can.
There are a lot of moving parts in a PhD. A lot of things to consider, plan, execute and respond to.
When you stop to think about all the work you’ve got left to do during your PhD, you probably panic a little.
You're already familiar with imposter syndrome. It is intrinsically linked with the lesser-known Curse of Knowledge. Here we explain how to manage this common struggle.
No two PhDs are the same. Depending on which way you look at it, that can be both terrifying and exciting.
Perfectionism, self-doubt, feeling like an imposter. Chances are, one or more of those term resonates with you personally.
We can’t all be productive all of the time. We can try to maximise our productive time, but we mustn’t forget the importance of doing absolutely nothing.
If you’re anything like I was, and if you’re anything like the PhD students I interact with on a day to day basis, you can often find yourself in a bit of a muddle during your PhD.
There is no point where you’re going to ‘get there’, no magic place where everything is where you want it to be and you’ve arrived in some paradise of bliss and happiness.
Your PhD advisers and supervisors have your best interest at heart, but there will be times where you don’t agree with their advice. It’s your project, not their, so it’s fine to (respectfully) disagree.
If you were to represent a PhD as an emotion, it would likely be anxiety. PhDs can be hotbeds for it. They’re necessarily hard, they’re full of uncertainty, they’re plagued by competition and imposter syndrome, and they have high stakes.
Devastated by unexpected constructive feedback? Take time to rage against the feedback then look after yourself and start again. Supervisors only give you feedback to help you pass your PhD, hard though it is to hear.
Things will never be perfect. There’s no magic moment where everything in your PhD is perfect, fixed, exactly where you want it. There will always be things wrong, and there will always be things that are imperfect.
It’s easy in your PhD to look at others and compare your own expertise, study and progress. A particular challenge occurs when those in your cohort reach major milestones before you or, worse still, submit before you.
In yesterday’s email I spoke to those who were juggling a PhD alongside other responsibilities (childcare, employment, and so on). I shared a tip that one of the readers shared, and invited others to share their advice on how to keep momentum up in the PhD when it is one of multiple balls to juggle.
Completing a PhD is much like nursing a child. It can sap all of your energy, eat into your time, and it can crowd out any other responsibilities, hobbies or interests you may have had. Completing a PhD is tough, and it can be incredibly isolating; worth it in the long run, but hard at the time.
Lots of students struggle to understand the difference between a PhD thesis literature review and theory framework. In this guide, we clear up the confusion.
Either you can wake up and start to think of all the stresses and strains that the PhD is trying to throw at you that day, or you can wake up and immediately focus on the positives, on all the things that are going right, that you’re excited about, or that you’re grateful for.
Your PhD is going to be rough around the edges. There will even be bits of it that are a bit crap. And that’s okay.
If you’re stressed, it’s a sign that you need to slow down. If you’re tired, it’s a sign that you need to rest. If you’re overwhelmed, it’s a sign that you need to reprioritise, say no, and delegate.
Sure, milestones are important and there are tangible, quantifiable outcomes that you’ll reach as you strive to be more successful, but there is no magic ‘end point’ at which you suddenly become successful.
If you cling on to the idea that every day is going to be a good one, you’re going to spend a lot of the time disappointed. If you cling on to the idea that you’ll always be at peak performance, you’re going to spend a lot of time angry with yourself.
Ever wear your to-do list like a badge of honour? I do. And I don’t think I’m the only one.
We want to plan for the future, but life doesn’t always work that way. Instead, you have to have faith that you’re headed the right way.
If a PhD was easy, everyone would have one. When you find things tough it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture or, worse still, start blaming yourself or labelling yourself stupid
On the bad days we can talk ourselves out of the PhD. Wait until the good days to pull the trigger.
What do you get if you mix over-working, worry and poor self-care? At best, you’ll end up frustrated, stressed and grouchy. At worse, you’ll have an emotional breakdown.In either case, it’s important to understand what both prevention and cure looks like.
When I was a child I used to look at the adults around me in awe of how together their lives seemed. They were so, well, grown up. Adulting looked like serious business, but also something that could be learnt and mastered. There must, so I thought, be a day when you have a grip on everything.
When we’re up against deadlines we can think that the only solution is to work as much as possible. This is particularly the case in academia, where working late in the library or lab can sometimes be seen as a badge of honour.
It’s all too easy to fall in to the trouble of thinking “if only X, then Y”. For example, ‘if only I was able to get to the lab, I’d be able to finish this chapter’, or ‘if only I could finish this chapter, I’d be able to relax’, or ‘if I work late, then I’ll get everything done’.
Your research will take you in directions that are hard to predict. New questions emerge, new insights lead to hunches, and pre-conceived ideas turn out to be false.That's just how research work.The thing is, we go into our PhDs with research proposals that map out the entire project in one elegant plan.If you're anything like I was when I was doing my PhD, you get anxious about the fact that you research is deviating from this original research proposal.
As much as I am a strong advocate for working within your limits and being kind to yourself, there are inevitably going to be days when you're feeling awful but you nevertheless have to show up and get the job done.Whether you're teaching, marking, writing or researching, everyone has days where they have no energy, where they would rather be in bed or where the inner critic seems to have found its loudest voice yet.
We tend to thrive when there is certainty in what we do, when we know what it takes to complete a task and know when it is we’ve actually done so. It’s no surprise then that the PhD can fill us with so much anxiety, as it’s full of so much uncertainty.
There’s a common belief in academic circles in general and PhD circles in particular that the key to success and reaching milestones is working as much as possible. This fetishisation of over-work and struggle is destructive, not just because it can breed unhealthy expectations about what is required to achieve goals, but also because it is largely ineffective.
If you’re not careful, you PhD will take over your life. It may have already done so. Gradually it can crowd out every other aspect of your life as it commands more and more of your time and energy.This is fuelled in part by a misconception that the PhD needs to be your number one priority. It doesn’t. A key lesson that many students learn the hard way is that prioritising the PhD above all else is counterproductive. It often leads to burnout and fatigue, and the quality and quantity of your work can suffer as a result.
I can't imagine too many people would be excited if one of the things on their to do list was to kiss a frog. Most people would put it off for as long as possible, hoping it would disappear but all the while worrying about having to do it. Whereas in fact, they'd be better off kissing the frog straight away. That way, the worst is over and it's plain sailing for the rest of the day.
'I can't find a theory that's relevant'I hear this all the time. A common misconception amongst PhD students is that there always exists a magical, off the shelf theory or framework that will be perfectly tailored to your research questions, aims and objectives. Because of this misconception, students panic when they can't find one. That isn't to say that they don't exist - they do, but rarely.
We all have days we'd rather forget. The days where our mood isn't great, or where the weather sucks, or where things just never seem to work out. Those days may sometimes turn into weeks. We may even have entire dark months. One thing I found useful during the dark times of my PhD (everyone has them) is this: remember where you're headed.
Yesterday I came across a fantastic blog post from The Thesis Whisperer that I think you should read. It focuses on students who want to quit their PhDs. It's titled 'How Not To Be An Academic Asshole During Covid' and it raises important points about PhD struggle and the decision to leave academia and leave the PhD journey.
PhDs are hard. That's just common sense.In fact, it feels odd to even be saying it. Of course they're hard. They're just about the hardest thing you could ever set out to do (remind yourself of that next time you think you're an idiot).
During your PhD there are probably times when you're confused, you don't understand things you feel you ought to, or when you just struggle to keep up.It's during these times that we can be most self-critical. We often attach ourselves to the idea that we ought to always understand everything, or that we should never struggle. In other words, we often expect perfection from ourselves.But in doing so you fail to remember that a PhD is an apprenticeship.
It's all too easy to compare ourselves to other people and then feel bad about all the things we aren't good at or aren't achieving.But how often do you reflect on your own qualities? How often do you take a step back and remind yourself of all the things you're good at?
If you're lucky, there will be people around you advising your on your PhD journey.Most often it's your supervisors. They're generally a great resource and can offer a wealth of experience and knowledge upon which you can draw. Often, they'll be offering you advice and guidance that they think is in your best interest. But, from time to time, they'll get it wrong.
Say no more often! You may often feel like you have to say yes to everything, whether that's working more, doing so for less money, taking on more responsibilities, attending social engagements, covering for other people or generally doing things you wouldn't have otherwise done.You might feel like you'd be letting people down or that people would think you were lazy or selfish if you said no.
Do you ever get to Friday and wonder where the week went?It happens to me all the time.One useful tip I've learnt over the years is to start Monday by setting your intentions for the week to come.
"I'll do it tomorrow....." Stop saying and start doing with these strategies on how to stop procrastinating your PhD thesis.
Today, in my little corner of the world, the weather is unusually great. It's on days like this that I find it easier to take life and work less seriously and celebrate the small, simple pleasures.Regardless of whether it's sunny or rainy where you are, make sure you take time out every now and again to drop your guard, treat everything less seriously, forget about your problems and remind yourself of how far you've come.
In your PhD you're going to encounter lots of problems. Things will always go wrong and you'll always come up against unexpected outcomes. If you're anything like me, you may let problems become overwhelming. What typically happens is this: I come across a problem that needs fixing. Gradually I work myself up more and more until what started as a little problem with little consequences has morphed into the end of the world. Then, I drop everything I am doing, go into panic mode and try and fix it. When I have to delegate the problem to someone else, or when the outcome is out of my hands, I find myself panicking even more and getting impatient.
The PhD is an ideal environment for mental health problems to fester. There's the ever present imposter syndrome, the financial pressures you face, the uncertainty over the academic job market, constant pressure to publish and the isolation that comes from long hours of reading and writing.No wonder anxiety and depression in graduate students is worsening.
We all need help from time to time.We might really struggle to understand something other people find straightforward, we might have a stupid question, or we might just want someone to hold our hand and tell us it's all going to be alright.It might be something emotional or personal that we need help with or something specific to your study or related to the PhD journey.
Things will go wrong in your PhD all the time.It's not you, it's just the way things are. When they do, you've got a choice over how you react. Either you can think calmly and rationally about the best way forward or you can panic and become overwhelmed by negative thoughts and emotions.
You are always going to get criticised, whether in your PhD or otherwise.There will always be someone who is quick to point out where you are going wrong, irrespective of whether you asked them or not.
When we're doing our PhDs we can often look at professors or others further along in their studies with a sense of awe and wonder, wishing we too could have the intellect and capabilities they do. We look at our own progress and see it as abysmally slow, desperately wishing that we could write more, be doing more interesting research or have more esteemed publications.
These last few weeks have been stressful, even for those of us who have coped quite well.So today's message is this:How are you feeling right now?
Often, the difference between unnecessary worry and successfully muddling through is having someone on your side who can tell you that what you’re feeling is normal and reassure you with good, practical advice that speaks to the core of you. That is the goal of this article.
There will always be people who disagree with you. There will always be people who can find holes in your argument. There will always be people who think you're doing things in the wrong way.That's the nature of academia. Indeed, this entire industry is built on people critiquing one another's work (think about how you do so in your own lit review, for example).
Your thesis takes a lot of time to research, ideate, and write. Here's how to properly edit a PhD thesis such that you impress your examiners and achieve even greater success.
When you tell people you're doing a PhD, they probably think that what's required to complete one is a superhuman intellect. But it's not. The key attribute to succeeding isn't brains, or even creativity. You need them, for sure, but they're not key. No, the key attribute is being able to deal with failure.
Your PhD is a performance with many acts. Don't get stuck on one scene.Writing a PhD isn't a linear process, but we often treat it like it is. We often think, 'when I finish writing the literature review I can move on to the theory framework and only when I've written the theory can I move on to methods, and so on...'The danger of working in this way is that you can get stuck. You can spend so long trying to make one chapter 'perfect' in the mistaken belief that you can't progress until you have done so that you fail to progress in your thesis.
There is no one quite like you. Your PhD isn't like anyone else's, you work in ways that suit your unique temperament and you have your own challenges to deal with. This is part of the reason why you shouldn't compare progress in your PhD (or life in general) with that of others. They're different to you.
Spend a moment right now reminding yourself that life is not about how inventive or creative you are, but about noticing what you're already a part of. Reflect on the incredible journey you're on and on all of your positive attributes. If you struggle to think of any, think harder - they're there, I promise you.A PhD is a cruel, unforgiving exercise. Don't let it colour your worldview such that you stop noticing the incredible gifts you have and the incredible trajectory you are on.
A common complaint I hear from PhD students is that they find it hard to structure chapters and to ensure that their writing flows.Can you relate?If you struggle to find the thread in your chapters or your thesis as a whole, here's some advice: think hard about the key argument you are trying to make in each chapter/the thesis. Then, don't over-complicate things.
It may not feel like it sometimes, but one day you'll be done with your PhD and it will all be worth it.All the hard work, the uncertainty, the perseverance, the never quite knowing. It'll all come to fruition and you'll look back on it all in years to come with a sense of wonder and awe.
You can be passionate about your PhD and dedicated to your research but still struggle with productivity and struggle to stay motivated. You'll have days where you procrastinate or where you question the path you're on, but that doesn't mean your passion or dedication has disappeared. It's just harder to access, that's all.
During your PhD, you'll have days where nothing seems to make sense.You may question why you're doing your PhD at all, or you may look towards the future with anxiety and doubt as you wonder whether you'll ever be 'good enough' or whether you'll ever 'make it'.You'll have days where you wonder how the hell you got here and where you go next.
Completing your PhD thesis is a huge moment, but there's still another hurdle to clear. Read on to learn how to prepare for your PhD viva.
What are you fighting for?Underpinning every PhD (and PhD student) is a personal struggle. Something worth fighting for.On the dark days where nothing seems to be going right or you can't escape the PhD-blues, it is helpful to remind yourself what this fight is, and of why you're here and why you decided to start your PhD in the first place.
It's okay to take days off.It's okay not to be productive every day.Having less productive days doesn't mean you're failing or that you won't succeed.
It's hard not to compare yourself to others. We do it all the time, often with disastrous results.Never is that more true than during your PhD. We all know that PhDs are lonely, frustrating places, but it is precisely because of that hostile environment that we seek solace in comparing our progress to that of others. It's a way of seeking out reassurance and finding out whether we're doing our PhDs in the 'right' way or whether we're as far along in the PhD journey as we're 'supposed to be'.
What 'should' you be doing, feeling, thinking or achieving right now?The short answer is nothing.The more realistic, longer answer is that your mind is probably awash with 'shoulds'. You may feel like you 'should' be further along in your thesis, or you 'should' be more esteemed, richer, more loved, or a myriad other things that we convince ourselves we need for a full and complete life.
If you were to describe what it's like living with your brain, you'll probably describe a scene with an internal dialogue, perhaps an internal critic, and a seemingly never ending stream of emotions, worries, thoughts, dreams, hopes, fears and anxieties.This inner-working is part of being human, but often PhD students find that the negative dimensions of their mind - the inner critic, the self-doubt, the fear of failure, the perfectionism - dominate proceedings.
I bet you've got really good at convincing yourself you're an imposter/not good enough/going to get found out/a terrible writer/and so on?Well, that's your inner voice doings it's best to undermine your capabilities.For some, their inner voice is on their side and sings in harmony. If that's you, you can stop reading.
You're going to fail over and over again. You'll get things wrong, you'll say the wrong thing, you'll act against good judgement, and you'll behave in ways that you'll be ashamed of. That's just all part of being human.
As we enter a new stage of lockdown life, new uncertainties and realities present themselves. You may find yourself once again worrying about what this new world and new normal means for your life in general and PhD in particular.This is a useful time to remind yourself of the distinction between things you can control and things you can't.
Some parts of the world are coming out of lockdown, whereas others have a little way to go yet.Either situation may feel stressful. In both cases, the way you approach your PhD is likely to be different. You may have days where even the smallest thing seems overwhelming.
There will always be things you don't know and as you first set out on the PhD journey you'll suffer from a lack of experience and expertise. But the more enthusiastic you are, the easier it will be to navigate this inexperience. Remain enthusiastic in your reading and learning. If you don't know something, find someone who does and ask them. If you're confused, tell someone. Keep an eye out for opportunities to polish your research skills and sign up for them when they come along. Say yes to new responsibilities where possible and never let your inner critic tell you you're not good/smart/competent enough.
It's when you push yourself, go outside your comfort zone or try something new that you make mistakes and stumble. That's no bad thing. It's part of the learning process, and the very fact you're making mistakes is a sign of progress and a sign that you're pushing the limits of your capabilities. It is at this stage that you grow.
We've all had moments where we can't seem to write enough and, as we put words on the page, we label them terrible, delete them and end up back where we started.This to-and-fro of writing and editing is a serious impediment to productivity. You can't do both at the same time, as they are two distinct activities that require different skills. If you try to write and edit concurrently, you'll do both ineffectively.A far more effective way to overcome writing hurdles is to separate the process of writing and editing.
Motivation is elusive. Some days you have it and others you don’t. Well, having fluctuations in your motivation is normal and to be expected. If you took ten PhD students, how many do you think would say they’re highly motivated all the time? Not many, I imagine.
PhDs never, ever, ever go to plan. You'll make mistakes all the time. You'll realise six months down the road that you messed something up, or went down the wrong path. But don't be so harsh on yourself.
At some stage every PhD student ends up in Shit Valley. You normally find yourself here around half way through the PhD journey. You'll know you've arrived when everything you can see around you looks like it's covered in shit.
How loud is your inner-critic today? We all have days when our internal dialogue gets us down. We may have objective stressors - missed deadlines, personal problems and so on - or we may be fearful or worried about imaginary or unknown threats and suffer from a general sense of anxiety or unease. Underlying it all is an internal voice, one that sometimes seems hell-bent on convincing you you're worthless, incapable, inadequate or otherwise flawed.
Perfectionism is hard work. It makes life challenging, because no matter how hard you try or how well you do, it's never good enough. If you're a perfectionist, you'll recognise the guilt, anxiety and stress that can accompany everyday life, particularly when things aren't going to plan. In the context of coronavirus and self-isolation, you may feel under more pressure than ever to get things right every time.
One of the biggest challenges you'll face when writing your thesis is staying on message and making sure that your writing is punchy, coherent and flows logically. When you're writing such long chapters it's easy to get lost in the detail and go on tangents. What started out with good intentions may end up going astray as you veer of message and your argument gets diluted.
Most of the PhD students I talk to are perfectionists. You probably are too. With perfectionism comes a desire to have control over day-to-day life, knowledge of what's going to happen in the short term, and the certainty that the PhD thesis will be, well, perfect. And then along comes coronavirus.
You're not lazy or unmotivated.Also, you're not failing and there's nothing wrong with you. Sure, your productivity might have gone down these last few weeks and you might be struggling to find your usual spark. You may even find previously easy tasks difficult, or that your momentum is slowing. And you know what? That's fine and it's normal.
There's no magical path down which you can travel or map that will guide you towards the right direction and away from the dead-ends. There's no rule-book precisely detailing what decision to take and when. Instead, you have to pave your own path.
Less than 2% of the population has a PhD. That's because they're hard. But pause to reflect on why they're hard. You're adding to a field. You're creating new knowledge and pushing the boundaries of what we know. That's never easy.
Noting can ever fully prepare you for the intellectual, physical and emotional assault that comes with doing a PhD. Everyone does a PhD for very personal reasons, and everyone finds them challenging in unique and varied ways. What for one person may seem like a death-blow may to others be nothing more than a minor inconvenience. However, in this post I want to discuss the six things that every new PhD student should know. They’re things that I learnt the hard way during my PhD, and which I've seen time and time again in my career as an academic, PhD thesis proofreader and PhD coach.
One of the best skills you can learn during your PhD is how to be more loving to yourself. But another useful - and related - skill is to develop self-compassion. If you can nail these two skills, you'll be much better prepared not just to navigate your PhD, but to handle the stresses and strains of life more generally.
We all feel lonely from time to time, but you may find that as you get further into your PhD your feelings of loneliness increase. Whilst difficult, it's normal. It's you that has to carry around the weight and anxiety that accompany your PhD, and it's you who has to constantly find a way over what seem like insurmountable hurdles, problems and sticking points. Coupled with that, you often have to spend long hours working alone.
In life, people's successes and achievements are only the things people see above the surface. What other people don't see is what lies beneath the surface. You don't see their persistence, failures, disappointments, hard work, good habits and dedication.
PhDs can be the loneliest places in the world. You may be part of a bigger cohort of students in your department, but ultimately it’s down to you to power on through, turn up every day, make decisions and deal with problems. It’s you that has to carry around the weight and anxiety that accompany your PhD, and it’s you who has to constantly find a way over what seem like insurmountable hurdles, problems and sticking points.
“However stressful and down your PhD makes you, there will always be a positive or two upon which to focus. There's always something that is going right or making you feel good, no matter how bleak the outlok is otherwise.”
Writing a PhD is physically, intellectually and emotionally daunting. You may spend each day doubting yourself, not sure if you’re making the right choices and unsure whether you’ve got what it takes. During my life, I’ve helped thousands of PhD students like you. I want to share with you the nine most effective ways of […]
When things go wrong with our PhDs, we can often try to look outside of ourselves to find someone to blame. But sometimes we also need to look at our own role.
Self-care can be transformative. It's the product of an inward, self-aware attitude to your day to day life, in which you recognise what's not good for you and introduce things that are.
Saying yes to everyone and everything ends badly. You burn out, give up too much of your free time, overwhelm yourself and, ultimately, end up getting a reputation for being always available. That's not a great position to be in. Saying no won't be the end of the world, and it won't tarnish your reputation. It's an act of kindness to yourself and a way of respecting your own boundaries.
Mindfulness is the key to managing PhD stress. It can mean the difference between responding calmly to problems and letting them ruin your day. But it's an art and it takes practice.
When you get feedback on your work, or when you are at conferences or other public speaking events, you sometimes over-react to negativity.
When you spot yourself falling into the perfectionist trap, remind yourself that you're only human, the person reading your thesis is human, and you're not expected to execute everything perfectly all of the time.
PhD students are six times more likely to experience depression or anxiety than the general population — that’s what a recent survey of over 2,000 graduate students found. To those of us currently on our PhD journey, perhaps this won’t come as a surprise. Doctoral programs can be isolating and leave students feeling disconnected from […]
We explain what makes a good PhD supervisor, what they should and shouldn't be doing, and how to make the most of your supervision meetings.
Not sure what goes where in your PhD thesis? This chapter-by-chapter guide covers every section from abstract to conclusion — with practical tips from a PhD coach who's proofread hundreds of theses.
Research has shown how mindfulness exercises can be important in lowering PhD stress. Here we present 39 mindfulness exercises to help you towards a successful submission.
At the heart of a PhD is a goal to make the examiner happy. Clear, concise writing is an important component of achieving that goal.
There is a very important distinction that needs to be made between the empirical and discussion sections/chapters. It is a common misconception that the empirical chapters are the place for your analysis. Often this confuses the reader.
Regardless of what stage of the writing process you are at, there are five overarching tips you need to keep in mind if you want to improve your PhD thesis.
We like to think that the viva is the end of the doctoral process; the final step in the long journey to a PhD. But, for most, it isn't the final hurdle. The outcome of the viva in most cases is another three to six months work to deal with corrections.
Writing a PhD when English is your second language is a challenge. We've put together an infographic that will help you to improve the way you understand the PhD writing process.
If you’re anything like I was, your PhD thesis is like your baby. You’ve bought it into the world and you’ll die for it. It’s tested you, pushed you harder than you ever thought possible and bought your to tears many, many times.
If you're a PhD student for whom English is a second language, you may not realise the importance of writing for a Western audience.
To those who think they’re not good enough I say two things. First, good enough for what? To be an academic? Well, you are one. You’re a trainee. Second, you’re not good enough yet. There’s a big distinction.
The hardest thing about doing a PhD isn’t the research, the literature review, the research design. They’re all hard, sure, but the hardest thing about doing a PhD is the constant worry about whether what you’re doing is ‘good enough’. The trouble is, we only have so much control over making it good enough.
‘Am I doing it right?’ ‘Others are so much better at writing than me.’ ‘I have to please my supervisor.’ ‘My future career, my life, depends on how well I write this thesis.’ Sound familiar?
Record numbers of PhD students are having their dissertations proofread. Should it be counted as cheating? Sometimes, yes.
Then the deadline grows shorter. You start to worry, “I’m so far behind. Can I ever catch up? I’m a good student. So why haven’t I been more productive?”
How long does it take the person reading your thesis to understand what you’re doing and how you’re doing it? If the answer is anything other than ’in the the opening lines of the thesis’, keep reading.
Let's be honest, PhD theses can be boring. The subject matter and technical language is necessarily complex, so writing one that remains engaging can be tough. It's worth it though.
When stripped down to its basic components, the PhD proposal explains the what and the why of your research. What it will be about and why it will be important.
Get the introduction right and the rest of your dissertation will follow. Mess it up and you'll be struggling to catch up. The introduction is the place to factually recount what it is you will be discussing in the thesis. Learn more in this detailed guide.
Deciding whether or not to hire a proofreader for you PhD is a big commitment. Whichever way you look at it, it’s expensive. Plus, you may think that your English language skills are good enough. So why bother? Read our ten reasons why.
The conclusion is the last thing your examiner will read before they write their viva report. You need to make sure it stands out.
Don't underestimate how hard it is to write a PhD thesis abstract. When I wrote mine I though it'd be straightforward. Far from it. It's tricky. You have to condense hundred of pages and years of work into a few hundred words.
At the core of the PhD are arguments. Lots of them. Some more important and some very specific. When you understand how to structure an argument, your thesis reads clearly and logically. If you don’t the reader ends up confused and your thesis suffers.
Don't get lost in a sea of authors when you write your PhD literature review. Instead be critical. In this guide we explain how.
When I was writing my PhD I hated the literature review. I was scared of it. I thought it would be impossible to grapple. So much so that it used to keep me up at night. Now I know how easy it can be and I'm sharing my top tips with you today.
Our PhD Writing Template allows you to visualise your PhD on one page. Here we explain how to fill it in and how it can help you structure each chapter.
The theoretical framework is so important, but so misunderstood. Here we explain it is in simple terms: as a toolbox.
Writing a PhD when English is your second language is scary. It’s scary enough when English is your first language. 80,000 words, sometimes even more, in a technical language and at the highest level of academic rigour. Terrifying, right? We’ve proofread countless PhDs from people just like you and one thing stands out - you’re doing great.
Grammarly, the free online grammar and spelling checker, claims to ‘make sure everything you type is clear, effective, and mistake-free’ and that ‘everything you write clear and effective all the time’. If that’s the case, then why spend money on a proofreader when Grammarly can do it for free? Put simply, Grammarly is terrible at proofreading academic texts.
Not sure what goes where in your PhD thesis? This chapter-by-chapter guide covers every section from abstract to conclusion — with practical tips from a PhD coach who's proofread hundreds...
When I was writing my PhD I hated the literature review. I was scared of it. I thought it would be impossible to grapple. So much so that it used...
The theoretical framework is so important, but so misunderstood. Here we explain it is in simple terms: as a toolbox.
Get the introduction right and the rest of your dissertation will follow. Mess it up and you'll be struggling to catch up. The introduction is the place to factually recount...
Your PhD discussion chapter is your thesis’s intellectual epicenter. Think of it as the scholarly equivalent of a courtroom closing argument, where you summarise the evidence and make your case....
Don't underestimate how hard it is to write a PhD thesis abstract. When I wrote mine I though it'd be straightforward. Far from it. It's tricky. You have to condense...
Half of all PhD students consider quitting. This guide helps you work out whether what you're feeling is a normal part of the journey or a sign it's time to...
Often, the difference between unnecessary worry and successfully muddling through is having someone on your side who can tell you that what you’re feeling is normal and reassure you with...
The conclusion is the last thing your examiner will read before they write their viva report. You need to make sure it stands out.
28 real PhD viva questions across 8 categories, compiled by a professor who has examined more than 50 PhDs. Each question includes what the examiner is looking for and how...
How long does it take the person reading your thesis to understand what you’re doing and how you’re doing it? If the answer is anything other than ’in the the...
Don't get lost in a sea of authors when you write your PhD literature review. Instead be critical. In this guide we explain how.
We like to think that the viva is the end of the doctoral process; the final step in the long journey to a PhD. But, for most, it isn't the...
There is a very important distinction that needs to be made between the empirical and discussion sections/chapters. It is a common misconception that the empirical chapters are the place for your...
Lots of students struggle to understand the difference between a PhD thesis literature review and theory framework. In this guide, we clear up the confusion.
Grammarly, the free online grammar and spelling checker, claims to ‘make sure everything you type is clear, effective, and mistake-free’ and that ‘everything you write clear and effective all the time’....
We've recently changed our name and updated our website. In this post we explain why and renew our commitment to being there for you during your PhD.
Our PhD Writing Template allows you to visualise your PhD on one page. Here we explain how to fill it in and how it can help you structure each chapter.
When stripped down to its basic components, the PhD proposal explains the what and the why of your research. What it will be about and why it will be important.
The first-year PhD progress review is a significant milestone in any PhD journey. In this post, we'll advise you on how to best prepare.
We read hundreds of articles and books for our PhDs, but do we keep all the information? Learn which strategies benefit long-term memory.
When you start a PhD, you’re thrown into the deep end. Unlike starting a new job, there’s often no onboarding process to guide you through. You’re lucky if you even...
Your work isn’t finished when you’ve written your thesis and had it proofread. There is still a surprising amount of administrative work to do before you are ready to submit....
A PhD thesis has four distinct sections: introduction, foundation, core, and synthesis. Here's what each one does, how they relate, and how to plan your chapters around them.
Your methodology chapter is a justification, not a description. Get the ‘why’ right and it almost writes itself. Full guide inside.
In this post, I’m going to give you what I think is the easiest win when it comes to improving your writing: using PhD thesis statements. These are short, one...
You might have been told to ‘be more critical’ or to ‘make an original contribution,’ but what does that actually mean in practice?
At the core of the PhD are arguments. Lots of them. Some more important and some very specific. When you understand how to structure an argument, your thesis reads clearly...
Writing a PhD is physically, intellectually and emotionally daunting. You may spend each day doubting yourself, not sure if you’re making the right choices and unsure whether you’ve got what...
Motivation is elusive. Some days you have it and others you don’t. Well, having fluctuations in your motivation is normal and to be expected. If you took ten PhD students,...
In this guide we explain the purpose of a PhD literature review and why it's the most important chapter and how it relates to your research questions.
Your thesis takes a lot of time to research, ideate, and write. Here's how to properly edit a PhD thesis such that you impress your examiners and achieve even greater...
At the heart of a PhD is a goal to make the examiner happy. Clear, concise writing is an important component of achieving that goal.
You probably worry about finding the thread that runs through the PhD thesis. In this guide we walk you through what's required.
Conducting an effective PhD literature review is hard. In this guide, we present an effective three-stage strategy that will help.
Conducting an effective PhD literature review is hard. In this guide, we present an effective three-stage strategy that will help.
Congratulations, Doctor; academic work is NOT your only option. If you’ve just completed your PhD, the grass may be greener outside the university gates. In this post, we offer advice...
"I'll do it tomorrow....." Stop saying and start doing with these strategies on how to stop procrastinating your PhD thesis.
Research has shown how mindfulness exercises can be important in lowering PhD stress. Here we present 39 mindfulness exercises to help you towards a successful submission.
PhDs can be the loneliest places in the world. You may be part of a bigger cohort of students in your department, but ultimately it’s down to you to power...
Writing a PhD when English is your second language is scary. It’s scary enough when English is your first language. 80,000 words, sometimes even more, in a technical language and...
‘Am I doing it right?’ ‘Others are so much better at writing than me.’ ‘I have to please my supervisor.’ ‘My future career, my life, depends on how well I...
Just starting out on your PhD? Here are our tips on how to survive the first year of your first year and make it out in one piece.
We explain what makes a good PhD supervisor, what they should and shouldn't be doing, and how to make the most of your supervision meetings.
Record numbers of PhD students are having their dissertations proofread. Should it be counted as cheating? Sometimes, yes.
Conducting your PhD literature review and worried about worried that there is no literature in your discipline? This guide is for you.
Noting can ever fully prepare you for the intellectual, physical and emotional assault that comes with doing a PhD. Everyone does a PhD for very personal reasons, and everyone finds...
Developing a critical approach is one of the key challenges of a PhD. But what does ‘being critical’ actually mean?
To those who think they’re not good enough I say two things. First, good enough for what? To be an academic? Well, you are one. You’re a trainee. Second, you’re...
Completing your PhD thesis is a huge moment, but there's still another hurdle to clear. Read on to learn how to prepare for your PhD viva.
We all feel like imposters from time to time. We can carry with us a pervasive sense that, at our core, we’re intellectual phonies. That we don’t deserve to be...
LIfe as a mature PhD student can throw up challenges. Here we offer our advice on how mature students can thrive on the PhD journey.
Devastated by unexpected constructive feedback? Take time to rage against the feedback then look after yourself and start again. Supervisors only give you feedback to help you pass your PhD,...
Then the deadline grows shorter. You start to worry, “I’m so far behind. Can I ever catch up? I’m a good student. So why haven’t I been more productive?”
Regardless of what stage of the writing process you are at, there are five overarching tips you need to keep in mind if you want to improve your PhD thesis.
It has been two years since I successfully completed my PhD. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d known before starting it, which would have helped me to...
Noting can ever fully prepare you for the intellectual, physical and emotional assault that comes with doing a PhD. Everyone does a PhD for very personal reasons, and everyone finds...
Let's be honest, PhD theses can be boring. The subject matter and technical language is necessarily complex, so writing one that remains engaging can be tough. It's worth it though.
Writing a PhD when English is your second language is a challenge. We've put together an infographic that will help you to improve the way you understand the PhD writing...
Your PhD upgrade viva doesn't have to be terrifying. Learn what examiners actually look for, common questions, how to prepare, and how to manage anxiety.
A common misconception amongst PhD students is that writing a thesis is a linear process. In this guide we clear up that myth.
The hardest thing about doing a PhD isn’t the research, the literature review, the research design. They’re all hard, sure, but the hardest thing about doing a PhD is the...
The first year of supervised training for PhD students is extremely daunting. But what if you have a not-so-great PhD supervisor?
56% of doctoral students report feeling like an imposter. 75% say they worry about failing. And 63% feel completely overwhelmed.
Struggling to understand how to write a PhD literature review? Learn what it is, how to structure it, and how to write critically — plus get a free template.
PhD students are six times more likely to experience depression or anxiety than the general population — that’s what a recent survey of over 2,000 graduate students found. To those...
Chances are you've got a writing project on the go right now. But are you sure you know what it is you're trying to say?
Doing a PhD while struggling with mental health can be difficult, but there are things you can do to look after yourself and your well-being.
If you're a PhD student for whom English is a second language, you may not realise the importance of writing for a Western audience.
A large institutional survey (10,000+ students) found “an alarming picture of psychological distress associated to feelings of loneliness". How did it ever get so bad?
When PhD students come to me worried about their PhD thesis structure, they often frame it around the structure of chapters or the thesis as a whole. But in my...
A new report from HEPI (the Higher Education Policy Institute) has found that AI use among UK undergraduates is now almost universal. 95% of students report using AI in at...
You're already familiar with imposter syndrome. It is intrinsically linked with the lesser-known Curse of Knowledge. Here we explain how to manage this common struggle.
Yes, the first year of a PhD is supposed to feel overwhelming. It’s not you — it’s the system. Here’s what actually helps.
Deciding whether or not to hire a proofreader for you PhD is a big commitment. Whichever way you look at it, it’s expensive. Plus, you may think that your English...
PhD writing groups work because they replace isolation with belonging. The accountability is felt, not enforced. Find the right one.
If you’re anything like I was, your PhD thesis is like your baby. You’ve bought it into the world and you’ll die for it. It’s tested you, pushed you harder...
If you ask the right questions, you get the right answers. You might not have expected them or particularly wanted to hear them, but if you ask right you get...
A January 2026 Wharton study named the habit doctoral researchers have been quietly building: cognitive surrender. Participants accepted wrong AI answers 80% of the time — and felt 11.7% more...
How to prepare for a mock viva: a practical guide to what to read, what to rehearse, and the 7 feedback questions that make it useful.
We’ve just wrapped up another Thesis Bootcamp and I wanted to write some reflections on how the weekend went. If you don’t know what the Thesis Bootcamp format is, in...
The doctoral model has not changed in its essential structure for a century. A student is attached to a supervisor, perhaps assigned to a project, and sent away to design,...
80% of doctoral researchers experience a sustained period where everything feels pointless, progress seems impossible, and you question whether you’re cut out for this at all. Welcome to what I...
PhD writer's block comes from unclear expectations, isolation, and identity threat — not poor discipline. Here's what actually helps.
Wondering what happens in a mock viva? A walkthrough of the format, examiners, and questions, plus how to use one to settle your nerves before the real thing.
The flatness after finishing your PhD is grief — for the routine, the identity, and the community. Here’s why, and what helps.
The thesis is the by-product of a PhD. The transformation in how you think is the product. A practical guide to staying in your own thinking in 2026.
Last weekend, 25 doctoral researchers wrote 275,246 words in four days. Here is what we learned from 139 anonymous mood check-ins about doubt, belonging, and what happens when PhD students...
82% of people experience imposter syndrome. For PhD students, it’s not a character flaw — it’s a belonging problem. Here’s the fix.
Vitae have published their 2026 ‘What do researchers do?’ report. It details the employment outcomes and earnings of recent doctoral graduates. There are a few figures in there that I...
In January, we opened a Zoom room and left it running. No facilitator. No fixed schedule. No timed sprints or check-ins or accountability prompts. Just an open room, available around...
Mock viva vs real viva: 5 honest differences every PhD student should know before booking, so you use the simulation for what it can do.
What happens when a doctoral researcher doesn’t feel able to talk about how difficult they’re finding their PhD? In the decade or so that I’ve been working alongside them, I’ve...
Universities tend to go quiet in August. Additionally, fewer supervisions, fewer seminars, fewer reasons to be on campus. But for many PhD students in a phd writing group, this is...
Universities tend to go quiet in August. Additionally, fewer supervisions, fewer seminars, fewer reasons to be on campus. But for many PhD students in a phd writing group, this is...
The thesis is the by-product of a PhD. The transformation in how you think is the product. A practical guide to staying in your own thinking in 2026.
A January 2026 Wharton study named the habit doctoral researchers have been quietly building: cognitive surrender. Participants accepted wrong AI answers 80% of the time — and felt 11.7% more...
The flatness after finishing your PhD is grief — for the routine, the identity, and the community. Here’s why, and what helps.
82% of people experience imposter syndrome. For PhD students, it’s not a character flaw — it’s a belonging problem. Here’s the fix.
Last weekend, 25 doctoral researchers wrote 275,246 words in four days. Here is what we learned from 139 anonymous mood check-ins about doubt, belonging, and what happens when PhD students...
Mock viva vs real viva: 5 honest differences every PhD student should know before booking, so you use the simulation for what it can do.
How to prepare for a mock viva: a practical guide to what to read, what to rehearse, and the 7 feedback questions that make it useful.
Your methodology chapter is a justification, not a description. Get the ‘why’ right and it almost writes itself. Full guide inside.
