It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint: My Part-Time PhD Journey

Managing full-time work with part-time study

The one burning question many prospective post-graduate researchers have is “how many hours do you spend on your PhD”. Let’s be honest, PhDs are not free and the abundance of scholarships is more scarce than White Walkers in Essos.

I work flexible (albeit full-time) hours Monday to Friday, which I try to take advantage of. Typically, I start work around 7am with an aim to finish no later than 15:30. Twice or thrice per week, I endeavour to use a few hours after work to crack on with my thesis. In these shorter sessions I tend to focus on my research, writing and managing notes as well as referencing (the latter of which will become the bane of your life). One or two days per week I then focus on my write up.

However, there’s no real pattern to my work. Some weeks I’m extremely productive and can manage 2,000 words. Others, I will blankly stare at my screen questioning my existence and choice of chapter titles. Sometimes I don’t touch my thesis at all. We all encounter writer’s block and productivity dips and that is OK.

Ultimately, I work better with a to-do list covering which topics within my sub-chapters I will cover in a given period, thus quantifying the hours I spend on my thesis is not a question I directly address.

Breaks are important

Work-life balance is my number one priority. Fooling no one, I will admit that on occasions, I worked on my PhD overtime, on top of everyday commitments and taking on extra work. This meant that I reached the state of complete burn-out on a handful of occasions. Even a small grocery shop was too much effort and I wouldn’t leave the bed for days. I was miserable. I had to change how I worked, and now PhD falls under the category of ‘work’, with evenings and at least one day of the weekend being strictly work-free.

Additionally, I personally enjoy my research topic and wish to look back on my PhD years positively. This is simply impossible if I don’t enjoy any time with my loved ones.

Self-motivation and resilience

Only 50% of PhD candidates complete their thesis. That’s right; around 50% of students drop out. Self-doubt, imposter syndrome and lack of motivation are keen guests waiting to pay you a visit. And that is absolutely normal.

I’m often asked when I will finally complete my PhD, if there’s scope for finishing it sooner, why does it take so long? The pressure of completion begins to loom and suddenly you’re faced with a feeling of being overwhelmed.

Be prepared to spend 5-8 years on your PhD, and remember that most people we encounter do not know what a PhD entails and overcoming these difficult moments of self-doubt is a matter of mentality. Remember, just 2% of the UK’s and US’s population hold a PhD. If it were easy, everyone would hold the ‘doctor’ title. So, if you’re a fellow post-graduate researcher or a prospective one, you are half-way to being part of that very special 2%. Besides, it took George R R Martin six years to complete the shortest of the books in the Game of Thrones series, with the conclusion of the final book still pending since 2010. If George is unphased by half the world’s population’s impatience, you shouldn’t be either.

Inability to do everything a full-time student would

It’s easy to compare yourself to your full-time peers who have the time to attend conferences or network with other academics. As a part-timer, the PhD will not always be your number one priority so be prepared to miss out on events, webinars or guest lectures due to work-commitments or otherwise. And that is fine.

More often than not, you can watch the recording of the webinar you didn’t attend, and you can certainly reach out to individual scholars via email if you miss any guest lectures. You will often find that academics love discussing their research – take advantage of it. You will soon learn the PhD journey is one of solitude, with barely anyone interested in your topic aside from those that know of it.

Perks of part-time study

But what do I have over a full-time student? Flexibility around study and deadlines, which are less strict (at least in my experience).

In addition, a part-time PhD brings a multitude of opportunities, more so than full-time study. During my journey so far, I’ve had the pleasure of working with my supervisor on co-authoring a chapter for an edited book in my area of research. I‘ve also given a guest-podcast interview and had the opportunity to cover university seminars as well as mark student dissertations on my area of research.

You’ll often find that full-time students are less involved in matters that fall outside of their thesis, and make less effort to do so, as their focus often strives towards ‘must work to earn money’ when they aren’t engulfed in their research.

Conclusion

Alas, a PhD journey is not all rainbows and butterflies, and it should not be sugar-coated. It is tiresome, mentally and physically draining and financially challenging. However, remembering that each time I work on my thesis, little by little I am ultimately becoming an expert in my field and that feeling of accomplishment (albeit yet incomplete) together with remembering why you started, is one that will take you to the finish line of this challenging academic trajectory.