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PhD Student Guides

As a prospective PhD student, you’re likely to have a lot of questions about the doctoral journey. Whether you’re keen to make your own research proposal or you’re applying for an advertised PhD project, the process is very different to what you may have experienced during your Bachelors or Masters degree.

Similarly, the funding situation can seem more complicated for doctoral candidates, with competition often tough for the most prestigious studentship schemes.

Over the years, we’ve written hundreds of guides on the topics that matter most to prospective PhD researchers. They cover everything from writing a research proposal and finding a supervisor to completing your thesis and acing your viva exam.

by Kristine Bagdassarian

What Have I Done? – or the Story of How I Transitioned into Multi-Disciplinary Research

Advice

Considering a multi-disciplinary PhD? Here is one experience of being lost and found in the jungle of cross-subject research.

by Holly Dale

Top Tips for Acing Your PhD Interview

Advice

From doing your homework to assessing your strengths and weaknesses, guest blogger Holly Dale shares some advice for a successful PhD interview based on her own experience.

by Mark Bennett

Doctoral Student Loans – A Few Things to Bear in Mind

Student Loans Funding

You can now apply for a PhD loan for 2022! Here are a few things to bear in mind before you start your application.

by Kirsty Smitten

PhD Experiences: Working Within a DTP

Careers Advice

If you’re looking at different PhD funding methods, you’ve probably come across some interesting acronyms like DTP and CDT. But do you understand what they will actually offer?

by Mark Bennett

4 Other Ways to Help Pay for a PhD

Funding

Can't get a studentship and aren't sure about a loan? Here are a few more ways to help pay for a PhD, or keep your costs down.

by Jamie Depledge

PhD Inspiration - Dr Jo Twist, CEO of UKIE

Considering a PhD, but wondering what you'll actually get out of it? We've sat down with some of the UK's top academics to hear their experiences and thoughts on postgraduate study. Dr Jo Twist OBE studied a PhD in Online Communities at Newcastle University and is now the CEO at The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, a company that supports the UK's games and interactive entertainment industry. Here she shares some advice for new students.

by Sofia Raftopoulou

Third Time’s the Charm – My PhD Interview Experiences

Applications Advice

How do you know when the person interviewing you is not the best choice for supervising your PhD? Sofia is a first-year PhD student in Austria – find out how she went about finding the right project and supervisor.

by Holly Prescott

Don’t 'Plan,' Just 'Do': How to Let Your Career Find You During Your PhD

Careers

Career planning is an important part of the PhD experience, but sometimes a great job finds you during a doctorate.

by Jamie Depledge

PhD Inspiration - Nawamin Pinpathomrat

Considering a PhD, but wondering what you'll actually get out of it? We've sat down with some of the UK's top academics to hear their experiences and thoughts on postgraduate study. Nawamin Pinpathomrat is currently doing a DPhil in Clinical Medicine at University of Oxford. He also reached the final round of the 2018 iteration of MasterChef UK. Here he shares some advice for new students.

by Jamie Depledge

PhD Inspiration - Professor Daniel Davis, University of Manchester

Considering a PhD, but wondering what you'll actually get out of it? We've sat down with some of the UK's top academics to hear their experiences and thoughts on postgraduate study. Daniel Davis is the Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester and author of The Compatibility Gene (Penguin). Here he shares some advice for new students