Starting a PhD: 10 Things I Wish I’d Known
Starting a PhD? These ten realities cover supervision, uncertainty, workload, boundaries, administration, feedback and building a sustainable research life.
PhD & Academic Life
Practical guidance for deciding on a PhD, applying, building a research routine, writing the thesis and finishing well. Choose the stage you are at, then follow the guides that answer your next question.
Decide and apply: Should you do a PhD?, find funding, choose a supervisor, email a potential supervisor, write a proposal and prepare for the interview.
Build the research: start your PhD, use the years 1–4 timeline, read journal articles, organise research papers, compare sources, write the literature review, find the research gap and narrow the research question.
Supervision and writing: prepare for supervision, turn feedback into an action plan, manage PhD time and work through dissertation writing difficulties.
Share, defend and finish: prepare a conference presentation, practise viva questions, prepare for the viva and mark the finish.
Free templates and printables · Study tools and planning guides
Explore related collections: Research & Academic Writing Resources guides you through reading, literature reviews, research questions and presenting findings. Wellbeing & Productivity brings together realistic approaches to focus, motivation and burnout.
How to Read Journal Articles Effectively: 9 Steps
Learn how to read a journal article efficiently using a purposeful three-pass method, critical questions and a reusable academic note-taking template.
How to Write a PhD Research Proposal: A Practical Guide
Use a practical PhD research proposal structure, copyable outline and worked example to explain your question, methods, originality and feasibility.
A Computer Science PhD Day in the Life: Working Remotely
Arianna’s original remote PhD diary, with practical guidance on research routines, supervisor meetings and the difference between remote and online study.
How to Make Money in Grad School: 7 Realistic Options
Compare seven ways to earn money in grad school, with workload trade-offs, example calculations and questions to ask before accepting a job.
How to Create an Academic Website as a PhD Student
Create a clear academic website for your PhD: what to include, which platform to choose and how to publish a useful first version in one afternoon.
PhD Interview Questions: 12 Questions and Answers
Prepare for a PhD interview with 12 common questions, answer frameworks, panel questions and practical checklists for online or in-person interviews.
Should You Do a PhD? 12 Questions to Help You Decide
Should you do a PhD? Use these 12 questions to assess your motivation, career goals, funding, supervision, opportunity cost and alternatives.
What Is Grad School Like? An Honest PhD Overview
What is graduate school really like? Explore PhD work, supervision, independence, funding, routines and the questions to ask before applying.