Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Who is doing a PhD?

117 replies

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 01/10/2021 15:24

I'm just into my second year of my PhD and struggling hugely with motivation and writing - would love to connect with any others feeling the same and perhaps need/want some support and keep each other accountable!

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 01/10/2021 18:34

I’m doing a prof doc. I’m just about hitting my final year and struggling with motivation too.

MindyStClaire · 01/10/2021 19:13

Me! I'm a lecturer off the back of my professional qualifications, but doing a PhD part-time to tick that box. Very very slow going, not helped by two maternity leaves and a very full teaching load. Feel like I've yet to accomplish anything and do nothing but apologise to my supervisor for not doing anything, and he's my boss. It's not easy.

Burnshersmurfs · 01/10/2021 19:21

Prof doc here too- in the second year. Procrastination central round these parts. I’m hoping I’ll snap back into it soon.

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 01/10/2021 22:24

Oh my goodness, I am so pleased to hear I'm not the only one who spends my time apologising to my supervisor - it's all I seem to do - I have such anxiety over writing that I have very little to show for the last year. Until now she has been understanding but I'm sure she's as frustrated by me as I am!

How does a professional doctorate work? I'm doing this full time - although am doing a bit of teaching for some extra £, but I honestly don't know how I could do it as well as work fulltime so hats off to you all!

OP posts:
EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues · 02/10/2021 10:43

Can I ask - do any of you have Postgraduate Doctoral Loans or do you all have research funding from other sources?

(I’m finding I can’t actually write down the reason why I’m asking. It’s still too raw!)

RJnomore1 · 02/10/2021 10:49

My prof doc is a four year programme. I’m at a scottish uni - so year one and two it’s taught modules, 90 credits per year (a full time undergrad degree is 120 Cl credits for comparison). Years 3 and 4 are thesis and one 30 credit unit each year too. Thesis is 40k words so shorter but I’m starting to find that a challenge in itself.

Everywhere’s slightly different but a prof doc is always partly taught elements which is what appealed, clear deadlines and progress.

I also work full time as a senior manager and lecture as an associate so it can get a bit much. It’s supposed to be part time programme but it’s 3 years work over 4 so not that part time.

Burnshersmurfs · 05/10/2021 08:14

My prof doc is pretty much a vocational training course for a professional role. The content is largely taught and work placement and we have a thesis to write by the end of it. It’s funded by a govt bursary (not a great deal, but enough to keep me in beans on toast). It’s 3 years in total with a commitment to work for an additional 2 years for govt services.

StColumbofNavron · 05/10/2021 08:38

Hello. I’m in my third year (but with a 6 month extension) so 18 months away from submission. It is not going well to be honest and I have a supervision today where I expect them to tell me it is decision time.

I have the funding of a trust administered through my institution (they award one 3 year studentship a year) so rather than have me quit I think they would encourage part time.

Im in the humanities.

EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues · 05/10/2021 10:12

What’s causing your difficulties, StColumb?

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 05/10/2021 10:31

I'm doing one.

I last apologised to my supervisor 40 minutes ago.

It's funded. You can't get post doctoral loans in Scotland so that wasn't an option for me.

Cheesecake53 · 05/10/2021 10:40

I am in my final year and in the same boat. Currently two weeks after a deadline :(

Cheesecake53 · 05/10/2021 10:42

I try to give myself really small goals and that worked yesterday. Before my goal was every day "finish the chapter!", but that did not work. I feel even if I do little, I should have done that months ago. I have 10 months until I need to submit. I am in Humanities.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 05/10/2021 10:48

Little chunks at a time works OK for me. So if I have a thematic mind map of what I want to cover, I then turn one node of it into a series of bullet points (what I want to reference etc).
Then I turn each bullet point into a paragraph.

Not remotely in order.

And then I might edit things out if they don't fit the flow of what I'm writing.

I keep them in a separate document in case I can use them elsewhere.

I struggle hugely with guilt of not finishing it all at once.
But if a friend said to me 'I wrote 500 words today' I would be really chuffed for her.

StColumbofNavron · 05/10/2021 12:34

My problem is mostly that I haven’t yet upgraded and am under huge pressure to get it done. I want to get it done. I’ve just had my supervision though and feeling more positive and have a plan for the next month and an altogether more positive discussion today - last time it was very much them telling me everything that was wrong (unexpected because I was under the impression from previous meetings that things were chugging along). Today felt very much like a discussion and back and forth.

I’ve a busy month ahead but this is my ONLY chapter so far, so that’s a bit concerning too.

onlymyselftoanswerto1 · 05/10/2021 20:08

When are you due to upgrade @StColumbofNavron ? The pressure before it is immense but the relief once you get through (and know they can't easily kick you out for at least another year 🤣) is so good.

I feel like I'm not making a lot of progress and I've a supervisory meeting tmw with both supervisors so I'm really bricking it! My anxiety is through the roof even though they are both lovely and it probably won't be as bad as I expect it to be.

We can all do this - I don't envy those of you who have work on top! Let's keep each other motivated 🙌🙌

OP posts:
StColumbofNavron · 06/10/2021 07:44

They are going to push for early in the spring term but really it’s December. It’s really late in the process though due to Covid etc so once done I have until March 2023 to do all of the rest of the research and writing. I’ve got a clear plan for the next month and just have to accept that I need to be really head down for the next year or so.

Good luck with supervision. I always get a bit nervous even though I know them really well as I did my BA and MA here.

Abelard40 · 08/10/2021 22:12

Started my professional doctorate this month - absolutely loving it but soooo tired already! Nice small cohort - ten of us - so feels v supportive already.

LivNicely · 08/10/2021 22:29

I need to submit by the end of December. Massively struggling with motivation over the last few weeks. I only have one chapter left to write, but it feels so overwhelming. Today, I managed 250 words… the most I’ve written in a while.

StColumbofNavron · 08/10/2021 23:49

Have you got access to any online writing groups @LivNicely? Where you just log into zoom or whatever and every so often have a break. I find these quite useful. There is a college wide one started by some students at my uni and my discipline also has women’s writing sessions or others weekly too and my dept once a week.

goodgodlemon · 09/10/2021 15:42

Just started a part time PhD so joining in discussion to bookmark really as nothing to add yet on deadlines sorry! Working full time so already finding the workload challenging but (so far at least!) enjoyable. I'm using a PG loan to fund myself - I wouldn't be able to do it without the loan as I can't afford to give up work to get funding (if that makes sense!)

RJnomore1 · 13/10/2021 00:58

Trotting in yo day I am really struggling. I’m not getting the feedback on my lit review at all 😟 I feel demotivated and more than a bit dense.

I think I’ve lost sight of the big picture...

Amortentia · 13/10/2021 01:55

I spent my first year consumed with imposter syndrome and struggled to reach deadlines. I felt I got no headspace from my phd and either worked through weekends/holidays or did nothing. It took me ages to create a system that meant I got enough done to make progress without the feeling of constant stress.

Here are a few tips that helped me.
Every Friday I work out a plan for the following week.

Motivation- forget about it. You might go through periods of feeling inspiration and times when you can’t be bother or stuck. Waiting for motivation will get you nowhere. You need to get past this and see the phd as something you do everyday (I stick to mon-Friday). See it like a job, or brushing your teeth, or doing laundry, no motivation required just do it. If you can’t focus to read or write then do something else. Doing anything productive will make you feel so much better. Fix your references, learn how to format your thesis, look for workshops/seminars/conferences etc

Learn to love criticism. It’s hard to not take it personally, but it could be worse, you could have a supervisor who doesn’t bother with feedback. Constant criticism doesn’t mean you are failing, it’s part of the process so that when you submit your thesis it is the best it can be and you can get through the Viva. Accept the criticism or justify why you disagree, either way your work will benefit.

If you don’t already, follow Tara Brabazon on you tube, she is a fountain of knowledge.

Shouldhavebutdidnt · 13/10/2021 03:25

I’m just headed into my final (funded) year… still trying to collect data whilst trying to figure out what to write.

Am full time PhD but can only afford childcare for 3 days a week (2 year old) so supplementing with a day a fortnight of teaching but that is taking up quite a lot of time & headspace.

I need productivity / motivation tips for when I am working from home

MeMumI · 13/10/2021 03:41

I'm doing a prof doc too. In my second year as well. Almost at the end of my small modules and will start my big one soon.

But yep, motivation is tough. I work (4 days) and study part time. My biggest issue - the weight gain from sat studying all weekend.

CrisisManagement · 13/10/2021 05:29

Me too @RJnomore1. I often feel deeply stupid.

I have been listening to The PhD Life Raft Podcast and find it motivating.

I'm only in my first year of a humanities PhD, but teaching too, so juggling between marking, reading, writing etc.

And I signed up to present at a conference in a few months on a topic that I know a little (but not much) about. I could slap past-me.