Anyone starting a PhD this autumn?

[Stroopwaffels]

I am. I am veering between being super excited and eager to get stuck in, and wondering what the hell I am doing at my age (51). Also have discovered I have to also do a PG Cert in researcher development which threw me a bit, looking at it, it's lots of really good training on all sorts of skills but I'm going to be in seminars and workshops with people less than half my age...

Good luck - exciting times for you! I’m graduating this month at 54 and found that studying alongside people half my age was really refreshing. And they didn’t treat me like their mum (even if I was mistaken for one on a night out once!).

I'm at the other end, just passed my viva and about to tackle corrections.

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Mostly, enjoy it, you'll almost certainly only do it once, so try not to succumb to stress, there is tons of advice and support out there.

And I realise you didn't ask for advice, but hopefully it will help.

Good luck!