PhD student hardship

It's a funny thing, PhD funding. It's nothing like the funding for undergraduate study. Sometimes the best candidates don't even get funding. And if you do secure three years of funding, the harsh reality is that it probably won't be enough to live on. Add to that the fact that many PhD research projects won't be completed on time, and there are many postgraduate students at British Universities in severe financial hardship.

Some supervisors are particularly cynical about student funding. Instead of working towards a 'get out' plan, students are deliberately held back, to complete research, analysis or manuscripts. A PhD project is not the student's life work. It is a stepping stone to their future. And that future cannot begin until the thesis is handed in and the viva voce exam completed. 

A peculiar trap is the 'continuing' status. No funding is available. Technically, lab work must have been completed. Students must be in the final stages of analysis and thesis preparation. The rules are stretched, however, to accommodate the never-ending search for the perfect result.

Scientists, the perfect result doesn't exist. If it did, we wouldn't need research. We could simply set the hypothesis and only do experiments to prove it is true. More important is the research which seeks to explain the imperfect. Sometimes, the answer is bigger than a PhD project, and students and supervisors would do well to remember this.

The PhD thesis should set the hypothesis and the means by which this hypothesis will be tested. Once those tests have been done, the hypothesis will have been proved or not. That is the thesis. A thorough examination of the literature will aid the student in the discussion of the thesis. A well written thesis, with sound arguments based on a solid understanding of the context of the work will secure the award of PhD.

It's not rocket science. Don't make it more complicated that it needs to be. And above all, the PhD student knows more about the minutia of their field than the supervisor. Be confident, and enjoy your PhD.

Painless PhD?

I believe it can be done. You need a solid research question, an open mind and an engaging supervisor. The first two requirements are easy - they're down to the PhD student. Finding an engaging supervisor is far more difficult. 

Many students choose the project first then try to fit in with the supervisor. Big mistake, but oh so easily done, when funding for studentships is fiercely competitive. How can you say no, that one's not for me.

A good student will always be offered more than one studentship, and that means you can interview the supervisors too. Remember, supervisors are human. Could that dismissive attitude be because her son is ill? Or needs picking up from school? Perhaps talk of money is uncomfortable. Academics aren't made of money either, so be realistic with your expectations.

But what if you aren't offered a selection of studentships? How do you make the best of the bad bunch? This takes an enormous amount of skill, time and effort. Managing your supervisor is the most important skill you need to master in the first three months of your PhD. 

Think before you go to see your supervisor. Can you solve the problem on your own? Do you really need their input at this stage? And when you do go, make sure you have critically analysed the problem, present it clearly with your thoughts on how to resolve issues. Be flexible with your availability too. Academic supervisors have all kinds of pressure on them - research, teaching, admin, not to mention grant writing.

And if it all goes wrong, it doesn't have to be the end of the line. Be open with yourself about what the problems are. Sometimes talking things over with a mentor or a colleague will show you that there is a way forward. Sometimes, finding another project is the only way. (I found this website useful, too).


But this doesn't have to be negative. Admitting you have made a mistake takes courage. Moving on and making sure you don't make the same the mistake twice takes strength of character. And most PhD students have both these attributes in buckets. Attaining a painless PhD takes a thick skin, determination, clear thought, fast reading and lots of fun. Good luck!

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