Keep an annotated bibliography. It helps to know what books you've read, but it helps even more to know which books were useful, and had good points and ideas to remember later on. If you write a lit review as part of your first year it also pays for itself many times over! Keep it … Continue reading Ten Things I learned in the First Year of my PhD
Tag: PhD
Podcast your PhD
This guest blog comes from Ruth Salter (@RuthSalter), who is beginning the second year of her PhD at the University of Edinburgh researching the cultural-political position of the mid-twentieth century Scottish Folk Revival. The blog reflects on the highly acclaimed ‘Podcast Your PhD’, a SGSAH CDF sponsored masterclass which Ruth, Janine Mitchell (University of Stirling, … Continue reading Podcast your PhD
The First Year Review
This last week I had my first year review. Every university does these differently. Some have your supervisors there, others have one of your supervisors and an external, and others have two members of your faculty there, with your supervisors observing (like mine). I was very nervous about it due to missing the deadline for … Continue reading The First Year Review
Changing Direction
This guest post is by Perin Westerhof Nyman. Perin is entering the fourth year of her PhD in the School of History at the University of St Andrews. Her research considers the use of dress as a political tool in the Scottish royal household, particularly during the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. She also works … Continue reading Changing Direction
The First Deadline.
This week has been quite intense. It's been a Deadline Week. This is the face of a man who's just submitted a chapter draft. And seen a fly in his tea. Those of you currently researching for a PhD will know what that means. It means stress, it means sending work to colleagues for proofing … Continue reading The First Deadline.
Technophobia (an apology)
So this post is a little late, and I must apologise for that. My internet went down, which was annoying, because I'm doing a PhD and working. But I live in Edinburgh, which is full of libraries, coffee shops, pubs, and even buses that have free internet. It's almost Nikola Tesla's dream come true (it's … Continue reading Technophobia (an apology)
Reflecting on blogging
I can’t believe my time as SGSAH blogger has come to an end! Tomorrow I’m passing the torch into the capable hands of Jimmy Johnson, and I’m really excited to see where he goes with the blog! I’ve spent a lot of time reading posts written by my predecessors, and it’s incredible how diverse a … Continue reading Reflecting on blogging
Coming towards the end of the PhD
As I come towards the end of my time blogging (I can’t believe I’m almost finished – the time has flown!), I’m also nearing the end of my PhD, which I’m hoping to finish at the end of this year. Coming to the end of my doctoral study is …. I’m struggling for words. It’s … Continue reading Coming towards the end of the PhD
Top 4 tips for surviving the first year of your PhD
Every year of the PhD is hard. Year 2 is host to the dreaded ‘second year slump’, when you still have a long way to go, but the novelty and newness of doing your PhD is wearing off. Year 3 is full of the pressure of writing and editing, picking examiners and choosing when you … Continue reading Top 4 tips for surviving the first year of your PhD
How many hours should you spend on the clock, and when should you spend them?
When you start a PhD, you’ll often hear that your research should be treated like a 9 to 5 job. If you’re like me, this will probably cause you to panic and question what on earth you’re doing – don’t a lot of us start PhDs because we secretly didn’t want a 9-5 job?! I … Continue reading How many hours should you spend on the clock, and when should you spend them?
