Advice for surviving your PhD dissertation

From initial research and writing to revision, defence and award, the journey to completing a PhD is often described as a marathon. Here, academics offer their insight on each step towards producing an original work of scholarship. Starting with choosing a PhD supervisor and establishing healthy work habits, the advice goes on to cover how to structure a PhD dissertation, establish a writing routine, write an abstract, prepare for a viva and beat procrastination when motivation flags.

How to get started with writing your PhD thesis

One of the hardest parts of writing a PhD dissertation is simply getting started. Most with experience of completing a doctoral thesis will agree, you will never quite feel ready. So, with your structure planned, start getting the words down – remember, this is a draft that you can keep revising. You may find it easiest to write alone, or as part of a group, you may be most productive in the morning, or in the evening. The key is to recognise your specific needs and set up a writing routine that plays to your strengths, as these resources explain. 

Get a head start in the first year of your PhD: Even a marathon begins with first steps, and so it makes sense to master motivation, set healthy habits and get writing early to reap the reward of a polished dissertation at the end of the PhD journey, writes Andreï Kostryka of the University of Luxembourg.

Strategies for writing a PhD dissertation: write before you’re ‘ready’: Reading isn’t writing, and knowing about your topic isn’t writing. So, what should graduate students do to get started and make steady progress? Monique Dufour of Virginia Tech suggests practising well before it’s time to write the thesis or dissertation.

How to navigate the PhD thesis: The PhD thesis may be a mountain to climb, but you can take it one step at a time. Nazarbayev University’s Luis R Rojas-Solórzano offers his guidance.

How to write a PhD thesis: a step-by-step guide: A draft isn’t a perfect, finished product; it is your opportunity to start getting words down on paper, writes Kelly Louise Preece of the University of Exeter.

One thesis, two supports, three months: Completing a thesis within 12 weeks may seem impossible, but by combining AI and your supervisor’s expertise, it can be done. Mariam Shadan of Dubai Medical University shows how.

How to tackle the PhD dissertation: Finding time to write can be a challenge for graduate students who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Mabel Ho of Dalhousie University provides some tips to make the process less daunting.

Get your PhD thesis beach ready: Prepping for the beach requires planning, effort and time management – and so does writing a PhD thesis. John Sinclair of Colorado State University Globaloffers advice for summer days and doctoral nights.

Finding PhD supervision and support

While fascinating and exciting, doing a PhD can also be a long, lonely, at times stressful, process. Doctoral students should take care to protect their well-being throughout their studies, accepting this is not a straightforward linear process and finding ways to accept uncertainty and combat isolation. These resources offer some useful insight into how to do this.

Top tips for choosing a PhD supervisor: The pros and cons you need to consider when choosing a PhD supervisor, as well as five key qualities to look out for, shared by Özge Özden of Near East University.

Buddy system: creating community through writing: Is a writing group or partner an effective antidote to post-pandemic isolation during doctoral education? The University of Luxembourg’s Lena Steveker and Laura Spadon explain how to put a forum for belonging in place.

Individual consultations can help PhD students to complete their studies: Personalised consultancy gives assistance to PhD students and candidates to keep their momentum and build their academic careers, and it also helps instructors identify and train future supervisors, colleagues from Semmelweis University write.

Transitioning to a PhD - common struggles and how to overcome them: Camille Bou from the London School of Economics and Political Science outlines the key struggles she encountered during the first year of her PhD and shares useful insight on how she overcame them.

Protect your emotional well-being for a happier writing experience: Writing academic papers can be a long and emotional journey. Burcu Totur Dikmen of Near East University offers her tips for emotional well-being.

Why getting a PhD is like building a Lego duck: Ben Marder of the University of Edinburgh provides a fun exercise that can impart important wisdom to help lessen PhD students’ anxiety over their progress.

Advice for doing a PhD by publication

A dissertation is not the only route to achieving a PhD. For those who have numerous published scholarly works to their name, a PhD by publication may be a better option. The resources below outline the basics to help you choose your doctoral path.

Why get a PhD by publication (and other career tips): Finding the ‘golden thread’ in your academic path can offer an opportunity to reflect and grow, writes James Derounian of the University of Bolton.

Publication-based doctorate: is it for me? Potential research higher degree candidates from academia or industry will need to decide between a doctorate by thesis or by publication. Riad Shams of Northumbria University shares key questions to ask before embarking on the doctoral journey.

Advice for supervising a PhD by published works: The route to a PhD by published works requires a different approach to supervision. Here, Alison Brettle of the University of Salford provides aspects to consider based on her experience conducting, supervising and developing institutional guidance.

Write the perfect abstract

The abstract is your sales pitch, the chance to pique readers’ interest in your PhD research, so it’s essential to get it right. Given its concise nature, it is worth keeping a sharp focus on what you need to include to make it informative and engaging. These resources offer tips on how to do justice to your PhD dissertation.

How to write an abstract for a research paper: Ankitha Shetty of Manipal Academy of Higher Education shares three elements to include in your research paper abstract and some tips for making yours stand out.

Read this before you write your abstract: The abstract is arguably the most important element of a scholarly article, so it should be informative, meaningful and impactful. Michael Willis of Wiley gives two objectives, and practical tips, to keep in mind.

Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a doctoral dissertation: Producing a doctoral dissertation can be an intimidating process, writes Bill Huckle of Virginia Tech. Here, he shares practical strategies for graduate students taking on the work to share their original contribution to knowledge with the wider community.

Five ways to beat the procrastination monster: Writing and procrastination often go together like pen and paper, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, Glenn Fosbraey of the University of Winchester offers strategies to stop putting off putting words on the page.

Bad news, kids (and academics): the magical motivation fairy doesn’t exist: Motivation for tricky tasks doesn’t just appear magically, but with these psychological tricks you can get yourself and your career moving, says Hugh Kearns of Flinders University.

What is your academic writing temperament? Many early career researchers struggle to write enough. The key is to move away from an abstract notion of productivity and towards a productive writing process, explains Rachael Cayley of the University of Toronto. Here, she offers questions to help ECRs find their writing rhythm

The move from student to researcher

The transition from student to PhD researcher involves a shift of mindset from working within set parameters to an entirely self-directed journey into the unknown. Here, academics share advice on how to keep motivation high, manage procrastination and synthesise existing scholarship before adding your own original findings in the form of your PhD dissertation.

How to develop a researcher mindset as a PhD student: Entering the postgraduate sphere is a whole new ball game. Shaif Uddin Ahammed of the University of the West of Scotlandshows how to hone a PhD mindset.

Evidence synthesis: what every student (and researcher) should know: The ability to collect, summarise and analyse data is especially vital for students and researchers in medical and healthcare-related fields, writes Alessio Bellato of the University of Southampton. Here, he explains what it is and how to access training.

Preparing for the viva or defence of your PhD

For many, the viva voce is the most nerve-wracking stage of the PhD journey. But as the authors below explain, with the right preparation, PhD students can discuss their thesis with confidence and, perhaps, even enjoyment.

‘Augmenting’ the doctoral thesis in preparation for a viva: The viva voce exam is the final hurdle for PhD students, but for most it is also a new and fear-inducing experience. Edward Mills of the University of Exeter offers one framework to help those preparing to discuss their completed thesis at length.

How to answer viva questions: Preparing for a PhD viva can be stressful, but you can take steps to ensure you answer the examiners’ questions about your thesis well. Jenny Scoles of the University of Edinburgh provides tips.

Tips for writing a PhD dissertation - FAQs answered: From how to choose a topic to writing the abstract and managing work-life balance through the years it takes to complete a doctorate, here we collect expert advice to get you through the PhD writing process.

Thank you to all the academics and higher education professionals who contributed their professional advice on this wide-ranging topic.