Musings from the finish line Or…What I know now that I wish I knew when I started
Dec 07, 2015
Musings from the finish line
Or…What I know now that I wish I knew when I started
Dr Graeme Whitehall FRPS
• The Import(ance) of History and Modernity: Home,
Parish, and Imperial order in the photographic
representation of Simla 1860-1920.
Talk is cheap -
but invaluable
• The Doctoral process (its pitfalls, opportunities,
neuroses) best understood by dialogue with fellow Phds
• Talk to fellow Phd students at every opportunity
• Go to events and residential opportunities
• Don’t forget online blogs and sites - especially for key
moments such as Viva
‘Take care of the Means and the
means will become Ends in
themselves’ - Mahatma Gandhi
• It is important to break down the Phd into
manageable chunks
• To focus on the immediate tasks
• Enjoy success of completions RD1, Research Modules,
Progression viva etc
• Successes transient ephemeral not necessarily tangible
rewards in the wider world – so celebrate and
recognise each milestone
Progression viva
• Opportunity not a threat
• Feedback is everything
• Guidance, focus, pitfalls of
your approach, inspiration,
direction, reassurance,
confidence
• Understanding the nature
of a viva
Who are you writing
for?
• Especially important for
inter-disciplinary research
• Who is your audience? -
Director of Studies, Supervisor,
External Examiner, Internal
Examiner
• What do they require for
you to succeed in achieving
doctorate?
The importance of Early
identification of Focus
• 80,000 words
generous but soon
evaporates
without focus
• Lack of focus
costs time, money,
energy, agonising
and unnecessary
editing
• Focus down as
early as possible
I’m not worthy - The Phd student as
impostor syndrome
• Most Phd students feel
they or their work will
not be good enough to
achieve a doctorate
• That they are an
impostor
• Important to recognise
your unique expertise as
it emerges.
Time is on our side
• Accept that managing the time the phd process takes is not always in your hands
• Especially toward the end of process - writing up & awaiting viva
• Be prepared for delays – psychologically and financially
The Viva -
a moment to shine
• Don’t be fearful
• More that just passing an
award
• Feedback can be
electrifying
Tenacity
• More than anything a Phd
requires tenacity
• Patience
• Commitment
• Painstaking attention to detail
• …and the ability to
enjoy it