Preparing for the PhD can be a daunting prospect. Having recently handed in my thesis, I thought it might be helpful to offer some suggestions on how to approach the application. It is important to emphasise that these recommendations result from reflections on my own experience and are necessarily subjective. There is no singular way of successfully applying and preparing for a PhD. I provide the forthcoming breakdown with the understanding that it is a general guideline which should be used in consort with other sources of information.
In fact, the first thing to say when approaching the application is to speak to as many informed people as possible. Find out about current and recently graduated PhD students’ experiences and seek advice from academics you trust; always remembering that perspectives will differ depending on individual and social positionality. Though not always discussed in relation to the PhD programme, each person occupies a particular social location which can have a significant impact on their PhD experience; even at the application stage. As a student of colour writing on race, for example, I had to consider the implications of selecting a white academic as supervisor; weighing up the extent to which I would be expending time and energy navigating negative reactions or moments of white fragility. It is not uncommon for students of colour to encounter these issues with white supervisors throughout the PhD journey. However, each experience is different and has its own nuances. Chat to different people, collate the information and consider how you think it might apply to you.
Below, I’ve broken down my suggestions into segments which speak to what I believe are the biggest issues to consider: picking the thesis topic, selecting a supervisor, finding funding and writing the application.
Hope it helps.
Picking a Thesis Topic
Some applicants will start out with a very clear sense of what their PhD topic is about. Some will have a vague idea and others will have no clue at all. Each position is fine. For those who are struggling to come up with something, I encourage you to reflect on your time as an undergrad and masters student. What module engaged you the most? What discussions, ideas and/or questions (either in essays or seminars) did you find most interesting or urgent? What gaps (if any) did you identify in current scholarship that you think should be filled? What essay topics led to your greatest grades? Answering these questions will set you up nicely for the application as they address three essential elements of the required research proposal: passion for topic, originality of idea, ability to deliver top level work.
My own PhD topic originated from an essay I produced during an MA module on Critical Whiteness Studies. After this module I felt compelled to continue critically examining the concept and system of whiteness and, having received a solid first for an analysis of whiteness, space and higher education in two literary texts, decided to centre my thesis around these same themes. It is important to say that I did not actually settle on the specifics of my argument until the third year of my PhD. This may sound surprising, but it is a common occurrence. As you conduct intensive research over three or four years (longer as a part-time student) and continue to develop your thinking, amidst changes in your personal, professional and political life, your thesis changes shape and sharpens its focus. This is all part of the PhD process. So try not to stress too much if you cannot conceive of all the specifics at the application stage. You do need to express a clear, coherent and well justified idea in the research proposal but a general overview is fine. Ideas will likely change and there will be time for further refinements, amendments and expansions in the future. The one thing I strongly suggest is that you choose a topic that you are particularly passionate about. It is unlikely that you will be able to completely avoid moments of lost motivation or mind blocks during the PhD programme but feeling invested in your work will minimise them and help you manage and cope with them when they do arise.
Selecting a Supervisor
The most frequent and urgent piece of advice I received when making my own inquiries about the PhD was: select the right supervisor. Now that I’ve finished, I can attest to just how important this is. For better or worse, your supervisor will play a pivotal role in your PhD experience. They are the person responsible for steering you through the PhD programme; setting up regular meetings, reading your work promptly, providing constructive feedback, preparing you for key moments (such as confirmation review and Viva), establishing realistic deadlines, presenting opportunities (conferences, publications, collaborations, project work), offering pastoral support etc. They are central to your personal welfare and professional development.
As a result of this, supervisors wield a lot of power. They can have a hugely positive impact on your performance (as mine did) or can prove extremely destabilising. This issue becomes particularly acute in supervisory meetings when discussing work that you are deeply invested in and worried about. It is a vulnerable position to be in; exposing your newly formed thoughts and ideas to the mercy of your supervisor’s academic authority.
Ideally, you want a supervisor who is aware of and attentive to this fact, someone who will create a comfortable atmosphere and safe environment for you to express yourself in, someone who will show respect for your ideas, handle your work with care and compassion, take the lead in managing the delicate and ever-changing supervisor-student relationship, and extend their unwavering support whenever problems arise. This may seem a lot to ask but this should really be the baseline for any good supervisor. It is the job they sign up for when agreeing to take you on as their PhD student. You are not being demanding to expect this level of treatment.
The issue of power becomes even more complex when considering the social positions of both supervisor and student. As mentioned previously, students of colour are at the mercy of more than just superior academic status when being supervised by a white scholar; for all the reasons a student of colour reading this will already appreciate. This reality may mean that students of colour seek an academic of colour to supervise them. Unfortunately, given current hiring practices at university, this is not always possible. At the very least then, you want a supervisor who will acknowledge and help manage the social inequalities that underpin the relationship.
How are you supposed to identify all of this when selecting a supervisor?
For me, the selection process was an easy one. I had established a good relationship with my supervisor-to-be during my MA and the essay I based my thesis on was written on her Critical Whiteness module. If nobody stands out for you in the way my supervisor did for me, I strongly suggest giving yourself time to meet up with a variety of prospective academics you feel could be a good fit. How you go about identifying these potential candidates will largely depend on personal priorities. Is there a particular university you want to work at, or a particular area of the country you want to live? Are you pursuing a specific subject that only a few academics are equipped to supervise? Answering these questions will help with drawing up a shortlist. You can then proceed to examine university websites (which normally list their academics’ research interests) and pick a selection of people to meet up with. If you do not personally know the shortlisted academics, I would advise sending an email that briefly outlines your initial idea for a thesis topic, explain the reasons for contacting them specifically and then ask whether they would be willing to meet up to discuss further.
Although I did not conduct these kinds of meetings myself, there are some key things I would say to look out for and be thinking about. For me, chemistry is key. You will be spending a lot of time with your supervisor and, as mentioned, they play an instrumental part in your progress. This does not necessarily mean selecting the person you seem to get on with best. Rather, it means selecting the person you believe you can develop a productive, professional relationship with. How excited are they by your initial ideas? Do they seem genuinely interested and invested in your progress? Do they give off a sense of compassion and care? Of course, you cannot fully predict how things will turn out; even if you know the academic relatively well. But considering these questions will improve the odds of you enjoying a positive experience.
On a practical level, it is also worth asking about the academic’s availability and future plans during the meeting. I preferred to see my supervisor every 4-5 weeks. If they were only available once every 3 months, or planned to take a year research leave, I would have had a problem. If you like the academic but they are unlikely to be around for large portions of the programme, you may have to seriously reconsider their suitability.
Finally, know that having this meeting does not mean committing yourself to the academic. If, on reflection, you do not feel they are the right fit for you, there is nothing wrong with thanking them for their time and (respectfully) noting your decision to select somebody else.
Funding
I recently spoke at an event for prospective PhD students and the questions I received almost always revolved around funding. The reasons for this are obvious. A minimum of three years balancing a job with PhD work is a daunting proposition. On the other hand, the prospect of being free to dedicate all your time to the PhD is exciting and such a huge stress relief. As I said at that event, funding is out there – I was fully funded by my School of English – so make sure to do your research and become clear about the different avenues open to you. The Arts & Humanities Research Council is a good place to start. Other than that, consult with academics (certainly your supervisor if already chosen) and see what funding your university offers. Watch for deadlines!
I do not want to deter anyone from pursuing a PhD if they are unable to secure funding. Most blogs I read when conducting research for my own application advised against starting a PhD – funded or not – yet I leave the programme feeling it has been largely positive, as I have developed myself personally and professionally. However, it would be disingenuous to suggest that there weren’t difficulties, difficulties which are likely amplified for self-funded students. After speaking to self-funded friends, it would seem that it is not simply a case of having to split time between the thesis and a job. There are feelings of insecurity and inferiority to navigate and the practical issue of being passed over more often when other funding opportunities come about. My recommendation, as always, would be to speak to those who went through the process as self-funded students and ask their advice on how best to prepare for the experience.
Application
When I applied for the PhD, I was asked to provide proof of my prior academic qualifications (at BA and MA level), two academic references and a research proposal. The proposal is largely what will determine the success of your application. Specific requirements for what it should include will differ depending on the particular university. Generally speaking though, it will involve:
- Outlining the key ideas and main aims of your proposed project,
- A literature review of current scholarship on your chosen area,
- Detailing the skills that make you the perfect candidate for carrying out the proposed research
- An explanation of your methodological approach,
- A list of resources needed and
- A realistic timetable for the three or more years of study
The aims of your project will often include objectives like expanding a currently existing field by shedding light on an overlooked issue that you believe is important to investigate, which is something you must argue convincingly in your proposal. Universities are increasingly interested in the social impact of research and so it is definitely worth thinking about how your research will serve a greater social purpose as well. For example, in my proposal I wrote about how I wanted to investigate the relationship between whiteness, space and higher education in order to help dismantle systems of power currently operating in universities. Whatever ideas and aims you settle on, it is important that you write about them with passion. This will not only help get the university excited about your work, it will help convince them that you are personally invested in this work and therefore more likely to remain motivated throughout the PhD programme. This is one of their greatest concerns. Universities appreciate that ideas and aims will change once the PhD begins so a clear, passionate and well-reasoned proposal (complete with realistic timetable) is as much about convincing them that you will finish in good time as it is anything else.
Although putting a lit review together can be frustrating at times, it helps demonstrate a clear knowledge of the current field and provides an important opportunity to show how your project fills a gap in it. Remember that originality is key in a research proposal and is something you must stress whenever possible. In a university context, this rarely (if ever) means pursuing an area of research that has been never been addressed before. Rather, it means utilising a new approach to an established issue or expanding on current ideas to reveal a new perspective. In my case, scholars had written at different times about whiteness, architecture, higher education and literature but not in the combination or with the methodological approach I was proposing. My lit review allowed me to show this to the university. Keep in mind that you do not have to read every source that is featured in this review but an understanding of their main ideas/approaches will allow you to express the ways in which your research idea builds on or deviates from them.
It is worth taking your time over the research proposal. Ask your selected supervisor to look over drafts and consult other trusted academics at your current institution. Once you settle on a final edit, complete and submit your application.
For more insight into what to expect once you begin your PhD and advice on how to navigate it, feel free to check out my next post: Conducting the PhD.
AMasing Literature 