How to Get a PhD

298 Pages·2022·15.23 MB·English

by  Estelle M Phillips, Colin G Johnson

7TH EDITION
“A fresh update to a true classic. This is one of the most reassuring and
useful books you will ever read about doing your PhD, no matter your
P PHILLIPS AND PUGH’S
topic - or where you are enrolled.” H
IL
Professor Inger Mewburn, Director of Researcher Development, Office of the Dean of L
Higher Degree by Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia IP H O W T O
S

A
“How to Get a PhD is both honest and thorough and thus immensely N
D
helpful, for supervisors as much as for students.”

P
Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, University of U
G G E T A P H D
Kent, UK H
’S
H
The new seventh edition of How to Get a PhD provides a practical and realistic O
approach for all students who are embarking on a PhD. In addition, supervisors W A Handbook for Students
will find invaluable tips on their role in the process, good supervisory practices
and how to support students to work effectively. T and their Supervisors
O
Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, this edition provides an overview
of what it means to undertake a PhD within a modern university, exploring both
G
the challenges and rewards of a doctoral degree, including:
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• Contemporary challenges for students including transgender issues, sexual T
harassment, and exploitation within the academic environment

A
• Time demands, the balance of academia and paid work, and the uncertainty

of academic careers and how this can impact students’ mental health P
• Emphasising diversity with an increased focus on how students, supervisors H
and universities can work together to make a more effective and welcoming D
academic environment
P
The new edition is structured so that users can find the section that will help h
the specific stage of their work. With practical guidance through the application illip
process, research, viva and post-viva, this book supports PhD students of
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all disciplines across their journey and beyond, including part-time, those a
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returning to study and those who are practice-based. d

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Estelle M. Phillips has enjoyed a long career as an academic and independent o
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educational consultant. She has published widely on various aspects of the PhD and n
has spoken at universities on four continents about the skills required to complete s
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and supervise a PhD. n
Colin G. Johnson is an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, UK who
has had extensive experience both in PhD supervision and in postgraduate strategy
and leadership.
SEVENTH
EDITION
Estelle M. Phillips Colin G. Johnson
How to get a PhD
A handbook for students and their supervisors
Seventh edition

How to get a PhD
A handbook for students and their supervisors
Seventh edition
revised and updated
Estelle M. Phillips and Colin G. Johnson
Open University Press
McGraw Hill
Unit 4,
Foundation Park
Roxborough Way
Maidenhead
SL6 3UD
email: [email protected]
world wide web: www.openup.co.uk
First published 1987
Second edition published 1994
Third edition published 2000
Fourth edition published 2005
Fifth edition published 2010
Sixth edition published 2015
First published in this seventh edition 2022
Copyright © Estelle M. Phillips, Colin G. Johnson
All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of
criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
publisher or a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Details of such
licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be obtained from the Copyright
Licensing Agency Ltd of Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
Commissioning Editor: Sam Crowe
Editorial Assistant: Hannah Jones
Content Product Manager: Ali Davis
ISBN-13: 9780335249510
ISBN-10: 0335249515
eISBN: 9780335249527
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
CIP data applied for
Typeset by Transforma Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India
Fictitious names of companies, products, people, characters and/or data that may be
used herein (in case studies or in examples) are not intended to represent any real
individual, company, product or event.
Praise Page
“The 7th edition…! How to get a PhD is proving its status as a must
read for PhDs and supervisors. The book still contains brilliant
chapters like ‘How not to get your PhD’, and ‘Managing your super-
visors’. But it is also enriched with wonderful chapters like ‘Writing
a PhD’ and the action summaries that open each chapter. The
authors are also not afraid to take on challenging positions that
put PhDs and supervisors on edge. Although the book is written
from a British context, it has an international feel. PhDs, supervi-
sors and graduate programme directors all over the world will find
inspiration!”
Dr Hans Sonneveld, Netherlands Centre of Expertise for
Doctoral Education
“A fresh update to a true classic. This is one of the most reassuring
and useful books you will ever read about doing your PhD, no matter
your topic - or where you are enrolled. Just about every concern you
can imagine is addressed inside, including what an ‘original contri-
bution to knowledge’ really means and the difficult art of supervi-
sion management. I’ve been using this book in my work with PhD
students more than 15 years and cannot recommend it more highly.”
Professor Inger Mewburn, Director of Researcher Development,
Office of the Dean of Higher Degree by Research,
The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
“This myth-busting, pragmatic map of the researcher journey includes
the insider how-to information for someone weighing up the decision
to start a PhD and looking for detailed first steps. Answering ‘what I
wish I’d known at the beginning’ questions, this book will also be rel-
evant to those in mid-candidature who need a no-nonsense practical
guide for getting their thesis back on track. Final chapters are aimed
at supervisors and institutions, emphasising the social and structural
aspects so intrinsic to PhD success. Focussed on the UK, but relevant
for all Commonwealth systems, this classic gives inclusive advice for
full-time, part-time studies or students from non-traditional path-
ways, across disciplines and a range of motivations.”
Dr Katherine Firth, The University of Melbourne, author of
How to Fix your Academic Writing Trouble: A Practical
Guide and Your PhD Survival Guide: Planning,
Writing and Succeeding in your Final Year
“This is a welcome updated edition which draws upon current
research and reflects changing practices. The book offers a practi-
cal and accessible guide to students and supervisors. What I really
liked about this book is the way in which it speaks directly to the
student and supervisor and emphasises the importance of the stu-
dent supervisor relationship. A must for every academic bookshelf.”
Dr Mary Knight, Honorary Senior Lecturer, School of
Education and Social Work, University of Dundee, UK
Dedication
This seventh edition (35 years after the first) is dedicated to
Gilad, Liat, Shani, Richard, Oliver, Zac, Georgia & Jake
plus Mia and Tami
together with
The Pughs and the Ariels

Contents
About the authors xvi
Preface to the seventh edition xvii
1 ON BECOMING A RESEARCH STUDENT 1
Action summary 1
The nature of doctoral education 2
The psychology of being a research student 5
The aims of this book 6
2 GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM 8
Action summary 8
Choosing the institution and field of study 9
Making the initial contact 11
ATAS certificates for overseas students 12
Eligibility 13
Grants and research support 15
Centres for Doctoral Training 17
Distance supervision? 17
Selecting your supervisors 18
Starting out as a research student 20
Myths and realities of the system 21
The ‘ivory tower’ 21
Personal relationships 22
Teamworking 23
3 THE NATURE OF THE PHD QUALIFICATION 25
Action summary 25
The meaning of a doctorate 26
Becoming a fully professional researcher 27
Acquiring doctoral skills 29
How do I know if I am meeting the standard? 31
What can I expect to be taught during my PhD studies? 32
Differences between the MPhil and the PhD 33
Aims of students 34
Aims of supervisors 36
Aims of examiners 37
Aims of universities and research funders 38
Mismatches and problems 40