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Starting a social sciences doctorate: PhD Journal Month 1



Photo of the words start here spray painted onto the pavement in purple


It’s a strange time for starting a new endeavour like a PhD. Perhaps, if we're lucky, 2020 will be the only year in which full-time doctoral students have to kick off their studies virtually. I didn't realise how much I'd miss getting in a room with other (new!) people, hearing some presentations, drinking some questionable coffee (perhaps even eating a custard cream!) but I really do. Much of my first month as a PhD student has been spent in various online induction sessions - a necessary but somewhat unsatisfying way to be introducted to relevant staff and start getting to grips with the early milestones of the PhD, the 'RF1' (approval of research programme) in 3 month's time and 'RF2' (confirmation of PhD) in 12 month's time. The big procedural milestone of year 1 is the RF2, involving a 6,000-word progress report and an oral presentation, but for now my focus is the RF1. This will look a lot like my original proposal, updated and fleshed out a bit, plus evidence of engaging with professional development through the Researcher Development Framework Planner and completion of modules in ethical research. 

This month I had an initial meeting with Colin, my 'Director of Studies' (primary supervisor) to go through some early bits of paperwork and talk about what we should look at next month in a meeting with Nicola, my second supervisor. Although Colin and I already knew each other from the WP Practitioner academic writing programme in 2017/18, it's been nice to have the MRes year to start this supervisor/supervisee relationship. When I was originally offered 1+3 funding (a PhD with an integrated Masters in social science research methods) I was a little reluctant about the idea of living an extra year on a stipend, which is a pretty big change in income level for someone who's been building a professional career for a decade. But now that I've done it, I'm so grateful to have had this extra year of training, learning, and getting to know some other PGR students and members of staff. Not being able to go to campus, work on-site or see anyone in person, this first month has felt quite strange and unmoored, and I'm sure I'd feel even more uncertain if I hadn't had the last year to develop as a researcher and let my ideas percolate. 

In November I'm looking forward to my first meeting with my supervisory team to discuss initial thoughts about the project and how these have moved on since I submitted my proposal (over 18 months and a whole MRes ago!). With what I know now, I need to decide how my ideas for the direction of the project have evolved and what implications this has for going forward. My focus at this stage is on where to start with reading, which methods to move forward with (bearing in mind the potential impact of the pandemic), and if/how my research questions have changed. November is also when I'll attend virtual welcome events for the White Rose Social Sciences DTP and hopefully get to meet some PhDs at other institutions (albeit without the custard creams) and start to feel more like I'm part of a cohort. On a totally different note, it should also be the month that I finish the process of buying a house with my partner and get to set up a full-time office space… fingers crossed! 

October development

General doctoral skills
  • Doctoral Skills webinar - Reading and synthesis for your Doctorate
  • Doctoral Skills webinar - Editing techniques for your Doctorate
  • Ethics Briefing for new Doctoral Students
  • Planning your Development as a New Researcher – Where to Start?
  • Virtual writing retreat with other PhD students at SHU 
 Subject related events

Photo credit: Gia Oris
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