The PhD (+ mature student + other postgrad) thread II

[hovis]

The last one fell off the end of the boards so here's a new one. And I would like to open it up to any other mature students, part time students and postgrads to share your 'getting your work done when you have loads of other stuff going on in your life and are a bit anxious about money/ partner/ illness/ kids/ getting evicted' tips.

I am just entering my 4th year of a full time PhD and my funding has ran out, so the shit has really hit the fan. Fortunately my other half is working (we are getting married on Saturday! ) but we still have money problems. So I am working part time for the uni to try and keep the credit card debt down a bit but it is distracting me from my work...

Is anyone else in the same situation? It's quite lonely and isolating here as my office mate isn't in a lot so it would be nice to know that I am not the only one.

At the moment I am writing up my thesis, it is going quite well and 4 or 5 chapters are more or less finished and the others are half finished. I am hoping to graduate next summer.

I've heard that most people take 3.5 or 4 years to finish a PhD. Is this right? What are the postgrad facilities at your uni like? Ours are pretty crap, I'm not really into getting pissed and there isn't that much else to do on campus, there is a post grad society but they don't do much.

Does anyone have experience of getting a non-academic job after doing a PhD? How do employers view it?

 

[Roadkill]

I sympathise, hovis: I'm in the same position. My scholarship expired at the end of last month and I'm now working full-time in a bar. I've done about ten hours per week there for the last two years for a bit of pocket money; now they've made me a supervisor and I'm doing a 37-hour week. I'm finding it quite tiring so far because of the late nights and the fact that, with the exception of Saturdays, I'm doing work either on my PhD or at the bar all day, every day. I'm also taking home a lot less money than when I had my scholarship. The upside of working in the bar is that I know the job well, so I can drop it and walk away at the end of a shift and not worry about it until i go back in again. It also allows me to meet more people.

I've got some teaching to do over the winter, on the same course I taught last year, which will mean extra money (and it looks better on the CV than pulling pints!), but even more work.

I think it's true to say that PhDs which involve extensive fieldwork don't usually get finished within three years. I know several people who have taken five or six years over theirs. With a bit of luck, mine will be done by the summer, but tbh I'm not feeling all that optimistic at the moment, especially as I've been writing a couple of articles over the last few weeks and haven't actually got anything done on my thesis. Two chapters are written and another three planned out - but there's still another couple of chapters to do after that.

Congrats on getting married, btw.

 

[Xanadu]

What PhD's are you guys doing?

 

[Roadkill]

History.

 

[hovis]

I sympathise, hovis: I'm in the same position. My scholarship expired at the end of last month and I'm now working full-time in a bar. I've done about ten hours per week there for the last two years for a bit of pocket money; now they've made me a supervisor and I'm doing a 37-hour week. I'm finding it quite tiring so far because of the late nights and the fact that, with the exception of Saturdays, I'm doing work either on my PhD or at the bar all day, every day. I'm also taking home a lot less money than when I had my scholarship. The upside of working in the bar is that I know the job well, so I can drop it and walk away at the end of a shift and not worry about it until i go back in again. It also allows me to meet more people.

I've got some teaching to do over the winter, on the same course I taught last year, which will mean extra money (and it looks better on the CV than pulling pints!), but even more work.

I think it's true to say that PhDs which involve extensive fieldwork don't usually get finished within three years. I know several people who have taken five or six years over theirs. With a bit of luck, mine will be done by the summer, but tbh I'm not feeling all that optimistic at the moment, especially as I've been writing a couple of articles over the last few weeks and haven't actually got anything done on my thesis. Two chapters are written and another three planned out - but there's still another couple of chapters to do after that.

Congrats on getting married, btw.

Blimey! That must be tough - doing 37 hours work AND a PhD. Sorry - I def. shouldn't be winging when I am only doing about 15 hours a week, and my work is on campus so it is easier to fit in with the PhD.

Is it too nosey to ask if you have a partner? The reason I ask is because I find that I feel guilty if I work out of hours on my PhD rather than spending time with my fiance. It isn't because he winges or even says anything but I just find it hard to strike a balance. I would rather spend time with him then do my PhD, so I end up doing very little out of hours work. Also he isn't working full time and so I sometimes 'bunk off' when I don't have paid work in order to go out together. Having a nice man at home isn't very good for my self discipline!!

Also I sometimes think 'I'll work at home today' as I have a computer there, but usually I don't end up doing much work at home. It's better to work at uni in the office and then go home at the end of the day. Where do you do your work?

Xanadu: I am studying computational fluid dynamics (a branch of mechanical engineering).

 

[Roadkill]

I'm single, which is depressing but which probably means I get more work done than I would otherwise.

I know what you mean about working at home. The problem for me is that my office is about two miles from home so I tend only to go in on days when I'm not at work until at least 6pm, and when I work at home I find I get distracted fairly easily. It's okay when I'm writing, which I have been for the last couple of weeks, because I don't get distracted as easily, but when I'm reading or planning or formulating ideas it's easy to think, "oh well, I'll go for a wander and have a think," or go to the library (I only live about ten minutes' walk from the university), and then I often end up drinking coffee with friends in the uni bar and doing not a great deal of work!

The other problem with my office being two miles away is that my files and books are there, so if I'm intending to work at home I need to plan quite carefully what I'm likely to need. Again, if I'm writing that's not too bad - I just take my file of ideas and plans and a few other things, but planning out chapters, when I need to be able to consult various sources and books, becomes more difficult.

Oh well. I'm having today and tomorrow off. I got back from a conference seven weeks ago and promptly started working full-time, and apart from my birthday I haven't really had a day off since, so having just got two articles done I think I've earned a couple of days' break!

 

[J77]

My PhD was pretty mathematical. Thankfully I managed to finish before my funding ran out. Hovis - is there no way for your department to fund you, even if this means doing some teaching? I would have thought that knowing a lot about CFD would make you a prime candidate for teaching undergrads (or even postgrad courses).

You most likely have some publishable material. If so, why not write a paper or two - this is a good way of obtaining print ready chapters for your final thesis.

Stick at it, but don't let it drag you down to financial ruin. It might sound too easy, but set yourself some deadlines for mini-projects/chapters, and even a date for your viva.

 

[hovis]

I'm single, which is depressing but which probably means I get more work done than I would otherwise.

I know what you mean about working at home. The problem for me is that my office is about two miles from home so I tend only to go in on days when I'm not at work until at least 6pm, and when I work at home I find I get distracted fairly easily. It's okay when I'm writing, which I have been for the last couple of weeks, because I don't get distracted as easily, but when I'm reading or planning or formulating ideas it's easy to think, "oh well, I'll go for a wander and have a think," or go to the library (I only live about ten minutes' walk from the university), and then I often end up drinking coffee with friends in the uni bar and doing not a great deal of work!

The other problem with my office being two miles away is that my files and books are there, so if I'm intending to work at home I need to plan quite carefully what I'm likely to need. Again, if I'm writing that's not too bad - I just take my file of ideas and plans and a few other things, but planning out chapters, when I need to be able to consult various sources and books, becomes more difficult.

Oh well. I'm having today and tomorrow off. I got back from a conference seven weeks ago and promptly started working full-time, and apart from my birthday I haven't really had a day off since, so having just got two articles done I think I've earned a couple of days' break!

Sounds like you are quite organised. It is good that you are writing articles. Are they for publication in journals? I haven't writen any journal articles, which is a bit disappointing. I had a difficult start to my PhD, I had to learn programming and lots of incomprehensible maths so I haven't really been in a position to write anything until now.

I know what you mean about getting distracted, if I am at home I usually end up doing the hoovering or something. Very sad, but I have a very clean flat!!

 

[hovis]

My PhD was pretty mathematical. Thankfully I managed to finish before my funding ran out. Hovis - is there no way for your department to fund you, even if this means doing some teaching? I would have thought that knowing a lot about CFD would make you a prime candidate for teaching undergrads (or even postgrad courses).

You most likely have some publishable material. If so, why not write a paper or two - this is a good way of obtaining print ready chapters for your final thesis.

Stick at it, but don't let it drag you down to financial ruin. It might sound too easy, but set yourself some deadlines for mini-projects/chapters, and even a date for your viva.

Yes, I am getting it written up now and giving chapters to my supervisor to look at for comment. I don't have that much left to do except the actual writing and a few more tests which won't take long. The bloody pictures take ages to line up though. Grrrr! And the notation for the equations is a mind bender. (Lots of boundary integral equations!)...

I am working already and I don't want to have to do lesson plans and stuff. My other half is a lecturer and he has put me right off!!

 

[J77]

Yes, I am getting it written up now and giving chapters to my supervisor to look at for comment. I don't have that much left to do except the actual writing and a few more tests which won't take long. The bloody pictures take ages to line up though. Grrrr! And the notation for the equations is a mind bender. (Lots of boundary integral equations!)...

Are you using latex?

If you need any templates, or math notation help give me a pm - I'm usually by my computer

 

[Roadkill]

I know what you mean about getting distracted, if I am at home I usually end up doing the hoovering or something. Very sad, but I have a very clean flat!!

Ah, displacement activities - don't you just love 'em? I do that all too often. Creative inertia, I like to call it, because that sounds better than plain bloody laziness!

I've had one article published, though not in a peer-reviewed journal, and I've submitted a heavily revised version of it for publication in a genealogical journal as well. I've also just finished working on a revised version of a paper I gave at a conference last month, for a journal of which my supervisor is one of the editors. I submitted it for publication today, after a bit of last-minute tinkering, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Tbh, if they decide not to publish it I'll do a bit more work on it and hawk it around a few other journals: I'm fairly confident it's good enough to get published in one or another, and it's quite broad in scope so there are a few journals out there whose remit it falls within.

I've been very lucky with my supervisor. He's a leading light in our (fairly small) field of history, and he's really pushed me to get onto the conference circuit, put my name about and get things published. He's created a lot of opportunities that friends of mine working in different fields with other supervisors haven't had, and for that I'm very grateful.

 

[jerseymonkey]

Aha, I'm in exactly the same boat. Except I've done less. Funding ran out last month and I've taken on another (new) subject to teach so I'm teaching two subjects (both law, both totally unrelated to my PhD which is now pretty much media/criminology). And when I'm not teaching or preparing, I'm finding it reallyb hard to knuckle down. I don't even have partner excuse as mine's a doctor and works long hours and when he's not he's revising for exams.

Am in the process of applying for a job in local government which is making things worse as it's taking eges. I'm waiting for the results of an assessment centre in the next few days and my concerntatrion is worse than ever. If I get through that there's a possibility of a job in January and I'm supposed to have finished or be able to finish my PhD if I take it up. Which should spur me on, but it's not working. Aaaarrhhh. Whinge.

 

[Idris2002]

short answer - before starting your phd have a clear idea of what you want to do and work out a plan that will allow you to do it as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

There'll always be one or more bumps in the road that disrupt that plan - but some kind of plan is better than none.

 

[hovis]

Are you using latex?

If you need any templates, or math notation help give me a pm - I'm usually by my computer

No, I am afraid I am using Word and mathtype for the equations. Probably it isn't the best but I don't want to change it now. The equations themselves look cool, I'm just not sure that they are right !!

My supervisor is cool and a big name in my field, but he is incredibly busy! It is often hard to get hold of him, which held me up a lot when I was deeply confused in the first couple of years. He is much better now though, probably he wants me to finish soon. So do I.

Aha, I'm in exactly the same boat. Except I've done less. Funding ran out last month and I've taken on another (new) subject to teach so I'm teaching two subjects (both law, both totally unrelated to my PhD which is now pretty much media/criminology). And when I'm not teaching or preparing, I'm finding it reallyb hard to knuckle down. I don't even have partner excuse as mine's a doctor and works long hours and when he's not he's revising for exams. Am in the process of applying for a job in local government which is making things worse as it's taking eges. I'm waiting for the results of an assessment centre in the next few days and my concerntatrion is worse than ever. If I get through that there's a possibility of a job in January and I'm supposed to have finished or be able to finish my PhD if I take it up. Which should spur me on, but it's not working. Aaaarrhhh. Whinge.

There's nothing like poverty to make you pull your finger out eh?!

Good luck with the job application!

 

[behemoth]

Part time mature undergraduate here with a full time manufacturing job and a very understanding girlfriend. I survive by having a sleep on getting in from work, before hitting books out for a few hours. Probably couldn't do that if living with someone. Is anyone else's house a tip?

 

[Callie]

Im currently doing a PgCert In Biomedical Science - just about to head off to do a presentation I hate it and I don't want to do it, sadly I have to do it and the rest of the course or my current line of work will turn into a big cul-de-sac of misery career wise. When I finished uni I hoped I was done with all this education malarky. *sulk* I'm finding it really difficult to devote time to study and work and have something vaguely resembling a life...but its only for a year so I guess I'll just have to stick it out. I don't know how you lot cope doing PhDs

 

[J77]

The old PhD thread can be accessed ---> here

hovis - please reconsider using latex It makes writing mathematical equations and placement of figures massively easier - hence, making your write-up less hassle. Also, nearly all journals use latex style files.

 

[fat hamster]

hovis - please reconsider using latex

There's a lot to be said for it ...

 

[q_w_e_r_t_y]

My PhD is dead

Two babies, a relationship breakdown, my supervisor leaving, a stolen server with all my work on it,a twatty new supervisor that knew nothing at all about what I was doing, a compulsory purchase on my flat and buying a wreck of a house did it in.

Officially I;m writing up (funding ended 6 months ago) but every time I open the files, a great wave of depression hits me. Its dead

 

[Roadkill]

The old PhD thread can be accessed ---> here

I'd no idea that had been archived.

 

[hovis]

There's a lot to be said for it ...

Wicked!

Callie: But I love being in education. OK, not the skintness, but I love learning new things which is part of the reason I have my part time job as it involves going to lots of random lectures. When I finished uni I also thought that I wouldn't return but I changed my mind. Don't you enjoy what you are doing at all? There must be good bits. What are you planning to do after? With a bio degree can't you work in other fields?

q_w_e_r_t_y: Did you want to get the PhD for your career? Could you find another supervisor to take it on part time? It's sad if you didn't finish but you must have still learnt a lot from the experience.

 

[llantwit]

Can't write long. Preparing for my viva, which is on the 3rd of November. I'm bricking it. I spent four years on mine - the last year, when the funding ran out, I got some more lecturing and seminar hours in the department to keep me financially afloat. It was good experience, and well worth it, but I can't help thinking I'd be finished by now if I hadn't done that.
Hey Ho. It's coming together for me at the moment, though. Just got confirmation of a couple of articles in forthcoming books, and my first journal articles are coming through. Hope thast's a good omen for the exam.

Roadkill - I'm working in a bar as well. They made me a supervisor too, which means better money but longer hours. Since submitting I've also been doing a research job for a member of the Welsh Assembly for two hours a week - which means that I'm working 7 days, and getting very tired, and not seeing my partner, so I can sympathise whith a lot of what you guys are saying.

Keep yer collective e-fingers crossed for me y'all.

 

[Roadkill]

I love being in education as well. One reason I did an MA was that I wanted to stay at university. I had a really good MA year, my first in Hull, and that gave me the confidence to apply for funding for a PhD. I did find the phD tough, and more so now that I'm working full-time as well, but I enjoy my bar job and it's not often I wish I'd done something else.

I had a good look at my finances as well yesterday and found that I'm coping better than I expected with the pay cut consequent on my funding running out. So I got drunk with doggy and a load of the bar staff and now I'm spending my day off nursing the mother and father of all hangovers.

looking back over the old PhD thread, I ended up commenting that the first section of my thesis was complete. Of course, now i've decided that one chapter needs rewriting, but c'est la vie.

 

[Roadkill]

Good luck with the viva, llantwit.

 

[hovis]

Good luck with the viva, llantwit.

Yay! Knock 'em dead!

 

[E.J.]

Good and interesting thread btw. For those who don't know i'm a part-time mature undergraduate student studying for a BA/BA (Hons) Mulitmedia Commuincation Studies. It's my 4th year of my course, although i missed 2 yrs of it due to tution fees for my course. I'll be doing 3 modules this yr instead of 4 becaue of the money factor!

At the moment i've been working at massive warehouse which sorts outs mail and packages for various companies to indiviuals. I'm quite enjoying the job, even though at times it can be very mundane. Before that i was unemployed for 1yr and a half.

I was planning to move out my parents house. But with my mum passing away 2 weeks today, it's put paid to that plan for the moment. My personal tutor at uni have been understanding about my situation. Meanwhile i've been catching up a bit with some work that i've missed.

 

[Cerberus]

This thread comes as a pleasant suprise . i was thinking about posting something up tonight about postgraduate studies when i got home from college.

I`m in my third year of a four year part-time degree course ( mature student). I`ve now got a burning desire to stay in academia, possibly as a lecturer. However as I`m married with a young son and a full-time job i`m really not sure if a PhD is a viable option

Unless funding or teaching was easy to come by (which reading the old PhD thread it doesn;t sound as if it is) i`d have to do it part-time and carry on working

Is this realistic??

Advice anyone?

Please...




I`m a politics student who'd like to study politics/modern history by the way

 

[hovis]

Looks like there are quite a few of us students here!

E.J.: Sorry to hear about your mum

Cerberus: Funding is available in certain subjects, but it will only be about 10K per year, or less if you are outside London. Not enough for a pot to piss in unfortunately. Unless you are lucky or your work funds you or something...

Edited to say: That's only my experience though, I don't want to put you off before you have even begun. You'll have to check this out for yourself because there might be specific awards and funding in your field. G'luck!

 

[E.J.]

Looks like there are quite a few of us students here!

E.J.: Sorry to hear about your mum

Hovis - My mother was the person who really nagged and encouraged me to go to university to study and obtain a degree. I feel that she only did this because none of my brothers and sisters went to uni. So i'm the first one, at one point i was going to give up the course which i'n studying. Because in the past i dropped out of an HND Physical Science course at Coverntry Uni.

Then i didn't do well on Environmental Science degree, thus i got a certficate instead. And since my mother has gone i was seriously giving up my part-time degree. But my i talked it briefly with my dad and he said to me, don't give up it would be a waste if you did that.

The very best of luck to you, Roadie and the other Phd students. I'm sure that you'll do very well. Also bets of luck to Callie for for the post grad course too.

 

[fuBganger]

*fuB waves to all the other postgrads*

self funded postgrad here! I work 30 hours a week and am doing an MA, its not so bad at all though, because I love my job! I'm hoping to go on to do a PhD, but will only be able to if I get funding. Thankfully my background falls under arts AND social sciences so maybe I'll be able to apply more widely for funding when the time comes.