Thriving Abroad: Navigating the PhD Journey to Success in Three Years

Lianxin (Megan) Li

Today, I will share some insights that facilitated the completion of my PhD within three years, while prioritising my well-being in a foreign country. I believe every PhD student will be struggling to some points for their research as we are exploring something new and unique. I have been through this difficult and lonely stage, so I decide to help and offer some guidance to those who needed. Hopefully these tips would be enlightened and useful for those who want to make sure they are able to finish PhD project on time.

First, change the mindset from passive absorbing knowledge to proactive learning mode. PhD level study is different with other degrees. It is independent research and always remind that you are the lead of this project, and you need to complete by yourself. Supervisors play a support and direct function. Apart from that, you need to choose the research area/topic that you feel motivated, you feel curious, you questioned about it and wants to know the answer, rather than going for ‘easy’ projects. The truth is there is no easy project. If you are motivated and interested, you will work extra mile to find the solutions even you choose a ‘difficult’ project. Intrinsic motivation matters!

Secondly, be organised. What does that mean being organised? It can mean different way in the indifferent form. Writing down everything during your PhD journey including supervisory meeting, academic conference, any training you taken, any ideas that dump out, reflection on the experience if you have chance to deliver the seminars. But the key thing is classifying any document/literature/new information before you put in your schema.

Thirdly, regular meeting with your supervisor and set a deadline for writing submission for each month would help you stay on track and make progress every month. By doing this way, you can achieve something every month. Before attending your supervisory meetings, don’t come with empty. Be fully prepared! Supervisors’ time are important, bring the work you have done and questions you may have then have a discussion with supervisors. This way can maximumly make good utilisation of supervisory meeting time. At the end of meeting, make sure you understand what the next move is and set the next meeting date and deadline for submission work. Communicate with your supervisor about your opinions about the structure, arguments etc. It is better to make changes at the earlier stages though the projects might be very different compared to your first draft.

Lastly, avoiding beginning your day by immediately reaching for your phone. The internet can easily become a source of distraction. Instead, consider starting your day with some dedicated writing time, allocating around half an hour to an hour. Establish a consistent writing routine and aim for smaller writing goals each day. Personally, I find it beneficial to sit at my desk every morning before diving into other tasks and engage in what I call ‘card writing’, which helps reduce stress. The act of jotting down ideas not only clarifies the direction of your research but also lays a solid groundwork for your writing up stage.

In addition to academic guidance, it is essential to remind yourself that pursing a PhD isn’t the entirety of your life. Dedicate time to at least one activity that brings you joy. Cultivate interests throughout your doctoral journey, recognising that your PhD shouldn’t consume all your time over the coming years. Prioritising your well-being is crucial, and fostering positive emotions plays a significant role in the daily life. When you experience satisfaction, you will find happiness and the drive to engage in other pursuits.

One final point worth mentioning is that it is perfectly acceptable to take a break when you feel the need to. Remember, pursuing a PhD is more of a marathon than a sprint, and everyone progresses at their own pace. There’s no point in comparing yourself to others. Use this journey to deepen your understanding of yourself, embracing your imperfections along the way. Be gentle and kind to yourself throughout this process.

Lianxin (Megan) Li is currently an MA dissertation tutor