Just starting
The first months, when everything is new and nothing is urgent yet. Stage 1 of 6.
The start of a PhD is strange. You have more freedom than you have ever had and almost no deadlines, and after a few weeks that freedom can start to feel like fog. Nobody tells you what a good first term looks like, partly because it differs so much between disciplines and supervisors.
You don't need to plan the whole degree now. You need to learn the rules of your program, agree on how you and your supervisor will work together, set up a few simple systems, and give yourself something small and concrete to produce.
Milestones for this stage
Tick them off as you go. Your ticks are saved on this device.
0 of 6 done
Guides that matter most now
- I've just started and I don't know where to beginWhat to set up in your first weeks so the rest of the PhD has something to stand on.
- I'm unclear about what my supervisor expects from meHave one honest conversation about how you'll work together, write down what you agreed, and revisit it every year.
- I can't find my sources or notes when I need themSet up one reference library and one note system that point to each other, and keep them tidy with little effort.
- I don't have a clear plan or timelineBuild a plan you'll actually use: from the whole PhD down to the next 90 days.
- I'm adjusting to a new country and a new academic systemMake sense of the unwritten rules, find the right support, and give yourself real time to settle.
- I feel like I don't belong hereUnderstand why a PhD makes so many capable people feel like frauds, and what helps.
- I feel isolatedBuild enough regular contact into your weeks that the PhD stops feeling like something you do alone.
Tools for this stage
Also useful at this stage
- I don't know whether to do a thesis, a project or a course-based master'sWork out which master's route fits your goals, your timeline and whether you might want a PhD later.
- I don't know how to find or approach a supervisorFind faculty whose work fits yours, write to them in a way that gets a reply, and check that you can work well together.
- I don't know which programs to apply toBuild a longlist, narrow it to a shortlist that fits your goals and budget, and check each program properly before you apply.
- I have several applications and deadlines to keep track ofWork back from your earliest deadline, keep one tracker for every program and batch the work that applications share.
- I need to write a statement of purpose or personal statementWork out which statement each program wants, find the thread that connects your experience, and write a specific draft you can tailor.
- I need test scores, transcripts and other documents for my applicationsFind out exactly which tests and documents each program wants, book tests early and give slow paperwork time to arrive.
- I need to ask for reference lettersChoose referees who know your work, ask early and give them everything they need to write a strong, specific letter.
- I have an admissions interview or a call with a potential supervisorPrepare short, honest answers about your interests, ask the questions that matter to you and follow up well.