Musings from the finish line

Or…What I know now that I wish I knew when I started

Dr Graeme Whitehall FRPS

• The Import(ance) of History and Modernity: Home,

Parish, and Imperial order in the photographic

representation of Simla 1860-1920.

Talk is cheap -

but invaluable

• The Doctoral process (its pitfalls, opportunities,

neuroses) best understood by dialogue with fellow Phds

• Talk to fellow Phd students at every opportunity

• Go to events and residential opportunities

• Don’t forget online blogs and sites - especially for key

moments such as Viva

‘Take care of the Means and the

means will become Ends in

themselves’ - Mahatma Gandhi

• It is important to break down the Phd into

manageable chunks

• To focus on the immediate tasks

• Enjoy success of completions RD1, Research Modules,

Progression viva etc

• Successes transient ephemeral not necessarily tangible

rewards in the wider world – so celebrate and

recognise each milestone

Progression viva

• Opportunity not a threat

• Feedback is everything

• Guidance, focus, pitfalls of

your approach, inspiration,

direction, reassurance,

confidence

• Understanding the nature

of a viva

Who are you writing

for?

• Especially important for

inter-disciplinary research

• Who is your audience? -

Director of Studies, Supervisor,

External Examiner, Internal

Examiner

• What do they require for

you to succeed in achieving

doctorate?

The importance of Early

identification of Focus

• 80,000 words

generous but soon

evaporates

without focus

• Lack of focus

costs time, money,

energy, agonising

and unnecessary

editing

• Focus down as

early as possible

I’m not worthy - The Phd student as

impostor syndrome

• Most Phd students feel

they or their work will

not be good enough to

achieve a doctorate

• That they are an

impostor

• Important to recognise

your unique expertise as

it emerges.

Time is on our side

• Accept that managing the time the phd process takes is not always in your hands

• Especially toward the end of process - writing up & awaiting viva

• Be prepared for delays – psychologically and financially

The Viva -

a moment to shine

• Don’t be fearful

• More that just passing an

award

• Feedback can be

electrifying

Tenacity

• More than anything a Phd

requires tenacity

• Patience

• Commitment

• Painstaking attention to detail

• …and the ability to

enjoy it