Accessibility statement

Acknowledgements

How to thrive and survive in your PhD

The student-led project 'How to Survive Your PhD (and enjoy it)' was initiated and project managed by Sarah Masefield, with a committee comprised of fellow University of York PhD students:

  • Ana Castro
  • Catherine Watt 
  • Christine Jackson-Taylor 
  • Eli Auslender
  • Frances Long 
  • Jamie Khoo 
  • Katie Pybus 
  • Marena Ceballos 
  • Mickey Conn 
  • Robin Brabham 
  • Petronel Geyser
The PhD labyrinth illustration was designed by Chloe Anderson.
 
The PhD survival guide and online resources were generously supported by the York Graduate Research School - archive, Graduate Students' Association and Wentworth Graduate College. 
 
The project was delivered in six months (between May and October 2018) with a further workshop held in February 2019. 

Guidebook feedback

"Thank you and your colleagues very much for putting together your excellent guide to surviving the PhD. I found it full of the most useful and interesting information and intend to use every single hint that you have proposed!" 
 
"What a great idea. We'll certainly promote to our new students, and probably our current ones as well as I think some of the ideas raised are valid to them as well."

Workshop feedback

  • Maybe more such sessions as a follow up throughout the year
  • The discussion part of the session was very helpful. These workshops should happen more often
  • This session is very good and informative
  • Sharing thoughts with other PhD students was a very opportunity for me to find how to deal with fear of PhD life
  • Thanks for taking the time for put this together. It really helped to calm some of my PhD nerves :-)
  • Really helpful session - it was very reassuring to know that you're not the only one with worries and anxieties
  • Great idea to run this - also, just really good to talk to other people from other departments for bouncing ideas and networking
  • Great session. Thank you! The presentations from more experienced PhD students are really helpful
  • Very helpful, and good to know the support is there!
  • Really helps the students and the tips really interesting, practical and useful
  • This workshop is crucial for all PhD students! Thank you to all presenters. Being able to talk openly and honestly about your PhD experience is so important and helpful!
  • It was great to meet others who are having the exact same concerns as me!
  • Quality information, enjoyable sharing my experience with other students