It is often said that a PhD is an isolating and lonely journey,
but that was not my experience at Plymouth. The support that I had from my
supervisory team from start to finish was invaluable, they were so patient with
me, offered brilliant advice and were always on hand when I needed a bit of
encouragement. My friendships with fellow PhD candidates were also fundamental
in my ultimate enjoyment of the PhD ‘journey’ and survival of the writing up
stage. We were all experiencing the same challenges regardless of our research
areas, it was so reassuring to have that community.
There are definitely times when the process is infuriating
and you question yourself (and your sanity) but for me completing a PhD had so
many high points. Collecting my data, sat on a boat in the sunshine in the
Isles of Scilly, was particularly great. I have also really enjoyed the
occasions where I have been able to discuss my research with academics in the
same field; this made my viva one of the surprising highlights. A thesis is a
large amount of work and it is a long project particularly if you take the
part-time route. It requires dedication and determination but it is such a
rewarding experience.