Dr.App RESOURCES PAGE
Here is a selection of further sources of support and information for research students and supervisors. The links are to external organisations: Dr.App and Angel Productions are not responsible for their content. If you know other resources we should consider for listing here, please email steve@angelproductions.co.uk
Blogs:
ThesisWhisperer.com is a blog about doctoral study edited by Associate Professor Inger Mewburn, director of researcher development at The Australian National University. See the ‘Recommended’ and ‘Resources’ pages.
https://patthomson.net/, a blog for doctoral researchers, early career researchers and supervisors, by Pat Thomson, Professor of Education, University of Nottingham.
https://www.petafreestone.com/words-on-writing/ Writing tips from the founder of ‘Thesis Boot Camp’.
Discussion forums:
https://www.postgraduateforum.com, online discussion forum about PhDs.
Websites etc:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advice/nine-things-know-doing-phd has helpful advice for people considering a PhD.
http://www.missendencentre.co.uk/links.html The Missenden Centre links include hundreds of PhD diaries by real (anonymised) students.
https://www.vitae.ac.uk/ Vitae supports the professional development of researchers. Their site includes articles and resources for people considering a doctorate, and to develop researchers and supervisors.
http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/ The UK Council for Graduate Education. Their site includes downloadable publications (more likely to be of interest to supervisors than students).
https://www.oiahe.org.uk/ Office of the Independent Adjudicator, the independent student complaints scheme for England and Wales.
Thinking of quitting?
Two articles worth reading if you are considering quitting your PhD:
https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/three-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-quitting-your-phd
Books about writing a thesis
(see also the blogs listed above):
Firth, Connell and Freestone, Your PhD Survival Guide. Routledge.
Murray, How to Write a Thesis. Open University Press.
Kamler and Thomson, Helping Doctoral Students Write. Routledge.
Preparing for your viva
There is a useful list of questions frequently asked in viva examinations here (thanks to Dr Ivan Newman).
And two recommended books:
Rowena Murray and Lynne Pearce, How to Examine a Thesis. Open University Press
Penny Tinkler and Carolyn Jackson, The Doctoral Examination Process. Open University Press
Financial support
https://www.blackbullion.com/ has a lot of content to build students’ financial skills and provide access to support funds, scholarships and grants. Some is free and some is behind a paywall which you can access if your university is one of the 60 who subscribe. Blackbullion’s annual report on Student Money and Wellbeing can be downloaded here.