Making your part-time doctorate work for you

We discuss how part-time doctoral students can manage the challenges and thrive, whilst undertaking part-time doctorial studies.

Table of Contents

Some academics say “I’m only part-time” as if their mode of study is inferior to those working on a doctorate full-time. In our forthcoming book Thriving in part-time doctoral study we challenge that narrative and show ways for doctoral researchers how to reclaim the unique value that comes from studying in the part-time mode. We also present ideas for how to thrive within it, drawn from our practice and research across many conversations with part-time doctoral learners.We accept though that undertaking a part-time doctorate also often means juggling many different responsibilities, roles and identities. Some researchers will be working out how to fit study in around paid work and others might be balancing caring commitments or health conditions with their research. In fact, whilst there are some collective challenges we attribute to part-time study, every researcher has their own reasons for working in this mode. This means that there is often no way for us to prescribe a simple list of ‘what works’ for this diverse and very busy group of people. With this in mind, we have developed a book that provides a personalised take on what it means to thrive and succeed, to help individuals reflect upon their own circumstances and challenges, their assets and resources, and to navigate their journey in the best way for them.

In the process of developing the guidance and activities we wanted to impart, we spoke to many part-time doctoral researchers and gathered a range of different experiences on the Thriving Part-time blog, which accompanies the book. Some of these personal accounts have been condensed and included in the book, to help show the diversity of experiences and strategies others have used in making the doctorate work for them. Within the eight detailed chapters there are five overarching messages we have used to frame our guidance, designed to help anyone, at any stage, on their part-time journey:

1. It is your journey so work out what matters to you

Every doctorate is a journey into the unknown to some extent, but there is room within that to craft your own bespoke development experience. Bryan and Guccione have found previously that doctoral researchers actively seeking to engage with a range of opportunities and ideas, found that their journeys were more rewarding. Therefore, it is important to consider the opportunities available to you, in planning the route through your time studying. Taking time to map what you want to get out of the doctorate beyond just ‘the qualification’, can pay dividends in the long term.

2. Planning helps but plans change and that’s OK

Planning can make us feel like we have control, but equally when a plan falls apart it can create uncertainty and anxiousness. Research is messy and often involves lots of thinking and re-thinking time, as well as defined processes and bureaucratic hoops. We find Elizabeth Day’s framing of planning as ‘objective solutions to a subjective problem’ helpful here. Once you realise you can plan, but your plans need to be adaptable, it can help shift the focus from what has gone wrong, to how to make a better plan for the next steps. Taking a holistic approach to planning including research, work, and life as part of the mix, can allow for much more realistic plans that work for your specific circumstances.

3. Embrace living in the margins

One of the biggest challenges for a part-time doctoral researcher is trying to reconcile your sense of identity. Here professional, academic and personal identities can feel like they are competing for importance, which might make you feel as though you no longer belong properly anywhere. Tutkal and colleagues framed this ‘never really fitting in’ feeling as being ‘in the Borderlands’. Rather than seeing this as a deficit or failing, embracing the unique perspective of being in this position can help you to see things from a new, more nuanced and sophisticated perspective. Being able to exist in multiple communities can be of great value to the development of your research project. For many people this might be a professional-research borderland, but for others it might be the unique perspective your lived experience helps bring to your doctorate.

4. It is not a solo endeavour

Doing a doctorate can feel isolating, and it’s important for both your research and your mental wellbeing to challenge the myth that it needs to be a lonely journey. Working remotely, limited contact time with supervisors and colleagues, and fitting research into the spaces around other commitments can exacerbate isolation. This means as a part-time doctoral researcher it will pay off if you give conscious thought to how to create vital support networks – building your own support squad. In the book we help you to consider who your allies are, personally, professionally, and academically, and how to recruit them to your networks. Staying connected remotely can be hard, but social media can be used effectively for this, in addition to making the most of your cohorts and communities.

5.Taking breaks will help you stay on track

Research work, with its potential to never feel truly ‘finished’, plus the finite timelines for doctoral research, which mean we are always chasing successes and fixing failures, can become all consuming. Throw other commitments into the mix and it is easy to fill all your waking hours with challenging work. We urge you not to allow your research to take over your life. A good long-term strategy involves setting (and resetting) a sustainable pace of working. Ensuring you plan some downtime, and give yourself time to think, is vital to maintaining your motivation, enthusiasm and success. Taking some time away can help you make more progress in the long term, and we ask you to consider that maintaining your health and wellbeing should be of paramount importance.

If these ideas sound useful in theory, but understanding how to put them into practice feels challenging, Thriving in part-time doctoral study can help. Our book is full of examples and practical activities that can be used alone or with supervisors and peers to help you make the most of your part-time doctorate, whatever your planned route or desired goals. If you would rather engage with others undertaking part-time PhD’s you can read more personal stories, and share your own experiences on the Thriving Part-time blog.