Research
You will find a complete range of our peer-reviewed monographs, multi-authored and edited works, including original scholarly research across the social sciences and aligned disciplines. We publish long and short form research and you can browse the Bristol University Press and Policy Press archive.
Policy Press also publishes policy reviews and polemic work which aim to challenge policy and practice in certain fields. These books have a practitioner in mind and are practical, accessible in style, as well as being academically sound and referenced.
Chapter 8 provides a sincere exploration of the challenges of balancing family life with the demands of a PhD, offering practical advice and personal insights that may assist in guiding you through this complex journey. The author stresses the importance of clearly defining your motivation before starting a PhD and discusses critical decisions, such as whether to study full time or part time and the implications of teaching or working alongside your research. The author also shares their experiences as a single parent, highlighting the need for careful time management, accepting help, and setting realistic boundaries. This chapter underscores that while balancing a PhD and family life is challenging, it is manageable with strategic planning, support, and resilience.
Chapter 3 discusses the author’s challenges and experiences in conceptualising their PhD topic within the context of a self-funded PhD – something which is increasingly common. The importance of identity within doctoral research is considered within this chapter as the author charts their own experiences of Islamophobia as a British Muslim and how this informed their conceptualisation of their PhD topic.
Taking stock of some of the central themes that have appeared throughout this collection, words such as self-doubt, lack of ability, fear of external criticism, isolation and loneliness, stress, mental health struggles, financial difficulties, academic pressures, hyper-competition, and career uncertainty may well be conjured. This is a sobering and rather depressing picture of PhD life. However, within this sea of negativity, there is a light in the distance beckoning us to safer shores. While there is indeed a host of potential challenges, there are, in fact, as demonstrated via the stories within this collection, many more positive themes that have been uncovered. Words such as perseverance, motivation, passion, strength, resilience, friendship, purpose, self-belief, self-advocacy, empowerment, self-care, support, accomplishment, reflection, and growth. Within each of the stories shared, regardless of the challenges and struggles conveyed, the light prevails against the dark.
Chapter 7 offers a candid reflection on the challenges of pursuing PhD research while working full time as a lecturer, particularly as a first-generation student from a disadvantaged background. The author shares her experiences of navigating time management, maintaining a work-life balance, and coping with imposter syndrome. This chapter emphasises the importance of setting boundaries and prioritising tasks to avoid burnout, advocating for self-compassion and realistic expectations and highlighting the value of a strong support network and mentorship in overcoming the pressures of academia.
This book offers a candid and unflinching account of the PhD experience in a sector marked by precarity, insecurity and intense competition. Throughout the volume, current and former PhD students reflect on their varied journeys, addressing challenges such as balancing study with family life, navigating ethical dilemmas and managing mental health.
The collection brings together a diverse range of voices from the PhD community, sharing personal thoughts, lived experiences and "in-the-moment" accounts of life as a doctoral candidate within the context of higher education.
By demystifying the PhD journey and offering valuable insights, this book serves as essential reading for both PhD students and their supervisors.
Chapter 2 describes the author’s experiences writing a personal statement, PhD proposal, and applying for funded scholarship in an increasingly competitive industry. They provide encouragement and advice on such important processes at the start of the PhD. They also discuss the importance of self-reflection alongside their identity as a gay man both within the context of their PhD but also within the wider HE environment.
