Welcome to the Degree Doctor blog – where we keep it real about PhD life.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, behind, or like everyone else has it figured out but you – you’re in the right place.

Here you'll find honest advice, practical tips, and a whole lot of reassurance to help you stay calm, focused, and on track.

Click on the categories below to find blogs on specific topics or just scroll on down and have a look at the most recent posts!

Let’s make this PhD journey a bit less stressful (and a lot more doable).

Qualitative Methods
Methods Chapter
Critical Analysis
Literature Review
Planning and Organisation
Paradigms, Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks
PhD Mindset
Writing Up
Introduction Chapter
PhD Supervision
PhD Mindset Elizabeth Yardley PhD Mindset Elizabeth Yardley

PhD Habits

My most successful PhD students aren’t the smartest or the most naturally talented students, they’re the most consistent students.

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Literature Review Elizabeth Yardley Literature Review Elizabeth Yardley

PhD Literature Review - Stop chasing a wordcount!

Dissertation students often become obsessed with word counts, especially when it comes to their literature reviews. They constantly compare their progress to that of their peers and feel the need to write as many words as possible. However, this habit of trying to write as much as possible can seriously damage your literature review and put your entire dissertation at risk …

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