Reflections on a part-time PhD
I share my honest take on doing a part-time PhD whilst working full-time. 2780 days (or 7.6 years, or approximately one eternity) from Day 1 with celebratory champagne to Day ??? with a very patient dog. I expected a tidy five-year trajectory; I got a chaotic sprawl across years 1 through 6, punctuated by house moves, pandemic chaos and those invisible tasks nobody warns you about. The reality: juggling 8 projects, 6 teaching commitments, 16 external opportunities, constant feelings of stagnation, imposter syndrome that whispers 'you don't belong here', and the unpleasant financial gymnastics of fees, funds and salary. But also: watching the field develop in real time, gaining slightly more authority, mastering slow-motion multitasking, and building an impressive CV through extracurriculars. My personal verdict? Don't do it. Unless you have iron boundaries, a strong support system, exceptionally healthy working relationships, and the ability to manage serious FOMO.
Presented at: Department of Health Services & Population Research; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience; King’s College London
[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VXd6AOKN6UFx4h7CixevaCu77iKZ7BbVF74jh1h9ujA/edit?usp=share_link](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VXd6AOKN6UFx4h7CixevaCu77iKZ7BbVF74jh1h9ujA/preview?usp=share_link)
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