How to Get a PhD

Name: How to Get a PhD
Rating: 4.5 (49 reviews)

Finding the Right Research Topic, Advisor, University, Funding Options & Writing Your PhD Thesis

Created byDr Alexander O'Hara

Last updated 1/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

How to achieve a PhD
How to identify the right topic for your PhD thesis
Finding the right supervisor for your PhD thesis
Finding the best university for your PhD thesis
How to successfully navigate the PhD process
How to course-correct if problems arise
PhD Research
Research Paper Writing
How to succeed in academia
Research skills
Research strategy
How to Fund Your PhD without Student Debt
How to Write a PhD thesis

Course content

8 sections • 42 lectures • 2h 27m total length

Introduction4:47
The PhD is a journey, or quest. It can sometimes feel like the search for the Holy Grail - never-ending, elusive, and full of dead ends. This course will help you better prepare and equip you for this journey.

Discovering your topic1:16
Discovering: this is a process of exploring different avenues and research interests before you find the topic that is suitable for you.
-Search
-Identify
-Analyse
-Reflect
Don’t forget to save all the information you find relevant and make annotations. You will use it to build your roadmap to success with the PhD Model Canvas.
How I discovered my topic3:34
Narrowing down your topic2:19
What if someone else is working on my topic?4:15
Don't fear competition when pursuing your topic; you will bring a unique angle and interpretation. Read PGD theses to gauge standards, frame questions, and structure your thesis.
Finding the gap1:33
Create a working bibliography1:14
Create a working bibliography organized by author and publication date, starting with the oldest publications, and write a critical literature review that identifies key debates and develops your own argument.
An example from my own research2:04
Translate the work to reveal new distinctions and argue for a fresh interpretation, showing wide dissemination to monastic and royal audiences.

The Cardinal Rule: Doing the PhD Debt Free2:01
How I Funded my PhD2:30
Why I Quit Oxford University2:28
Doing a Part-Time PhD2:55
Types of Scholarships and Funding Options3:00
PhD Student Debt: Some Stats2:08
Action Steps1:29
Take steps to fund your PhD, stay debt-free from the start, and explore a part-time option. Compile scholarships and funding sources, apply again if needed, and track revenue streams privately.
Top 10 Tips for Getting Your PhD
Further Reading: Top 3 Recommended Books1:32
One Final Word2:00
Listen to podcast with Professor Inger Mewburn

Eating the Elephant: Writing your PhD thesis1:01
The DSSS Formula2:38
Thinking in Small Assignments2:15
How to Incubate Ideas1:55
Incubate ideas by thinking deep and narrow, identifying gaps in the literature, and conducting a chronological literature review to drive your field forward through cross-disciplinary exposure.
The Snowflake Method3:51
A and B Time: Building a Writing Routine2:49
Establish a personalized writing routine with A and B time to maximize daily drafting, using tools like Scrivener and Microsoft Word, and reserve B time for references and admin.
The Pomodoro Method2:20
Your Workspace2:54
Recommended Books on Writing1:39
Forming a Writing Support Group2:34
Form a writing group, or Agraphia group, to set weekly goals, monitor progress, and share progress with peers and your supervisor. Meet weekly for half an hour and log goals.
The Magic of a Whiteboard1:06
Who are you Writing for?1:36

Requirements

Anyone considering doing a PhD or in a PhD program

Description

How do you discover the right topic for your PhD thesis, choose the best advisor, and select the right University for your PhD research? How do you ensure that you get funding for your PhD without taking on student debt?

These are the first and critical steps in setting you up to succeed in your PhD quest.

This course will guide you through these steps so that you will be better informed to make better decisions in these key areas and help you achieve your PhD in the fastest and most effective way possible.

After completing this course you will be able:

1. To understand the process in how best to achieve a PhD for you

2. To identify the critical steps in selecting a topic for PhD research

3. Identifying the critical steps in finding the right advisor for PhD research

4. Critical analysis aiding in the process of choosing the right University for PhD research

5. To be aware of the funding options available for funding your PhD

6. To write your PhD thesis and learn processes for research paper writing

7. To successfully navigate the PhD process by being more informed about what it involves

Led by leading academic and Oxford University Press author with over ten years of experience working in European centres for Higher Education, the course contains short videos, transcriptions, and an exclusive audio interview with Professor Inger Mewburn, a world expert on PhD research, author and founder of the popular Thesiswhisperer blog.

Who this course is for:

PhD students
Grad students
Postgraduate students
Students considering doing a PhD
Researchers
Academic
Research students

How to Get a PhD

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Getting clear and unambiguous1 lecture • 5min

The PhD Canvas: Your PhD Roadmap2 lectures • 16min

Step 1: How to Select your PhD Topic7 lectures • 16min

Step 2: How to Select your PhD Supervisor4 lectures • 9min

Step 3: How to Select your PhD University5 lectures • 13min

Step 4: Funding Your PhD10 lectures • 20min

Step 5: Writing Your PhD thesis12 lectures • 27min

Navigating the PhD Process with Professor Inger Mewburn1 lecture • 41min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: