7 Challenges of Being a PhD Student You Must Know

Obtaining a doctoral degree is a daunting task that comes with a lot of challenges. It is no wonder that a lot of people drop out because they couldn’t face the heat. In this article, we’ll let you know 7 challenges that every PhD student face.

Loneliness

Unlike your undergraduate degree or your Masters’ degree, you will work alone for most of your doctoral degree program. You will often have limited collaboration with others. This will lead to feelings of abandonment and being stressed out. You may not have people around to turn to when faced with difficult assignments and tasks. You have to forge ahead on your own.

It is important that you try to network with other PhD students in other schools. You can meet them through online journal clubs, conferences and other programs. This way, you get to have people who understand what you are going through. They might be of help during tough times. You can also resort to creating an online blog where you document your experience.

Thesis

Your PhD thesis is going to be challenging. It is tougher than writing an undergraduate or a Master’s thesis. You are going to study a lot of past studies/research in your field, and you will be subject to a lot of criticism from your supervisor. A lot of work you do will be corrected, and there will be a lot of back and forth.

It’s best that you start your thesis as early as possible. You should plan ahead and try to understand what is required of you before beginning so you can avoid making a lot of corrections. You must also understand that a lot of what you write may not make it to the final edit of your thesis.

Lack of motivation to go on

Before starting your program, you might feel motivated, excited and thrilled at the prospect of finally earning a PhD. But as you start your program, you may then realize that things are not as you think they will be. A lot of PhD students begin to feel unmotivated, and they lack the morale to go on. This is when some drop out.     

You need to be strong and remain optimistic. You must understand that you are not alone, and a lot of PhD students went through and are going through the same thing. You can try presenting at conferences and go for some online training programs to boost your confidence. You must set realistic expectations as you start your program and understand that it might take some time before your work can be recognized.

Relationship with supervisor

Your relationship with your supervisor can make or mar your PhD program. Some supervisors may be hard to reach, and they may not have the time for you. Sometimes, you may have more than one supervisor, and these supervisors may have conflicting opinions on your work. Some PhD students may get intimidated by their supervisors as they may be dealing with people who are well-recognized and accomplished in their field. And sometimes, some supervisors retire, go on sabbatical or get hired by another school.

It is essential that you have a good relationship with your supervisor for your PhD program to be a success. Be open and communicate well with them. But if things get worse, some schools allow you to change your supervisor.

Time Management

Time management is one of the major problems that PhD students face. There is so much to do and not enough time to do it all. You often have little or no leisure time. And some PhD students lecture and undergo other jobs while running their programs.

It is better that you send work to your supervisor as early as possible. Avoid sending voluminous work to your supervisor at once. Sending little chunks of work at regular periods is more time-saving and gives little room for errors. You must also learn to recognize when your workload becomes unbearable and do what you can to reduce it.   

Funding

Running a PhD program can be really expensive. And you might find yourself running out or cash. These days, it’s becoming difficult to secure funding for a PhD program. You must plan ahead and try to have a price estimate of how much you need before you begin. You do not want to find yourself stranded midway through your program.

Lack of institutional and personal support

Some PhD students do not get the support that they need from their institution and their friends. Some universities do not have structures in place for supporting their PhD students. They do not offer to mentor, and they do not have events, workshops and a good networking system in place for PhD students. Also, your friends and family may not understand the importance of Ph.D. degrees. They may not understand how tasking and expensive it is.

It is advised that you check out the support systems in place for PhD students before picking a university. You should also let your loved ones understand how important your program is so that you can get the support that you need.  

Conclusion

This article was not written to scare you. It was only written to let you know what you must face as a PhD student, so you can start preparing to overcome them.