My journey to get my PhD started in October 2016 when, along with my cohorts, I began the week-long induction course. This course was designed to introduce the fresh-faced PhD students to the rigors of PhD study, to help prepare them for what was to come, the good and the extremely frustrating. I recall being incredibly excited, it had taken me a long time to get here, and I was sure that my journey would be smooth, exciting and I would enjoy every second of it.

Armed with knowledge and understanding of research integrity, managing data, an emphasis on correct referencing, the importance of collaboration and continuous self-reflection on my learning, I felt prepared and raring to go. I had been supported from the get-go. Not long after finishing my MA with the Open University, I emailed Dr Jon Mackley who had been one of my lecturers during my undergraduate degree at Northampton, to ask for advice. He suggested that I might like to do my PhD at Northampton and I knew immediately that I would. I remembered the support, the expertise, and the general enjoyment I got out of my undergraduate degree and saw no reason why it would be different for my PhD. I found the application process fairly manageable and was absolutely delighted to find out that Dr Phillippa Bennett, the Programme Leader for BA English, Dr Jon Mackley, and later, Dr Richard Chamberlain, would be my supervisors. Their lectures and seminars when I was an undergraduate were amongst my favourite and I knew that I was in good hands. Indeed, one thing that my supervisors made very clear was that they were not just here to provide critical feedback on my work, they were also here to provide moral support, ensure I was looking after my mental wellbeing and to give me encouragement when I needed it. As a deaf person, they were more than happy to accommodate my needs, they provided detailed written feedback before and after each meeting to ensure that I had not missed anything that was said during our online collaborations. I was lucky in that I knew what my topic was and exactly what I wanted to research. As my topic was late Victorian and Edwardian fairy tales I needed to do a lot of digging into archives, journals, books from the period and newspapers, and as a PhD student at the University of Northampton I was granted access to numerous academic platforms such as, JSTOR, ProQuest and of course Northampton’s own digital library, NELSON. All these platforms provided me with excellent research resources that allowed me to develop my knowledge and deepen my understanding of my topic. For anyone thinking of doing a PhD with Northampton, I definitely recommend acquainting yourself with all the platforms and resources that the university has to offer. It was a sometimes frustrating process when I could not find what I wanted, or needed, or when I read a whole document only to find that it was not helpful, and therefore it felt like a waste of time, but even this provided me with an opportunity to fine tune my analytical and evaluation skills and select resources that really helped strengthen my argument. I also had numerous opportunities to visit the library at Northampton, particularly to pick up books or theses that were not available online. It was nice to have a reason to visit the university. I always felt like I belonged there, even though when I started I was at the old campus, Avenue! I did my thesis as a part-time student, and this was the best decision I made. It meant that I had the luxury of taking a break when I needed it, and I made sure that I took breaks, it was the only way to ensure I kept my sanity, and my vigour, for the duration of my research. Many people, and advice books, told me that a PhD thesis is a marathon and not a sprint, and I tried to keep this in mind throughout. Though it was hard to remember this after my 14th or 15th draft of my chapters! But, doing a PhD really is about pacing yourself, taking time, and speaking to your supervisors if you have any worries at all. When I submitted, it was a massive relief, albeit it was quickly followed up with anxiety. The day of my Viva, my supervisors were there to support me. Passing my Viva was a comfort but receiving the outcome Revise and Resubmit (R&R) was very hard to hear. I admit, I really struggled with this outcome, knowing that I had poured my heart and soul into this thesis for 6 years, only to be told that it was not good enough. I thought about cutting my losses and accepting an MPhil, but my supervisors really supported me and told me that the outcome is not unusual. They encouraged me to see that the examiners saw the potential in my project, it just needed a little more work. Eventually, emboldened and more determined, I responded to the examiners’ report and submitted a reworked thesis two years later. To me, Thesis 2.0 was even better. I am so proud of it, and now I feel like I really deserve the title of Dr because I have worked so hard, and so tirelessly for it. It took me eight years, floods of tears, hours of frustration, but also excitement when I found an article, enthusiasm when I spotted a quote, inspiration when I spoke with my supervisors, and love for my topic to get me where I am and when I received the email that I had been awarded a PhD I felt that  proudest I have ever felt. To those who are thinking of doing a PhD, or who are currently doing a PhD, I can tell you now that it is worth it. They say that the best things take hard work and when you get that title that you worked so hard for, it is the most wonderful sense of achievement. During my redrafts, I found that I often cut out bits of arguments, removed quotes, and did not use all my notes; there may still be some use for them though. My thesis is only a small part of my exploration into my topic, and with the overabundance of research I have got, I think that writing papers might be the next step. For now though, I am currently basking in the afterglow of achieving my PhD and officially referring to myself as Dr de Barry!

Blog post written by: Alicia de Barry

For me, personally, starting a PhD programme seems like Pandora’s Box of secrets, the weighty lid of which excitement keeps firmly closed. Beyond these imaginings, however, the Postgraduate Research Student Induction event held over four consecutive days from Monday March 17 to Thursday March 20 provided paradisal calm. Its purpose, to introduce the rigours of academic life, the university’s pedagogical expectations, its rich research culture, and the library’s abundance of scholarly resources to attendees. Thanks to those who ran it, I now see a twinkle of light where before there were dark shadows of doubt.

As I strode through campus I stumbled across the Learning Hub and went inside. From then on the registration process proved plain sailing. Quick, efficient, and seamless for me. The warm and welcoming administrators immediately made me feel at ease. A short while later one of the facilitators came to greet us all in the atrium, his effervescent energy alleviating much of my first day nerves. It was clear from the start that everyone working on the Induction was invested in my progression to becoming a PhD candidate.

The Induction itself was full of comprehensive well-balanced overviews of essential elements, themes, and topics I will need to grapple with throughout my studies. Together with my cohort I explored the importance of research integrity, referencing, and data management and other such subjects. Each day followed a logical progression balancing presentations, workshops, and group discussions promoting periods of personal reflection and collaborative learning. The session which stood out for me most was the dreaded project presentations. Thankfully, an ethos of mutual respect, support and understanding was in the air. It was fascinating to learn about other peoples’ projects and their motivations for pursuing them.

As experienced public speakers all of the facilitators proved to be engaging in their delivery. Each captured our collective attention no matter the topic. Whether it was the Zotero reference management system or Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for Researchers, it did not matter. The appropriate use of visuals, interactive group work and Q and A sessions proved to be extremely helpful when trying to comprehend, remember and recall key concepts that will surely later reveal themselves to be useful.

The fact that the Induction followed an in-person format rather than online or blended approach was of significant benefit to me. An in-person induction helped me to build strong bonds with my cohort. Indeed, a significant benefit from the induction was the opportunity to cultivate friendships and potential future working relationships. There were many group activities interspersed throughout each day with well-timed breaks for small talk. I had the opportunity to meet and work with everyone in my cohort at some stage on a task or while consuming coffee and biscuits.

In addition to meeting my cohort I learned who my subject specialist librarian is, the expertise of IT Services staff who I need when I just can’t get Word to work, and the fact that counselling and mental health professionals are at hand when the meltdown comes. There was also an effort to forge strong connections with current Postgraduate Reps who were further down the PhD road than myself. I now feel reassured that the academic and personal support is available to me should I have the need to cry out for help.

All in all my experience of the Postgraduate Research Student Induction was positive with my fear and foreboding abating for a short while at least. In all aspects the four days

exceeded my expectations and I left with a sense that although the road ahead will be bumpy the university has everything in place to make the journey as smooth as they are able. I would surely recommend the Induction. I am about to discover whether I would recommend pursuing a PhD.

Blog post written by: Michael Bowden

Mention a trip to the Arctic and people’s eyes generally widen a little. For some, the Arctic conjures images of heroic explorers manhauling sledges in a blizzard: for others, Instagram photos of the northern lights come to mind. Either way, visiting the far North has connotations of adventure, mystery, and perhaps, danger. When I explain the reason for the visit is to further my understanding of the lives of the women who have inhabited the Arctic, as part of my postgraduate research project, I get mixed responses.

I don’t need, or seek, other people’s approval, so why am I made to feel a little bit guilty about my self-funded, week-long research trip?

Firstly, it’s comments about my responsibilities. How on earth can my husband look after the dogs and carry out grandparent duties to our two-year-old grandson, as well as cook, clean, and get the shopping? I point out that my husband is extremely capable and hasn’t once complained about the hours I need to devote to my research. (Interestingly, he was never asked how I was managing when he was commuting to London to work twelve-hour shifts for the London Fire Brigade while I was going slightly insane looking after twin babies and a two-year-old toddler at home in Northampton.)

Secondly, maybe I’m just a product of an education system that was stuck in the past regarding women’s potential. My girls’ grammar school still taught how to make a bed, how to iron men’s trousers, and how to cook a nutritionally balanced three-course meal for a family. It wasn’t until my children were all at school that I decided I was worthy of studying for a degree. Despite going on to achieve my Master’s, am I still harbouring concerns that I’m over-reaching?

Yet, despite more guilt – this time about my carbon footprint – I boarded my WhizzAir flight to Tromso. I’d planned my research trip to coincide with the week of the Sami Festival, which gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in multiple cultural events: I learnt about the traditional Sami music, the joik, and went to a performance by a Sami choir ; I chatted to reindeer herders, who explained about the effects of climate change on their animals and their way of life; I practiced crafts at a workshop run by the Sami community, and I also spent hours in the numerous museums, researching not only about the lives of the Sami but also that of Wanny Wolstad, the first lady taxi driver in Tromso and the first female hunter-trapper of the high Arctic. It was invaluable to my research project to access such a wealth of historical artefacts and information.

And, yes, I witnessed the mysterious Northern Lights as they lit up the sky above the Lyngen Alps and, yes, I fell in love with the reindeer that were roaming the hills around the coastal village of Sommaroy, and, yes, I was emotionally moved by the sublime beauty of the snow-covered mountains and the ice-crusted fjords.

I don’t think I should feel guilty for any of that.

Blog post written by: Clare Moss