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Dissertation Guide

Our comprehensive guide to the process of writing a dissertation or thesis. Back to Student Resources

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How can I stay sane?

“I was the most reluctant student. I spent my entire time wanting to give it up. But it got later and later and I still hadn’t given it up. Even the best candidates seemed traumatised by the writing stage. I remember one thesis-writer making a joke about how overstretched and underpaid we were. He said that he had barely enough money to feed himself let alone pay for all the psychotherapy he needed along the way. Another friend of mine had a tee-shirt printed with the words ‘”Don’t even ask about the thesis”’.”

“Throughout the PhD you never come to the final stage until you’ve finished it. It’s very hard to make yourself think in terms of ‘this is the final piece of work’. I think that is why a lot of people have problems in completing.”