September 5, 2024, by Jackie Thompson

Studying for a PhD – challenges and opportunities

Maya Sharma, PhD Psychology Image by Džoko Stach from Pixabay

Hello! My name is Maya and I have an undergraduate psychology degree, and I am currently completing my first year of a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology. I want to share my experience of choosing to study a PhD and what it’s been like so far.

Upon completing my BSc Psychology, I was unsure whether I wanted to continue studying psychology or to study a law conversion course. However,  it did not take long to realise that not only was my passion in psychology but specifically forensic psychology.

Career routes

I did plenty of research into the routes to becoming a forensic psychologist, and I quickly concluded that a PhD/Doctorate was the most suitable route for me as it allowed me to continue to research and (hopefully) publish papers in areas of interest, but also gain the knowledge and practice to achieve my desired career as a forensic psychologist.

Read about Sarah Ashworth’s career path into forensic psychology.

My first year

The first year has been what I expected from a PhD/Doctorate.

I was taught about specific topics in greater depth than previous levels of study, there were more opportunities to conduct research in areas of personal interest, I had more academic independence, and I was surrounded by individuals with a similar passion to myself.

On perhaps a more serious note, there were also the expected challenges of an increased workload and hard work as I stepped up from previous levels of study. However, there were elements which I had not expected. For instance, I was pleasantly surprised that my assessments were in a variety of formats to prepare me for real-life application and there were various opportunities for group tasks and in-class discussions about new or controversial areas.

Follow your passion

Over the past year, I have learnt and would advise anyone that it is important to follow your passion as a PhD/Doctorate is not easy, but if you have the passion and interest, then you are more likely to want to put in the hard work.

Secondly, I would suggest that it is crucial to have a timetable, stay organised from the start, and set your own mini-deadlines to help you stay on top of the workload, become less overwhelmed, and manage the level of independence required at this level of study.

Last but not least, I have recognised the importance of taking short periods away from academic work as it has allowed me to come back to work with a fresh outlook and headspace. Personally, I find this very difficult, and I am continuously trying to practice it, but I have started cold water swimming and running as it allows me to take a short break and relieve some stress!

If you’re interested in continuing your studies, read our advice on Thinking about a PhD? and find out how we support postgraduate researchers at Nottingham.

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