The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research, 3rd Edition

Returning in its 3rd edition, this bestselling book on the process of PhD research provides friendly, engaging, and realistic advice on how to complete your doctorate.

Updated throughout, the book will guide you through the basics as well as covering aspects that other books don't usually mention, including:

• What a PhD is really about and how to do one well
• How to decipher what your supervisor actually means by terms like 'good referencing' and 'clean research question'
• How to design, report and defend your research

The authors offer an accessible, down-to-earth, and insightful account of the whole PhD process. Their advice addresses how to avoid some of the pitfalls en route to a successful submission.

Key features:

• Thinking about your career from the outset of your PhD (rather than at the end)
• Tips for “sniffing” a paper to make your reading quicker and more efficient
• Understanding cultural differences in research
• Networking for research success
• Sensible guidelines for using social media in your research
• Guidance on project management – especially important for part-time students

The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research is essential reading for anyone considering a PhD, embarking on one, or stuck in the middle and unsure where to turn. It will tell you things many students wish someone had told them before they started.


“The course of a PhD never did ‘run smooth’. This new edition of unwritten rules covers everything the doctoral student needs to know for a smoother passage with informal yet scholarly advice, ranging from improving the writing process, creating networks, completing the thesis, and even what to wear for the viva – a complete guide to the tacit guidelines sometimes left unsaid.”
Professor Jerry Wellington, University of Sheffield, UK