Hi all,

As previously posted, I've just begun my Phd in History and am two weeks in. However, I've just received my MA in Modern History results and the mark I received for my dissertation exceeded my - dare I say 'wildest' - expectations, so mucho vino this evening.

However, I was previously advised that should I receive a good result, I should think about converting my dissertation into a journal article whilst undergoing my PhD, which should give me a good head-start on publishing for that all important post-doctoral job-hunting period. I've also been advised that, if anything, the feedback received even in rejection can be invaluable.

I am meeting with my supervisors next week so I will of course bring this up with them, but I'm curious to know if anyone here has followed this route and published any pre-PhD work?

Much obliged.
Best,

No problem.

There is a 'methods and interpretations' module which requires a 10,000 word portfolio to be completed before the end of the first term, however having done my MA at this university last year, I have already completed the module and thus was told I do not need to do it again for my PhD - result!

Hi there,

I've just started a full time PhD in History but live about 2 hours from University. This is my second week and I've only commuted in once for a research-student 'induction' talk. I will also be going up once next week to meet my supervisor. Otherwise I'm just working from home (reading, online research) and plan to start going up to London 3 times a week next week to where the archives are situated which form the bulk of my research.

So I guess I'm saying that going to Uni is not very necessary for me. It will be different in my second and third year when I begin teaching, of course, but right now even my supervisor told me to just hit the archives and get on with it (ie no reason to come into Uni).

Best,

Well for me it's a bit of both. My MA in Modern History dissertation was on colonialism in India, and for my PhD I have chosen a specific issue to deal with. I of course have a thorough grounding in the whole colonial India aspect, but I am exploring this through a particular area I have had no previously knowledge of - family and kinship. I therefore have to learn all about early modern English society, the family, kinship in the context of commerce and imperialism, etc. So like yourself I have a grounding in the subject area, but have to learn about my specific topic almost from scratch. I would imagine most PhDs have an aspect of this as, by and large, the point of the PhD is to be exploring something original (unless you're revising previous theories, of course).

All the best,

Hi all,

Sounds very exciting - glad we could all start the 'journey' together.

I too knew my supervisor previously from my Masters, which seems to be a common trend here.

I must admit, I went from 'life is good' on Monday to 'life is weird' as the extremely unstructured nature of a PhD has quickly become evident. I feel like I'm missing a seminar or should be calling in sick to work, or something. I have a postgraduate drinks-and-nibbles thing tonight so I think I'll feel a lot better when I can meet and chat to other PhD history candidates. My batch of books has still to arrive from Amazon too, so once they hit the door step and I have a lot more to do, I'm sure I'll be more comfortable sitting at home on a Wednesday!

As my subject is history, I can't really get in to my version of a 'lab' (archive) until I really know what manuscrupts I'm going for - and that can only be done through general reading and theory in the first few months.

Anyway, nice to meet you all and good luck starting out these next few weeks.

For all of those who have today begun their life as a PhD student - hello to you! It was incredibly weird to wake up today and not rush off to work. Instead, I have typed up a 6-week plan, organised a meeting with my supervisor, and am arranging which books I will hopefully be purchasing this week on Amazon. Classic FM is on in the background, and I am now just opening the first pages of a book on my particular topic.

Life is good!!

,-)

Hello all,

I've been reading the forum for a good 3 - 4 years ever since I was an undergraduate, and am now due to start my PhD at the end of this month, having just finished my MA in Modern History, and am excited to get involved a bit more and, well, to post my own experiences.

As someone who has been slightly put-off by what can often be the sheer negativeness of many posters, I understand that doing a PhD can produce such a stance and this place seems to double up as agony aunt and forum! I hope to bring a bit of optimism to the forum as I'm incredibly excited to begin (famous last words?).

Oh, and I'll be doing a PhD in history. Nice to meet you all!