Hi, Help! I have just got accepted for a PhD and apparently I have now been told I have to write a thesis although they didnt mention this in interview. I thought this was just something English literature students did. Is this normal and what does it involve. I thought a PhD would just be lab work.

They probably didn't mention it because every phd student has to write one. it usually takes 3-4 months to write. By the way, you'll also have to go through a viva, which can take up to 4 hours to defend your thesis. Why did you think you would only have to do lab work????

Unfortunately, you don't get awarded a PhD for just doing lab work! Anon german is correct, every PhD student must produce a substantial thesis (in science, typically 60-80,000 words). Your thesis will be examined by 2 or 3 experts in your field (not members of your supervisory team, or people you have worked with). If you can convince the examiners at your viva that your work is original, of the required standard and that you did the work, then you will be awarded a PhD.

By the way, you will also have to write annual reports, make a poster for a poster session and give talks during your phd. Oh, and probably also literature seminars and lab chats.

Thank you for your replies. 6-8,000 words is ok, like an undergrad dissertation I did. So i think i will be ok. I am ok at talks as I had to do one and I use powerpoint for the posters.

It might be advisable for you to take note that different subject areas have slightly different assessment criteria. You should ask your supervisor how much you will be expected to write for your thesis, and how long it has taken past students to write theirs. Some theses are more like 80,000 words, so be careful not to become too complacent about what you will have to do over the 3 years in terms of written/other work!

Oh no! I thought it was 8000 not 80000! I think I might regret saying yes to them. I only got a 2.2 in my degree and I dont think i have the brain to write 80000, thats like a book!

Don't panic!! 3 years is a long time, during which you'll probably be surprised about how much you'll learn. It's also as much to do with perserverence as anything else, so I really wouldn't worry. It's perfectly normal to feel freaked at the beginning!

I forgot to mention; one thing you might want to do is to get hold of some copies of other students' theses in your 1st weeks. Try to look at those whose topics are fairly closely related to yours. This I think is really helpful in allowing you to see what kind of level of work you're expected to produce, how to plan your thesis, etc. etc. It will of course be far too early to plan your thesis then, but looking at them can be very helpful if you keep referring to them during the 3 years.

Don't stress Anna, your supervisors must think you are capable of achieving a PhD or they wouldn't have appointed you. Remember, you won't be expected to suddenly produce a 80,000 word document. The thesis will included a literature review, which you may well be asked to produce in your first year. Your results will be produced over several years and you can write up completed pieces of work as you go. I not going to pretend that writing up is easy (I'm doing it now!) but don't be put off by it, good luck!

Not wanting to dampen this very helpful thread but I just want to know how you managed to get a PhD and not realise you have to write a c.80 000 word thesis? I'm sure the thought must have crossed your mind that you have to somehow write up your results and do background research into your topic?

I have to say, I'm intrigued too.

I was expecting to have to write essays, but now im confused as apparently I am actually enrolling as a diploma student, is that the same as phd? The reason for this confusion is my mum knows the people at the college and they have a phd

Being asked to enroll for a postgraduate diploma sounds unusual. I suggest you find out exactly what you are enrolling for and what funding you may or may not receive. It is not very common for students with a 2(ii) to be offered a PhD course, without first having completed a masters degree (eg MA or MSc). Even after this many PhD students are asked to enroll for an MPhil degree rather than a PhD - after 12-18 months they can then transfer their registration to a PhD if they are considered good enough. This helps the universities keep their drop-out rates low and means that those who would normally have dropped out have the opportunity to finish with an MPhil degree instead of nothing (so everybody's happy(ish)).

From what you have said you obviously havent bothered to find out about your course and you only got onto the course because of your mum. From the sounds of it you would be better taking some time out and finding out about the academic world before you embarrass yourself anymore.