Master Academia
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Academic Skills
How to structure your viva presentation (with examples)
Most PhD vivas and PhD defences start with a short presentation by the candidate. The structure of these presentations is very important! There are several factors and approaches to consider when developing your viva presentation structure. Contents Factors to consider…
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Academic Skills
18 common audience questions at academic conferences (+ how to react)
While you can practice your conference presentation a hundred times, audience questions are more difficult to prepare for. Nonetheless, several typical audience questions are frequently asked at academic conferences. Be aware of these questions and know how to react! Contents…
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Academic Skills
10 things to do when you feel like your dissertation is killing you
A surprising number of people google ‘my dissertation is killing me’ every month. Writing a dissertation is not an easy task: It can be tough, regardless of what level. If you feel defeated, discouraged or exhausted because of your dissertation,…
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Thesis Tips
First meeting with your dissertation supervisor: What to expect
The first meeting with your dissertation supervisor can be a little intimidating, as you do not know what to expect. While every situation is unique, first meetings with a dissertation supervisor often centre around getting to know each other, establishing…
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Career Advice
How many conferences postgrads should attend
Conferences are important events in every postgraduate’s career. Therefore, it makes sense that many postgraduate students ask themselves how many conferences they should ideally attend. While the exact number of conferences that a PhD student should (or can) go to…
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Thesis Tips
Sample emails to your thesis supervisor
A good thesis requires good communication between you and your thesis supervisor. This includes emails! Yet, even a simple email can lead to stress and overthinking. If you struggle to communicate with your thesis supervisor via email, have a look…
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Academic Skills
Asking for a recommendation letter from a PhD supervisor
Letters of recommendation are required for many applications, and PhD supervisors are often asked to provide these letters to PhD students. How you ask your PhD supervisor, what support you provide, and how you deal with a difficult supervisor relationship,…
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Career Advice
10 signs of a bad PhD supervisor
A PhD supervisor is arguably the most important person in a PhD student’s journey. Therefore, a good match between PhD supervisor and PhD student is crucial. The following ten signs help prospective PhD students to expose bad PhD supervisors or…
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Academic Skills
How to introduce yourself in a conference presentation (in six simple steps)
Academic conferences are great occasions for networking. Particularly the start of a conference presentation offers a unique opportunity to introduce yourself to the audience, concisely and effectively. Contents Why effective introductions during academic conference presentations matterStep 1: State your full…
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Networking Hacks
Email signatures for PhD students (content, tips and examples)
A lot of communication in academia occurs via email. Therefore, the power of a concise and effective email signature should not be underestimated. Find out how to create a professional email signature, and what to include, as a PhD student.…