Career Advice

Key quotes to motivate and drive academic success

Embark on a journey towards academic success with these 20 motivational quotes. Each quote is designed to inspire students and academics alike to persevere and thrive. 1. Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. – Unknown 2. Success is not…
How to strategically prepare for a PhD application

Do you want to do a PhD in the future and set yourself up for success? You can do several things to strategically prepare for a PhD application. They will increase your chance of securing a position! Disclaimer: This post…
10 reasons to do a master’s degree right after graduation

When you are nearing the completion of your bachelor’s degree, you have to make an important decision: Enter the workforce or immediately continue with a master’s degree? There are 10 good reasons to do a master’s degree right after graduation.…
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…
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…
A guide for first year PhD students: Expectations, responsibilities, advice

The first year of a PhD can feel like a rollercoaster ride. First-year PhD students are ambitious and want to fulfil expectations. At the same time, they may be unsure of what these expectations and their responsibilities are. This guide…
Deciding between a one- or a two-year master’s degree

Some master’s degrees take one year, while others take two. Prospective students may find it difficult to decide which master’s programme is best for them. Learn more about the pros and cons of both one-year and two-year master’s degrees, so…
Are summer schools for master’s students worth it?

Summer schools for master’s students can be valuable for a number of reasons. However, they also have drawbacks. Learn more about the benefits and downsides of summer schools for master’s students, and the ultimate question of whether they are worth…
Are doctoral summer schools for PhD students worth it?

Doctoral summer schools are popular among PhD students. And indeed, they can be a beneficial part of a PhD trajectory. However, PhD summer schools also have some drawbacks. Learn more about PhD summer schools, and the ultimate question of whether…
Character traits of ‘bad’ PhD students

Simply labelling a PhD student as ‘bad’ is certainly problematic and questionable. There are, however, a number of character traits that make some individuals less suited to pursue a PhD than others. Unless they change their habits. Contents What are…