Hi Everyone,

I know this is a long shot, but I'm feeling really alone and anxious at the moment and could really use some advice or ideas. I've been through so much medically and with life in general that I am at a complete loss at to what to write my MA dissertation on.

Every time i think of something it gets rejected on the grounds that it isn't deep enough. I was thinking about looking at medieval magic rings (medieval literature MA) but to look at them alone apparently isn't enough without a comparative element or something. I'm really interested in aspects of medieval magic, healing, manuscripts and witches. I don't suppose anyone has any topic ideas or just advice on how to come up with a good question that is do-able where i can write 15000 words on it? I'm hitting a big brick wall and my mind is completely empty when it comes to inspiration.

I was going to look at the relationship between magic rings in medieval ballads and the romances, but there are very few examples of the former category and so i've abandoned that. Thanks all!

Thank you laebae, you've really helped me to feel more confident in going for it, even if I have to extend it. I don't suppose you know of anyone that has signed up for a part time PhD and been allowed to submit it in 4 years because they had done it a bit quicker than anticipated?

I used to have my heart set on academia but when I actually spoke to my lecturers about it they were very honest with me about the downsides and I personally couldn't handle the rejection letters when trying to get published or cope with the pressure of conferences and, as I understand it, these components are part of the job and you have to publish to stay relevant/employed. I love the idea of the actual teaching seminar/lecture part of it though.

Good point!

Hi! This might seem a bit cheesy I guess but I am always determined and don't give up without a fight which probably comes from trying not to die from these medical conditions each day. I think I have the 'grit', most of the time anyway :P But I most definitely have 'imposter symdrome'!, not that it's something to be proud of, but thank you for giving me an actual term for it!

Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it! I have asked my favourite lecturer (and hopefully supervisor) if she would talk my thesis idea over with me and she said that she'd be more than happy to do this at some point next academic term as this is now the end of my first year of doing a 2 year part time MA.

I think it just concerns me exactly HOW i could research my question. In terms of my question/area of interest at this moment it is deeply rooted in medieval studies and so I'm assuming I'm going to have to spend a lot of time travelling up and down the country to look at manuscripts/attend conferences etc? I can't find anything at all about it on the internet, which I suppose is a good thing as then I have a winning topic.

This might sound like a silly question, but do all students doing a PhD HAVE to teach and prepare materials for seminar groups alonside their research, or is that only if said person wants to enter that career and needs/wants the experience?

It's good to know that not all of the process is stressful! Six years is a hell of a commitment and it is stress that triggers/exacerbates my medical conditions.

Thank you so much for your advice! It really nice to hear from someone who IS doing a PhD part-time as everyone that I have come into contact with is doing it full time. I think after reading all these comments that you are right, working 18.5 hours a week might be too much and definitely is asking for trouble. I'm just anxious that on choosing to do it part time it will mean that I'll be 30 (23 atm with a year left of my MA) when I finish with no career path as I don't want to go into academia/lecturing. Is that something everyone else is worried about or do you all want to go into university careers?

I have a mortgage and I need my car for hospital visits and other bills so I don't intend to (can't afford to) quit either of my jobs. It's finding a solution to my already being chronically ill and finding a way to do a PhD without making myself worse.

Dear all, thank you so much for your responses. My health conditions are more physical (Mitochondrial Disease and Pancreatitis to name a few) which make me tired easily.

Won't a full time PhD and 18 hours a week paid work be TOO much and asking for trouble? Has anyone done this?

Hello everyone, I am new here and am hoping that you can all give me some sage advice as I usually talk to my Mum about this stuff but I lost her last year.

I am currently an MA student (medieval lit) and it has been an ambition of mine since the beginning of my undergraduate course that I would pursue a PhD. However many things stand in my way. Firstly is my confidence, although I got a First in my undergraduate studies (English) I'm worried that because of major health issues that my MA result won't be a distinction (headed for a merit) that I'd need to be accepted to do a PhD.

So the first problem is: if i don't identify as smart or confident am I setting myself up to fail a PhD?

Secondly, my health is a big issue, has anyone here done their PhD part time? As in six years? Due to my health this looks like the only option for me but I'm concerned about failing after all that time, or someone undercutting my research idea and finishing their thesis before me, rendering mine practically pointless.

Also, I work part time (18 hours a week) which I still want to do whilst doing a PhD.

I have an idea of what I want to research but have read other research proposals and mine sounds nowhere near enough as academically complex as theirs does.

I could quite easily go and do a PGCE and then get a full time teaching job, which i think i'd like but my heart isn't in it enough when I'm desperate to achieve a PhD. I'm just concerned that I'm not smart enough, or well enough, or making the right choice to commit to 6 years of my life.

thanks all x