Postgraduate support services mean you don’t have to go it alone.
Doing postgraduate studies, particularly a Masters by Research or a PHD, can be isolating. But there are plenty of networks, postgraduate support groups and helpful products out there to help you complete your work, share strategies, or even just talk to someone who you can relate to.
Your university is a good starting point. Universities offer postgraduate support services for students, like counselling, courses through the libraries and graduate student groups. Some also provide social media platforms and apps to connect students. Ask the careers centre, student services and your faculty office to find out what’s available.
The growth of social media means there are also plenty of other online communities, blogs and social media platforms out there for postgraduate students, giving you helpful advice and resources. These include the Thesis Whisperer, Research Degree Insiders, #PhD chat and Research Whisperer. Plus, social media platforms like Twitter can give you a platform to promote your own research.
Another way to connect with your fellow students and get some work done is Shut Up and Write! – writing workshops (with no talking) that can be held on or near a university campus, or even virtually. And every November is Academic Writing Month – a whole month dedicated to improving your writing productivity.
Other handy tools for your studies include apps, like the handwriting app Penultimate for scribbling your thoughts and Things for to-do lists. For iPhone and iPad users, Outliner assists you in organising your thoughts when writing papers. Google Drive and Dropbox allows you to access your papers when you’re not at your desk, My Weekly Budget helps you manage your cash… there are plenty out there, so check the online communities and blogs, and ask your fellow students to see what they recommend!