This book offers important insights into the challenging yet rewarding journey of undertaking a PhD. Written by students, for students, the book explores a range of case studies from creative arts and humanities doctoral students, embracing a cognitive, emotional and transformational metaphor of the journey. The volume is organised around themes and concerns identified as important by PhD students, such as building resilience and working with supervisors, and includes personal stories, case studies, scholarly signposts and key take-away points relevant to all doctoral settings. With perspectives from all stages of the doctoral journey, this book is sure to become a valuable support to students and supervisors alike, as well as those working in research education and training.

Builds on the expertise of award winning PhD supervisors and ?current candidates to present a rounded perspective of the experience

Foreword; Gina Wisker.- Chapter 1. Introduction; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.- PART I. Orienting towards the doctoral journey; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.- Chapter 2. Making time (and space) for the journey; AK Milroy.- Chapter 3. Who am I, where am I going on this journey, and why?; Alison Vincent.- Chapter 3. Understanding the world of the academy, and aligning expectations with realities; Irene Rogers.- Chapter 4. Building confidence about the academic journey; Margaret Cook.- PART II. Setting out on the doctoral journey; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.- Chapter 5. Managing relationships with your institution, its staff and your peers; Virgina Birt.- Chapter 6. Developing Communities of Practice; Colleen Ryan.- Chapter 7. Approaching research in a prepared, mindful and ethical manner; Justine Newport.- Chapter 8. Understanding issues of 'truth' and integrity in doctoral research; Alison Owens.- PART III. Taking ownership of the doctoral experience; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.- Chapter 9. Instituting self-care strategies for doctoral students; Leanne Dodd.- Chapter 10. Handling Occupational Health and Safety and its impacts on the doctoral journey; Lisa Brummel.- Chapter 11. Researching within online communities; Susannah Oddi.- PART IV. Staying on the doctoral path; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.- Chapter 12. Maintaining good relationships with research participants; Peter McKenzie.- Chapter 13. Interrogating the research student-supervisor relationship; Susan Currie.- Chapter 14. Recovering from a (research) disaster using resilience; Carmen Gray.- PART V. Completing the doctoral journey; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.- Chapter 15. Meeting milestones and refining, presenting and publishing doctoral work; Gail Pittaway.- Chapter 16. Transforming from naive research student to confident critical thinker; Bernadette Ryan.- Chapter 17. Who am I now? The doctorate as a process of transformative learning; Charmaine O'Brien.- Conclusion; Donna Lee Brien, Craig Batty, Elizabeth Ellison and Alison Owens.