by Rebecca Booth Janus is the two-faced Roman god of transition, and a fitting symbol for the multiple roles of a part-time PhD student. I work full-time at the University of Oxford, and am a part-time MPhil student at the University of Roehampton, reading Cultural Studies. Currently in my second year of a four-year programme, … Continue reading
One of the most enlightening lessons I have learned through knowing international students is that many things I thought were normal are in fact peculiarly British, and actually quite peculiar. So this Guide to the British is as much for the Brits as it is for anyone coming from elsewhere and baffled by our strange … Continue reading
Perhaps you are looking for an academic job, or looking for a PhD supervisor: Associate Professor sounds good, right? But is that more senior than Assistant Professor? What about Lecturer - or Reader? Does a Reader really just read? The academic world has always enjoyed its mysterious hierarchies and systems, and you are not alone … Continue reading
To celebrate the official launch of The Gradgrind, the first five proofreading clients will get 15% off their bill! All proofreading details can be found here or email me at Linda[at]thegradgrind[dot]com. I look forward to working with you! Continue reading
Quick trivia question: When was the first PhD awarded? Personally, I would have guessed at the Middle Ages and Oxford University. In fact, the first PhD was awarded in Paris in 1150. Oxford did not award a PhD (or DPhil there) until 1917, so the UK was very late to the party. The origins of … Continue reading
You’ve finished that piece of work - got the ideas straight, discussed the secondary material, presented a clear argument. But there’s one more thing: proofreading. Your work needs to look perfect and read perfectly to get the attention it deserves, and this isn’t easy, especially if English is not your first language. The Gradgrind is … Continue reading
Half of the PhD students in the UK are international: the university system here couldn’t survive without them. If you ask British or international students what is the best thing about studying here, one of the top points is the diversity of the people you meet and all you can learn from them. But what … Continue reading