Write PhD thesis in 2 months: 9 Easy Strategy Tips

Key strategy tips:
1) How long is a PhD thesis? You've written annual reports, literature reviews, and methods. Recycle them and use software like Mendeley and Zotero for referencing
2) Make your introduction short. Pick your syllabus for the defence
3) Stop working in the lab
4) 500 words a day
5) Grab few thesis from your lab or labs next door to check formatting and referencing style. Ask your supervisor. Talk to them about chapter targets and feedback.
6) Difficult and easy chapters: alternate
7) Insert table of contents from the references tab and use cross-referencing.
8) Environment for writing, creating habits and accountability system.
9) Take scheduled breaks.
During my PhD I worked for:
- Brilliant Club Charity thebrilliantclub.org/
- iGEM igem.org/
- my university salsa society
My favourite software:
- document management and referencing: Mendeley, Zotero
- Image processing: ImageJ
- Creating figures: Inkspace, Illustrator, GraphPad Prism
- Spellchecker: Grammarly.com
- Formatting checker: PerfectIT
Some of these are paid but your University might have a subscription!
Please like and subscribe to let me know that you enjoy this content and want me to create more. Share your own thoughts, doubts and questions in the comment section. Let's start a conversation!
00:00 Intro
00:58 How long is a PhD thesis really?
06:32 Writing Introduction
09:06 Stop the labs
12:48 Daily target
17:20 Formatting and structure
18:43 Chapter targets and feedback
21:11 Chapter writing order
24:11 Writing environment
26:04 Breaks and downtime

[@favourfelix-ilemhenbhio730]

Awesome content, Mat! My personal tip is to create a calendar event for each chapter submission and invite your supervisor. Being accountable is crucial. I found that having a clear agreement with my supervisor on when to expect my next chapter for review really motivated me to write. 😁

[@DrMatJ]

That is a great tip!! It is all about creating the accountability systems on micro (daily) and macro (weekly and monthly) scales to keep you motivated and on track!

[@joshuandulinga5015]

Well elaborated thank you!

[@rebaneingrid]

Valuable suggestions. Thank you for putting in the effort to create this content! Just keep writing healthy!❤

[@DrMatJ]

Thank you! Good luck with your thesis writing and the viva! :)

[@maryamk2398]

Very inspiring and amazing content/video. I have about 3 and a half months to submit my dissertation (in International Law), and I feel like I am lost with no hope. I will watch your video again and again. I was thinking of giving up actually, but now, I am motivated and want to do my best regardless of the result. It is overwhelming but I keep remembering your words and all the successful stories that you shared about people who finished their research work in an even shorter period. So, starting today, I am renewing my efforts, and I hope I have enough time to get my committee review/insights before the deadline! Thanks, Matt.

[@DrMatJ]

Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot. I wish you all the best and I'm sure you'll pass with flying colours! After all, the fear of writing the dissertation is worse then the dissertation itself. Trust me. However, if you do have any further issues, please reach out here. I'll make videos to address any of your concerns :) Happy New Year! Mat

[@maryamk2398]

@@DrMatJ You're welcome, Mat! Your encouragement and support mean a lot to me too. I truly appreciate it. Wishing you a fantastic New Year filled with success and happiness! 🎉😊 Best, Maryam

[@anishs1044]

sir...This is from India. It is difficult to understand your pronounciation. Yet I loved your presentation. Great support from you brother

[@DrMatJ]

Thank you and I'm sorry! I hope the subtitles are helpful! Please let me know if there is anything you'd like me to cover!

[@anishs1044]

@@DrMatJ Thanks for your response brother, If you dont mind you please share more subtitles and captions in your phd helping videos

[@Saraswathysindhu_dcb]

Hi, I am thanking you for this valuable content. I am also on my way to finish my thesis. Meanwhile gone through your video and it made me feel positive. I have seeked advices from many people, but they couldnt give a proper suggestions rather than it helps to boost my stress. I would also like to get your inputs to pass this phase. Hope to hear from you soon

[@DrMatJ]

Thank you! I'm glad it helped you :) I saw your email and will reply to you today/tomorrow!

[@msog8488]

This gives me some comfort as I thought it should be 80,000. My PhD thesis as of now is 36,000 words and I intend to push this up with my final chapter, but I don’t see it getting beyond 40,000. This is without the reference list and appendices

[@DrMatJ]

Quality over quantity! Good luck with your thesis and viva!! :)

[@justenergy1724]

How do you see that with a PhD for an Engineer? If one would not work in a lab and would like to make a PhD during a job in the industry?

[@DrMatJ]

Thank you for your comment! I have a friend who did her PhD this way. It was a collaboration between a university and a steel company. She had 2 supervisors, one in industry and one in academia. She spent 90% of her time in the company and only occasionally travelled to her university for meetings/presentations. She had regular Zoom meetings with her university supervisor and designated time to write up her results. In the end of her PhD, she was given time off from the company to write her PhD thesis. Of course, her set up was based on the agreement her academic and industry supervisors had, but if you have an opportunity to do a PhD in this way, then I would highly recommend to consider it because it will open so many doors for you.

[@nafeesajilani4106]

Hi mat! Thank you for such great content. Is it possible to reach you via email? I am actually in the process of writing my thesis, and would like your input. Hope to hear from you soon.

[@DrMatJ]

Hi Nafeesa, thank you for your comment! You can reach me at [e-mail] Looking forward to hearing from you soon! :)