13/09/2023
Apply for PhD, check. Get accepted for PhD, check. Write the proposal, uhm.
The starting point of the journey as a PhD student is really an exciting place to find yourself. You get to shape and narrow down your exact thoughts as to what you want to do and how! However, having an idea of what you want to do and writing a proposal that needs to be reviewed by a committee in order for you to begin are two different things. Trying to accomplish everything at once can feel overwhelming and lead to feeling burned out. It is important to remind yourself that you need to take it step by step and day by day. Imagine that the process is a ladder, and as you complete each task or write a chapter, it is a step up the ladder. Focus on what you have to do right now or celebrate what you have already accomplished instead of thinking of all the work that needs to be done.
So, where do I start? Start with the basics: (1) Decide in which department you want to specialise in (i.e., Religion Studies, New Testament, Old Testament, Missiology, etc.), (2) identify the supervisor you want to work with, (3) determine your research field, and (4) narrow down your focus in the research field.
Narrowing down your field can sometimes feel really limiting. However, you will discover a wide range of related fields to your study during this journey.