A week in the life of a PhD student

Hi, I’m Lindsay, currently a PhD student at the Faculty of Music. Below, you can find a summary of a week in my life during the final term – Easter term – of my first year. At the end of the first year, we are required to complete a registration exercise: a milestone which involves submitting a draft chapter (around 10,000 words), an introductory document, and an annotated bibliography. Alongside my research, I took on part-time work invigilating student recitals and occasionally helped to organise college events. Balancing academic work with these commitments was both challenging and rewarding, and I found it essential to establish clear boundaries: I aim to finish my working day by 5pm whenever possible. I also know my working style well enough to recognise that I can only manage a few hours of deep focus before I need a change of scene, whether that’s a coffee with friends, a walk, or a run.

Monday

I started the week with a workout and a grocery run before settling into the library at around 10:30am (a little later than usual). I worked through to lunchtime with a short coffee break in between, then ate in the college dining hall. In the afternoon, I had a supervision meeting at the music department, where I received helpful feedback on my chapter draft. Feeling motivated, I returned to the college library for a few more hours of writing before heading home for the evening.

Tuesday

At 9am, I walked to Jesus College to invigilate an organ recital in their chapel, performed by a second-year (Part IB) student. Afterward, I stopped by my college’s MCR (the postgrad common room) for a coffee before heading to Selwyn College for a second recital invigilation. Sitting outside the chapel in the sun, listening to the organist play, made for a particularly memorable moment. I headed home for lunch and then returned to the library to continue writing and organise my notes following Monday’s supervision. I wrapped up the day with a run and a quiet evening in.

Wednesday

This was a major library day. I managed to get a good chunk of writing and some reading done in the morning. I took a break to have lunch in hall with a friend, then we returned to the library to work together. The afternoon flew by, punctuated by a lovely 3pm break hosted by our Welfare officer – a coffee and cake session designed to boost morale during long study days. The brownies never disappoint! Later, I attended a formal dinner where we hosted students from Pembroke College. These college swaps are always a fun way to meet new people and enjoy good conversation over a three-course meal.

Thursday

The morning was spent taking part in a research focus group, one of those small paid opportunities that occasionally land in our inboxes. Great for topping up the book-buying budget! Since I was in town, I decided to work for a couple of hours in a bookshop café. I took breaks to browse the shelves and dream about owning large, impractical coffee table books. Afterwards, I headed back to the college library to continue working on my chapter.

Friday

I worked from home in the morning, focusing on revising my introductory document based on previous supervision feedback. I kept going until mid-afternoon, then returned to college to run a flower crown-making workshop for the postgrads. That evening, we attended a themed "superhall" – a fancier-than-usual dinner – inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was a festive way to end a packed week, and I happily spent the weekend unwinding and enjoying some of my hobbies.