Publish at May 05 2019 Updated December 04 2025
Getting a graduate degree is already not easy and among them the doctorate is the most difficult of all. Normal since it is the highest academic distinction. However, it is not the studies themselves that hold back doctoral students, but rather the thesis that they must submit in order to graduate. Indeed, everyone must work on this detailed research project that takes years to complete. A long-term job that leaves many on the sidelines.
With nearly half of French PhD students dropping out before completion, what makes the lives of PhD students so complicated? Few people know exactly how much work a thesis requires. Fortunately, some are there to testify to the ups and downs of this pivotal stage.
The example that has been most talked about in 2018 is that of French youtuber Manon Bril. The one who pilots the channel "C'est une autre histoire," focused on mythology, art and architecture, decided back in January 2017 to create a series of vlogs about her reality as a thesis student. This series watched by more than 20,000 people showed the different stages of writing and revising a thesis, the importance of the thesis director, etc. All while juggling her personal and professional life, including her YouTube channel.
For its part, since 1997, the American site PhD Comics illustrates with humor all the arduous aspects of obtaining a doctorate. By the way, France, too, has had a cartoonist who has illustrated the life of a PhD student. Tiphaine Rivière, a PhD student who dropped out before the end, explained in her work published in 2015 the hell of the thesis. In fact, all her testimonies show in particular the obsession that such work creates in the individual accompanied by a loneliness as well since, generally, everything is done on one's own on the computer. Or in the library doing research. Moreover, most of them have to work in order to pay the bills. And often appears the guilt of taking a few moments for oneself and to relax.
Developing the dissertation problem is an essential step in dissertation writing. So how do we make sure that dissertation writing is not an ordeal for students? First, they need to feel that they are supported. The accompaniment of the thesis director is essential. He or she must be able to listen and coach doctoral students in their endeavors as recalled in an intervention chart developed by Quebec authors. This also decreases the feeling of isolation.
In this regard, more and more initiatives exist to offer students writing retreats. Thesis writing is still a solitary act, but in this context, they can still take time out to vent to each other. Also, seeing others in the middle of the action motivates some to continue. Moreover, it happens now that on social networks that joint writing sessions are organized. A way to get out of the house and socialize a bit. An essential need often neglected during the thesis.
Finally, the student may be more stimulated if he changes his writing approach. For example, instead of trying to work all day at certain times during the week, do some every day but only 2 hours. Also regularly giving yourself small, attainable goals proves more motivating and less anxiety-provoking than focusing only on the big deadline.
At the end of the day, writing a thesis isn't meant to be the most fun exercise ever, but you don't have to suffer needlessly to get there. By organizing progressive goals, doctoral student meetings, and allowing themselves, at times, the right to take a breather, students would likely be better able to persevere in their quest.
Illustration: val sv on Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
References
Brafman, Nathalie. "The Hell Of The Thesis, Told In Comics." Le Monde.fr. Last updated April 13, 2015.
https://www.lemonde.fr/campus/article/2015/04/13/dans-l-enfer-de-la-these_4615073_4401467.html
That's Another Story. "Vlog From Thesis." YouTube. n.d. Accessed May 2, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLidnRlWwwcP3qdKJ0vmF_XGT1BroeoE0J
"Fostering Perseverance Among Students Writing Theses or Dissertations." CAPRES. Last updated September 4, 2018.
http://www.capres.ca/parcours-detudes/diplomation-et-insertion-profesionnelle/favoriser-perseverance-chez-etudiants-redaction-de-memoire-de-these/
Morasse, Marie-Ève."Breaking The Isolation Of Doctoral Students." La Presse+. Last updated October 15, 2017.
http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/bd05c5fb-6d11-4da3-9880-45e06c8af144__7C___0.html
"Piled Higher and Deeper." PHD Comics: Your Research Focus. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
http://phdcomics.com/comics/archive_list.php
Vaufrey, Christine. "What Motivation To Go All the Way to a Doctorate?" Thot Cursus. Last updated December 7, 2018.
https://cursus.edu/8890/quelle-motivation-pour-aller-jusquau-bout-dun-doctorat
Vienne, Jean-François. "Surviving The Writing Of One's Thesis." Le Devoir. Last updated October 20, 2018.
https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/education/539238/survivre-a-la-redaction-de-sa-these#
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