Understanding what to expect is an important part of any big decision – and applying to study a Doctor of Philosophy is one of the biggest you’ll ever make. Let’s explore what the average day in the life of a PhD student looks like to help you determine whether it might work for you.
If you’ve been considering a PhD for a while, you likely already know all about getting a PhD scholarship, finding a supervisor, and writing your research proposal. But among all these pragmatic considerations is one simple yet essential question: what is it actually like to do a PhD?
We asked some current candidates and recent graduates to give us a “PhD day in the life” based on their own experience. Here’s what they had to say.
Chiemeka’s day in the life of a PhD student
Chiemeka Chinaka is a PhD candidate researching the health and economic impacts of different treatments for Parkinson’s disease. He’s nearing the end of his PhD, so he’s seen his typical day evolve quite a bit over the years.
An average day in my PhD life depends on the phase of the program. However, it usually blends structured work, collaboration, and moments of creativity.
Here’s an example schedule of what one of Chiemeka’s days might involve:
- 8am: Start of the day – I start with a coffee and spend the first hour scanning new journal alerts, skimming papers, and taking quick notes. This keeps me grounded in the latest findings and can spark ideas for my work.
- 9am: Data analysis – Depending on the project phase, I’ll either focus on the data acquisition process or dive into code – cleaning datasets, tweaking models or running simulations. This involves a lot of learning, so it can take up a large chunk of the morning.
- 12pm: Lunch and informal brainstorm – Lunch can be a quiet break or an impromptu chat with peers. Often, these conversations turn into mini brainstorm sessions that sharpen ideas or reveal new angles.
- 12.30pm: Meetings and collaboration – Afternoon meetings vary between weekly check‑ins with my supervisor, interdisciplinary discussions and seminars.
- 1.30pm: Teaching duties – Many days include teaching duties. These involve running a tutorial, grading, preparing slides or attending student consultations.
- 2.30pm: Deep work block – I reserve the afternoons for deep, uninterrupted work – whether it’s writing up a draft, running complex simulations or refining an econometric model. This time is allocated to the most pressing need at the time.
- 5pm: Wrap-up and planning – Before closing down, I review what I achieved, set clear objectives for tomorrow, and jot down any fresh ideas that came up during the day.
- Evening: Recharge and reflect
“Of course, no two days are identical – some days lean heavily on data collection, others on conference preparation or conference calls with collaborators,” says Chiemeka.
“But this routine of reading, doing, writing, and collaborating keeps the PhD journey both focused and dynamic.”
Every PhD is different
While there are some common factors that appear across all their stories, our candidates were quick to mention that their PhD experiences are uniquely theirs – and they wouldn’t expect another student to have an identical journey.
So, while you can use the examples here to get an idea of what your day-to-day routine might entail, keep in mind that your own experience will almost certainly vary.
Rose’s day in the life of a PhD student
Rose Foster is researching how legal systems can be used and changed to better protect seascapes and marine ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef. Her summary of what it’s like doing a PhD captures the way research can seamlessly blend into other aspects of your life.
- Early morning: I’ll often head to a reformer Pilates class, out on a walk or to the gym for a quick workout before work. Then I’ll have a quick tea and breakfast on the train on my way into the office. Sometimes I’ll read some articles related to my PhD on the way in, but more often I’ll take some time out to read a novel instead.
- Mid-morning: Once I get into the office, I'll make myself a tea or coffee, or I’ll go grab a coffee with my supervisor, Justine, or another colleague. I usually start the day by clearing out my email inbox, then will get into some writing or more reading for my PhD for a few hours. There are usually a few walk or coffee breaks with colleagues to break up the day as well.
- Afternoon: I usually don't do much writing in the afternoon when I start to flag, so I'll pivot to some reading or will usually schedule most meetings with my supervisors or other industry professionals in the second half of the day. Depending on the day, and whether it's during the university semester, I might do some prep for teaching in the afternoon as well.
- Evening: On a good day, I'm usually out of the office between 4.30 and 5pm. Sometimes I'll head to the gym, usually for something gentle like yoga to try to clear my head. Some nights I'll go play social netball with friends or head out for a quick Nando’s and chat. On the less good days, I'll finish up some more work or marking for class on my laptop at home.
Each day is a new adventure
As you may have already guessed, each day in the life of a PhD student can vary greatly from the previous day.
Renee Chu and Aakash Kurian Thottam are candidates from different UQ schools (and even separate campuses), but their experiences both highlight how the PhD journey changes from day to day – while a few critical elements remain steady.
“No two days are exactly the same – some days are packed with experiments, while others I spend at my desk analysing data or reading papers,” says Renee.
“But I do have daily highlights: my morning coffee/matcha and lunch with my colleagues and PhD friends.”
Aakash agrees that no two days are ever quite identical, but there’s a reliable rhythm that he’s come to appreciate.
“Some mornings begin with solid blocks of writing or data analysis, the quiet kind of work where ideas take shape slowly,” he says.
“Other days are more outward-looking: presenting at conferences, joining a poster session, or sitting in on a workshop that opens up a new way of thinking.”
“There’s a weekly supervision meeting, a touchstone of sorts, where ideas are challenged and sharpened. In between, there are coffees with friends that turn into brainstorming sessions, and emails that turn into collaborations with scholars I admire – both at UQ and beyond.”
The average day is rarely average. It’s a blend of thinking and doing, of being still and being in conversation. It’s solitary at times but never isolating. It’s work, yes, but it’s also purpose, slowly unfolding.
Tips for making the most of each day during your PhD
For UQ School of Psychology candidate Caitlyn Knight, reflecting on her typical day in the life of a PhD student reveals a variety of useful advice for aspiring researchers:
1. Don't compare yourself to other candidates
"You need to stay open and flexible, because progress sometimes feel slow or invisible – even when you're moving forward," says Caitlyn.
"This makes it easy to get caught comparing your progress to others."
"But no two PhDs look the same, so where someone else is up to and what they're achieving isn't an indicator of how you're doing."
2. Prioritise your tasks based on motivation
It's tempting to postpone the tough or unappealing jobs, but this can lead to important steps in your research journey getting neglected. The trick is to know yourself and how your motivation spikes and dips throughout a typical day – and to schedule your work accordingly.
"I get in early, because I know I do my best work in the morning," says Caitlyn.
"I start with the most challenging or least exciting task – the one that gives me the least dopamine! – so it doesn't get left behind."
"I've also set up a 'power hour' with peers, where we use body doubling to hit our daily goals and stay accountable, which is a really helpful activity for me to get through tasks I would otherwise put off indefinitely."
This approach leaves Caitlyn's afternoons free for the tasks she finds more joy in: a mix of project work with her research team, writing grant applications, and reading and writing literature summaries.
3. Make time for your wellbeing, connecting with others, and the moments that matter
Caitlyn's schedule relies on completing highly productive work in the morning. But this is only possible thanks to the effort she puts into maintaining her physical and mental wellbeing outside of her research hours.
"For me, success starts the night before," she says.
"I prioritise good sleep, move my body, eat well, and wind down with a mindfulness meditation."
She also makes sure to take regular breaks with peers during her work. Taking time out for herself and others gives her the space to recharge between tasks.
I usually make time for a coffee catch-up with a friend or colleague, because the small moments of connection make a big difference in staying grounded and positive.
A PhD isn’t just about the research – it’s about how you grow along the way
From daily routines to unexpected breakthroughs, your experience will be uniquely yours. And while no two days are the same, each one will bring you closer to becoming the kind of expert – and thinker – you’re meant to be.
