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The Ph.D. Process: A Student's Guide to Graduate School in the Sciences

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• ISBN-10 9780195119008
• ISBN-13 978-0195119008
• Publisher Oxford University Press
• Publication date February 25, 1999
• Language English
• Dimensions 9.19 x 0.65 x 6.08 inches
• Print length 224 pages
• See all details

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There are many intellectual and emotional challenges inherent to becoming a scientist. This book prepares students for each stage of the experience. They will learn what to expect--socially, psychologically, and academically!

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0195119002
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press (February 25, 1999)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780195119008
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0195119008
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1250L
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.19 x 0.65 x 6.08 inches
• #470 in Academic Development Counseling
• #527 in Science for Kids
• #707 in Graduate School Guides

About the author

Dale f. bloom.

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5 books to help you with your PhD

There’s so many, many books on the market that claim to help you with your PhD – which ones are worth buying? I have been thinking about it this topic for some time, but it’s still hard to decide. So here’s a provisional top 5, based on books I use again and again in my PhD workshops:

I wish I owned the copyright to this one because I am sure they sell a shed load every year. Although it seems to be written for undergraduates, PhD students like it for its straight forward, unfussy style. Just about every aspect of research is covered: from considering your audience to planning and writing a paper (or thesis). The section on asking research questions is an excellent walk through of epistemology: an area many people find conceptually difficult. I find it speaks to both science and non science people, but, like all books I have encountered in the ‘self help’ PhD genre, The Craft of Research does have a bias towards ‘traditional’ forms of research practice. You creative researcher types might like to buy it anyway, if only to help you know what you are departing from.

2. How to write a better thesis by Paul Gruba and David Evans

This was the first book I ever bought on the subject, which probably accounts for my fondness for it. I have recommended it to countless students over the 6 or so years I have been Thesis Whispering, many of whom write to thank me. The appealing thing about this book is that it doesn’t try to do too much. It sticks to the mechanics of writing a basic introduction> literature review> methods> results> conclusion style thesis, but I used it to write a project based creative research thesis when I did my masters and found the advice was still valid. Oh – and the price point is not bad either. If you can only afford one book on the list I would get this one.

3. Helping Doctoral Students to write by Barbara Kamler and Pat Thomson

I won an award for my thesis and this book is why. In Helping doctoral students to write Kamler and Thomson explain the concept of  ‘scholarly grammar’, providing plenty of before and after examples which even the grammar disabled like myself can understand. I constantly recommend this book to students, but I find that one has to be at a certain stage in the PhD process to really hear what it has to say. I’m not sure why this is, but if you have been getting frustratingly vague feedback from your supervisors – who are unhappy but can’t quite tell you why – you probably need to read this book. It is written for social science students, so scientists might be put off by the style – but please don’t let that stop you from giving it a go. Physicists and engineers have told me they loved the book too. If you want a bit more of the conceptual basis behind the book, read this earlier post on why a thesis is a bit like an avatar.

4. The unwritten rules of PhD research by Marian Petre and Gordon Rugg

I love this book because it recognises the social complexities of doing a PhD, without ever becoming maudlin. Indeed it’s genuinely funny in parts, which makes it a pleasure to read. The authors are at their best when explaining how academia works, such as the concept of ‘sharks in the water’ (the feeding frenzy sometimes witnessed in presentations when students make a mistake and are jumped on by senior academics) and the typology of supervisors. It’s also one of the better references I have found on writing conference papers.

5. 265 trouble shooting strategies for writing non fiction Barbara Fine Clouse

This book is great because it doesn’t try to teach you how to write – you already know how to do that. What you need more is something to help you tweak your writing and improve it. This book is basically a big list of strategies you might like to try when you are stuck, or bored with the way you are writing. This book is so useful I have literally loved it to death – the spine is hopelessly broken and pages are held in by sticky tape. There are many wonderful tips in here from ‘free writing’ and ‘write it backwards’ ideas, to diagramming methods and analytical tools. Opening it at almost any page will give you an idea of something new to try.

What books would be on your top 5 list and why?

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The Thesis Whisperer is written by Professor Inger Mewburn, director of researcher development at The Australian National University . New posts on the first Wednesday of the month. Subscribe by email below. Visit the About page to find out more about me, my podcasts and books. I'm on most social media platforms as @thesiswhisperer. The best places to talk to me are LinkedIn , Mastodon and Threads.

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Thinking About What PhD Guides Do ?

Phd research is a difficult and time-consuming task. you may feel the need for direction and expert phd consultation. we recognize this, and with this in mind, we have created a community of phd consultants and industry professionals to guidance and counselling for phd candidates throughout your journey. phdguides offer resources, training, advice, phd guidance and helping hands during every phase of your phd journey in accordance with your needs., resource center.

We are the treasure trove of resources to help you with all aspects of research writing, from finding the right format for your assignment to writing a compelling literature review.

Here you can find:

• University assignment formats for all major disciplines
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• Research writing samples from top universities around the world
• Review article samples
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• Free downloadable resources, such as templates, checklists, and citation generators

So whether you’re just getting started with your PhD research or you’re a seasoned academic, our website has something to help you improve your research writing skills.

The PhD Research Consultation Bootcamp

Are you interested in finding out more about how our guidance might support your success in your phd now, schedule a time to talk with one of our phd guides in order to help you make a well-informed decision on your academic career, our team of experts is available to answer your questions and walk you through the process..

Our humungous community of PHD Study will help you ask questions related to your topic and get that question solved as quickly as possible.

Read out the detailed story behind completing your PHD. May be this will engage you & help you with the complete knowledge about PHD journey.

We provide the best training to complete your PhD with an ease. These training will help you a lot till completion of your doctorate.

Here you can find university formats, guidelines, samples, PPT’s, Guides, e-books, tools and free downloadable resources to get started with PhD research.

Read out the detailed story behind completing your PHD. May be this will engage you & help you with the complete knowledge about PHD.

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9 tips to write your phd thesis, how to fund your phd study in india, how to stand out in your phd interview – 6 important topics you must prepare, tools and software every phd holder must have, access important phd resources, we have a massive sample database, depending on the higher education programme or course, you can find and download appropriate pdf samples., research writing sample s, university formats & guidelines, our contribution to academic research society.

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• The cut-off for SC/ST and OBCs is 50%.
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• For a part-time Ph.D., a NOC (No Objection Certificate) is obtained from the educational institute or organization of employment.
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The PhD can take three to six years to complete. The time limit can differ as per the institute, hence the candidate should inquire about it with the desired university before applying.

A master’s degree or M.phill from any recognised Indian university in the relevant field is required for admission to the PhD programme. To be eligible for admission, you must have at least 55% of the marks or corresponding grades.

If you are pursuing a self-funded PhD or have professional experience in the industry, you can apply with lower grades.

Not all bachelor’s students are eligible for a PhD, but according to the new UGC guidelines, students who obtain a four-year degree in UG can apply for admission to PhD programmes in their desired fields.

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The Ultimate Guide to Doing a PhD

Have you ever considered doing a PhD, but have no idea where to start? Or are you doing a PhD and feel like you're losing the plot?Deciding to do a PhD is going to be one of the most impactful choices you'll ever make. It's a multi-year commitment that can really shape your career and your life. Yet as important as the PhD is, there's not much collated information about the process as a whole: this is where this book comes in!It explores every aspect of doing a PhD from application to graduation, and the whole mess in between. There are chapters on the motivation to do a PhD, the application process itself, questions around workload, time management, mental health, (peer) pressure, supervisor (mis)communications, teaching, networking, conference attendance, all the way up to publishing your thesis, and preparing for the next steps. And no, the next steps don't necessarily mean continuing to work in academia. This book addresses both career pathways, whether leaving or staying in academia, equally.This book aims to take a PhD student or prospective student by the hand and outline the entire PhD process, answering every question you might possibly have along the way.

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• Education Studies & Teaching
• Studying & Test Preparation
• Study & Learning Skills

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How To Get A Phd: a handbook for students and their supervisors Paperback – 1 Oct. 2010

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• Studying for a professional doctorate
• The specifics of writing your PhD
• Equal opportunities for non-traditional students and for students from minority groups

How to Get a PhD is the essential handbook for doctoral students!

• ISBN-10 0335242022
• ISBN-13 978-0335242023
• Edition 5th
• Publisher Open University Press
• Publication date 1 Oct. 2010
• Language English
• Dimensions 14.99 x 1.8 x 23.11 cm
• Print length 280 pages
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open University Press; 5th edition (1 Oct. 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0335242022
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0335242023
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.99 x 1.8 x 23.11 cm
• 508 in Study & Learning Skills for Educational Students
• 520 in Teaching in Higher & Further Education
• 12,675 in Education Studies

About the authors

Derek.s. pugh.

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Estelle M Phillips

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The 7 Books Every PhD Student Should Read

By alex wakeman.

Let’s be honest. If you’re nerdy enough to be doing a PhD, you probably love a good book. Whether you’re looking for entertainment or advice, distraction or comfort, the seven listed here can each, in their own way, help you through your frustrating but uniquely rewarding life of a PhD student.   

• Isaac Asimov – I, Robot   

“1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.  

3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.”  

The Three Laws of Robotics. Simple. Elegant. Watertight. What could go wrong? These three, now legendary rules are printed on the first page of ‘I, Robot’ then are immediately followed by a series of masterful short stories in which Asimov dismantles his seemingly perfect creation before your very eyes. With ‘I, Robot’ (and many of his other works) Asimov displays dozens of ways rules can be bent and circumvented. As it turns out, a lot can go wrong.   

In some ways, this collection of short stories about misbehaving robots acts as a training manual for one of the most essential skills any PhD student must develop: discerning truth. Has that experiment proved what you think it proves? To what extent does it prove that? Are you sure? You might be convinced, but will everyone else at the conference see it that way? At first glance, Asimov’s Three Laws seem like a pretty good crack at a clear and concise system to prevent anything from quirky, metallic shenanigans to an anti-organic apocalypse. Are you sure about that? Look at them again, have a think, test them as vigorously as you would any real-world proof. Then go and read ‘I, Robot’ and find out how wrong you were.  

• Sayaka Murata – Convenience Store Woman   

You could probably be doing something better with your life, you know. Most people doing a PhD are a pretty effective combination of intelligent and driven. You almost certainly got a 1 st  or a 2:1 in a bachelor’s degree, probably a masters. Someone with this profile could certainly find a career with a starting salary above the RCUK minimum stipend level of £15,285 a year, likely one with a much more concrete future ahead of them as well. For most people it doesn’t make a lot of sense to do a PhD; it’s a huge investment of time and energy directed towards a very specialised end. But there are plenty of good reasons to do one as well and if you’re currently working on a PhD you are probably (I sincerely hope) aware of one of the main ones: it’s fun. It really can be fun, at least for a very peculiar type of person. But, of course, it’s not a particularly normal idea of fun. Most people have had their fill of learning by the end of school, or at most university, and it can sometimes be tough convincing a partner or family member that this genuinely is what you enjoy, despite the dark rings they’ve noticed forming under your eyes.   

Keiko would probably understand. She feels a very similar way. Not about PhDs or learning, making novel discoveries, or changing the world for the better; but she does feel a very similar way about her work in a convenience store. She enjoys everything about the convenience store, from the artificial 24/7 light to the starchy slightly ill-fitting uniforms, it provides her with enough money for rent and food and she wants for little else. Murata presents us with a tender and often hilarious portrait of a woman attempting to claim agency over her own, unique way of living, and convince others of the simple joy it brings her. If the average PhD student is twice as strange as your typical person, then as a PhD student you have twice as much reason to follow this proudly comforting story of an atypical person and her atypical interest.    

• Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning   

Suffering is relative. It is certain that I will struggle with my PhD. I am still in the early days of my studies, but I am aware that studying for a PhD is likely going to be the hardest thing I have done with my life so far.  In all the interviews I had for various funding schemes and DTPs, not one failed to ask a question that amounted to: “How will you cope?”. But at its worst my PhD still won’t cause me to suffer nearly as much as Viktor Frankl did. Don’t think I’m recommending this book to remind you to ‘count yourself lucky’, or any similar nonsense; Frankl isn’t concerned with pity, or one upping your struggles, he just wants you to feel fulfilled, even in the worst moments when nothing’s going right and you’re starting to doubt if you’re even capable of completing a PhD.   

The first half of ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ is a stark, sometimes unpleasant autobiographical account of Frankl’s time imprisoned in various Nazi concentration camps. But the difficulty of the subject matter is worth it for the fascinatingly unique perspective of the author: Viktor Frankl was one of the 20 th  Century’s foremost neurologists. The first-hand experience of one of Europe’s blackest events – viewed through the lens of a Jewish psychiatrist – could quite easily paint a rather bleak and hopeless image of humanity. This, however, is not the case. Instead, Frankl uses the second half of the book to explain in layman’s terms the psychological basis behind his biggest contribution to his field: Logotherapy. Frankl emerges from the immense suffering of the holocaust to clearly and kindly encourage us to find meaning and joy in all parts of life. Far from being a depressing read ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ is instead likely to leave you feeling inspired, cared for, and capable of getting through whatever nonsensical data, failed experiments, and frustrating failures your PhD might throw at you.   

• John Ratey – Spark!   

We’ve all had times in our lives when we felt that we couldn’t afford to exercise, when life is just so overwhelmingly occupied, there’s too many important things going on. At some points in your PhD, when you feel too busy to take a break, see friends, or cook a proper dinner, having a go at the ‘Couch to 5k’ certainly doesn’t look like it’ll be getting any of your valuable hours any time soon. But after several decades of researching the human brain, Professor John Ratey is here to argue that you can’t afford  not  to exercise.  

I’m sure it isn’t a great revelation to you that exercise is vital for your physical health, but ‘Spark!’ instead implores us to think of exercise as an essential activity for our brain. With an abundance of examples from modern publications in psychiatry and neuroscience, Ratey explains the effects of regular exercise on the human brain. Better memory, improved problem solving, better pattern recognition, longer periods of focus, reduced procrastination and improved mood; I struggle to believe there’s a single human being who would not benefit from every one of these and the countless other benefits discussed throughout the book. But for PhD students, whose work is especially dependent on the functioning of their brain, the effects are potentially even more transformative. You wouldn’t dream of mistreating the expensive lab microscope. You’d never work with equipment that had been left dysfunctional due to lack of care: why treat your own brain any differently? 

• Hermann Hesse – The Glass Bead Game  

 PhD students are students. Sometimes this is painfully clear, sometimes it is easy to forget. But nevertheless, learning is at the centre of a PhD and learning is a two way-street. There is no learning without teaching, even if the learner and the teacher are the same person. ‘The Glass Bead Game’ is a novel about learning and teaching, it is a realistic portrait of two sides of the same coin, simultaneously superimposed upon one another. 

The story takes place in an imaginary European province in which experts, scientists, scholars, and philosophers are allotted unlimited resources and are permitted to follow any interest or whim to their heart’s content. In many ways this place may sound utopian compared to the current state of academia, so ruthless in its limitation of funding, and so stringent in its selection processes. Yet this is not a utopian novel. But neither is it a dystopian one. Hesse somehow manages to create a world that feels genuine and authentic, despite its fantastical premise. Though he uses the extreme concept of a country entirely focused on pedagogy to explore the nature of learning, this extremity never becomes fanciful with regards to the positives and negatives of such a way of living. Rather than leaving the reader with a melancholic longing for a fantasy world where the streets are paved with postdoc positions, the realism of ‘The Glass Bead Game’ is more likely to help you find a balanced appreciation for life in academia, better able to accept it’s many blemishes, and in doing so more able to appreciate it’s many joys.  

• Plato – The Last Days of Socrates   

A PhD is a doctor of philosophy. As PhD students we are all therefore philosophers-in-training. We are learning how to ask precise questions, and how to answer them in a convincing, conclusive manner. We are learning to fully understand the nature of evidence and proof, to recognise when something is proved and when it is not. The word itself comes from the Greek ‘philos’ (loving) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom), an apt description of anyone willing to spend several years of their life researching one extremely niche topic that few others know or care about.   

Although the Classical philosophers arrived long before any concept of scientific method, and they often came to some conclusions that now seem laughable, a small understanding of their world can do a lot for any 21st century philosopher. This book in itself won’t come to any ground breaking conclusions that haven’t been long since disproved, or better communicated, but it’s place in this list is earned as an essential introduction to the history of asking questions. At a time in which more and more people are recoiling from the influence of experts, this story of a man being put on trial for asking too many questions remains as relevant as it was 2,000 years ago. And ultimately, this book would still earn its spot on this list solely as the source of the famous scene in which Socrates insists that the only reason the Oracle named him the wisest of the Greeks, was because he alone amongst the Greeks knows that he knows nothing – a statement that may haunt and comfort any PhD student, depending on the day.  

• Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass   

Perhaps you’re wondering how a book of 19 th  Century poetry is going to help you be a better PhD student. Unlike the other entries on this list, I will make no claim to its ability to help you think better, nor will it help you ask better questions, nor make you feel more justified in your choice of career path. ‘Leaves of Grass’ will not help you be a better PhD student in any way, because you are not a PhD student, you are a human being, and that’s enough. Not only is that enough, that’s everything. To Walt Whitman there’s nothing more you can be. It is quite easy for your view of the world (and therefore your place in it) to become narrowed. You spend all day working on your PhD. All, or most of your colleagues are doing the same, perhaps many of your friends as well. But your PhD is not your life. The success or failure of your research is not you. The accumulation of three Latin characters at the end of your name is not an indication of value. If you are to read any of the books that I have recommended here make it this one and there will be no problem over the coming years that you will not be prepared for, not because it will guarantee your success, but because it will assure you that whilst there are trees and birds and stars and sunlight there doesn’t need to be anything more – anything else that comes out of each day is a welcome (but unnecessary) add-on. Whatever happens during your PhD, whether your thesis changes the world, or all your plans come to nothing, or you drop out halfway through, or you take ten years to finish. Just be you, be alive, be human, and know that that’s more than enough. 

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A PhD Is Not Enough!

A Guide to Survival in Science

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By Peter J. Feibelman

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5 must-reads for doctoral students

January 11, 2016

The decision to pursue a doctoral degree can be exciting and scary at the same time.

Good preparation will ease the path to writing a great dissertation. Reading some expert guide books will expand your knowledge and pave the way for the rigorous work ahead.

Capella University faculty, doctoral students, and alumni recommend these five books for doctoral students in any discipline.

1. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading  by Mortimer J. Adler

“One book fundamental to my doctoral education that my mentor had my entire cohort read, and which I still recommend to this day, is  How To Read a Book , which discusses different reading practices and different strategies for processing and retaining information from a variety of texts.” – Michael Franklin, PhD, Senior Dissertation Advisor, Capella School of Public Service and Education.

Originally published in 1940, and with half a million copies in print,  How to Read a Book  is the most successful guide to reading comprehension and a Capella favorite. The book introduces the various levels of reading and how to achieve them—including elementary reading, systematic skimming, inspectional reading, and speed-reading.

Adler also includes instructions on different techniques that work best for reading particular genres, such as practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy, and social science works.

2. Dissertations and Theses from Start to Finish  by John D. Cone, PhD and Sharon L. Foster, PhD

This book discusses the practical, logistical, and emotional stages of research and writing. The authors encourage students to dive deeper into defining topics, selecting faculty advisers, scheduling time to accommodate the project, and conducting research.

In clear language, the authors offer their advice, answer questions, and break down the overwhelming task of long-form writing into a series of steps.

3. Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day  by Joan Balker

This book is recommended for its tips on compartmentalizing a large project into actionable items, which can be helpful when working on a project as mammoth as a dissertation. Balker connects with the failure and frustration of writing (as she failed her first attempt at her doctorate), and gives encouragement to students who encounter the fear of a blank page.

She reminds dissertation writers that there are many people who face the same writing struggles and offers strong, practical advice to every graduate student.  Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day  can be applied to any stage of the writing process.

4. From Topic to Defense: Writing a Quality Social Science Dissertation in 18 Months or Less  by Ayn Embar-Seddon O’Reilly, Michael K Golebiewski, and Ellen Peterson Mink

As the authors of this book state, “Earning a doctorate degree requires commitment, perseverance, and personal sacrifice—placing some things in our lives on hold. It is, by no means, easy—and there really is nothing that can make it ‘easy.’”

This book provides support for the most common stumbling blocks students encounter on their road to finishing a dissertation. With a focus on a quick turnaround time for dissertations, this book also outlines the importance of preparation and is a good fit for any graduate student looking for support and guidance during his or her dissertation process.

From Topic to Defense  can be used to prepare for the challenges of starting a doctoral program with helpful tools for time management, structure, and diagnostics.

5. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings—and Life  by Laura Vanderkam

According to author and time management expert Laura Vanderkam, mornings are key to taking control of schedules, and if used wisely, can be the foundation for habits that allow for happier, more productive lives.

This practical guide will inspire doctoral students to rethink morning routines and jump-start the day before it’s even begun. Vanderkam draws on real-life anecdotes and research to show how the early hours of the day are so important.

Pursuing a doctoral degree is a big decision and long journey, but it also can be an exciting and positive experience. Learn more about Capella’s  online doctoral programs .

What's it like to be a doctoral student?

Learn more about the experience, explore each step of the journey, and read stories from students who have successfully earned their doctorate. 

Explore The Doctoral Journey >>

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Can I transfer credits into a doctoral program?

January 8, 2020

What are the steps in writing a dissertation?

December 11, 2019

The difference between a dissertation and doctoral capstone

November 25, 2019

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PhD Pathways in Education Technology

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Educational technology, commonly known as EdTech, refers to tools that facilitate active learning through collaboration, allowing educators to create interactive digital textbooks, gamify lessons, and more. Digital devices have increased education’s reach, enabling learning in remote areas and continuity through disruptions like pandemics.

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• Check out EdSurge , the Ed Tech industry news source
• Overview of Education Technology
• Stanford Report: How technology is reinventing education?
• TED talks by Luis von Ahn (Duolingo’s CEO)

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Phd by publication, published by steve tippins on may 21, 2024 may 21, 2024.

Last Updated on: 21st May 2024, 10:43 am

PhD by publication, also known as “PhD by portfolio” or “PhD by published works,” is a relatively new route to completing your dissertation requirements for your doctoral degree. In the traditional dissertation route, you have to write one document ranging in length from 100-250 pages, on a research topic. The PhD by publication route has evolved to where, if you get a certain agreed-upon number of publications in peer-reviewed journals, you have met the requirements of a dissertation and then can graduate with your doctorate.

What are the Requirements of PhD by Publication?

While a dissertation is relatively standard in format, the PhD by publication route can have variations based on the school that you’re attending. Generally, if you get three articles published in journals, you have met the requirements. From here, it varies by school. 

There are schools that may want your publications to be in Q1 (first-quartile) journals. In other schools, the publication requirements could be Q2 or possibly any level of peer-reviewed journal. There are even schools that will consider conference presentations at selected conferences to count as a publication

It’s important to know these requirements ahead of time, as they can affect how long the process takes. Journals with higher ratings typically take longer to get through the publication process.

There are schools that will also require you to put the name of your chair and possibly other committee members on accepted publications as co-authors.

At a number of schools, getting the 3 papers published is necessary for graduation but not sufficient. It’s not uncommon for them to require you to package them in a portfolio that includes an introduction, the articles, and discussion about future research as part of the overall document. 

While this route may be the optimal route for you, you want to know the exact requirements before moving forward. There may be committee members who are not fully aware of university guidelines and requirements for this approach, and you want to be sure that you don’t head down this route and then find out later on that there are different requirements from what you believed at the beginning. Doing so can slow you down a lot. You also have to have your committee fully endorse this route before the process begins. Another way of saying that is, avoid surprises. 

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

Advantages of PhD by Publication

The advantages of dissertation by publication include:

• You get multiple publications to add to your CV
• Once you have committee approval for the topic, then most of the approval is out of the hands of your committee
• Depending on the types of journals that you accept, acceptance can be relatively speedy
• May allow you to look at an issue from multiple perspectives and broaden your and the academic community’s understanding
• At some institutions, you may be able to collaborate with other authors on the process, potentially enhancing your academic reputation

If you are headed into the academic world after your dissertation – if you’re looking for a tenure track job – the PhD by Publication route may be a good option for you in that you emerge with a minimum number of publications in peer-reviewed outlets. This can help schools understand that you have the ability to publish multiple times.

Disadvantages of PhD by Publication

Disadvantages include:

• You are at the whim of the acceptance cycle at journals 
• Reviewers are not members of your committee and may not be as supportive as a committee member might be
• There are still many people who are not aware of or familiar with this path to completion
• The peer review process can be challenging.
• You have to be careful about self plagiarism and self citation
• While a dissertation allows scores of pages to develop material, journal articles are typically limited in length, so you may not be able to expound as deeply in your articles as you would be able to in a traditional dissertation

PhD by publication is not a simpler route or one that you can do on your own. First of all, you have to make sure that your school will allow this for you instead of a traditional dissertation. 

Second, you do not eliminate the role of a committee by pursuing this route. Even in the PhD by publication route, your committee has to approve the research. So it’s not a route to avoid committee oversight or committee involvement. However, if you’re aware of the potential challenges, it can be a great route for the right person.

Is a PhD by Publication Worth It?

Is this a good route to follow? I use the adage, “the only good dissertation is a done dissertation.” Considering that, this is a great path to follow if: 

• You’re fully aware of the requirements upfront, 
• You have committee buy-in
• You’re ready to live with the acceptance cycle of journals

This route may not be worth it if:

• You don’t have three different approaches to a topic or three different samples you want to explore in your journey
• Your committee does not wholeheartedly support this path forward

Neither route – traditional dissertation or dissertation by publication – is easier than the other. They both have limitations and advantages, and you want to make sure you’ve explored both options, as well as any potential issues with either approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can do this in most disciplines as long as your institution allows it. It may not be known by many people at the institution that it’s an available option, so it doesn’t hurt to ask. Start with your committee, then ask the head of your doctoral program, and then go to the registrar’s office. 

Neither approach is better or faster. It all depends on the level of journal you need to approach and their review cycle. If there is a long review cycle and you are requested to revise and resubmit, then you will need to go through the review cycle twice or even three times. I’ve seen this process take 3-4 months, and I’ve also seen it take several years for those trying to make it into the top-tier journals.

Submitted papers at journals typically range from 20-45 pages. This depends on the journal and their submission requirements.

Most doctoral students at traditional institutions have funding for a certain number of years, including their dissertation process. The type of dissertation, as long as the institution supports that route, should not affect funding. External funding depends on the requirements of the funder, but some may support students doing PhD by publication.

The route will not impact the cost, the cost is only impacted by the time it takes you to complete it. 

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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Honest Aging

Rosanne m. leipzig, md, phd.

Your indispensable guide to taking charge of the second half of your life. From Dr. Rosanne M. Leipzig, a top doctor with more than 35 years of experience caring for older people, Honest Aging is an indispensable guide to the second half of life, describing what to expect physically, psychologically, functionally, and emotionally as you age.

Leipzig, an expert in evidence-based geriatrics, highlights how 80-year-olds differ from 60-year-olds and why knowing this is important for your health. With candor, humor, and empathy, this book will provide you with the knowledge and practical advice to...

Leipzig, an expert in evidence-based geriatrics, highlights how 80-year-olds differ from 60-year-olds and why knowing this is important for your health. With candor, humor, and empathy, this book will provide you with the knowledge and practical advice to optimize aging. The book

• helps you recognize age-related changes in your body and mind and understand what's typical with aging and what's not; • offers guidance for common health concerns, including problems with memory, energy, mood, sleep, incontinence, mobility and falls, hearing and vision, aches and pains, gastrointestinal problems, weight, and sex; • shares advice on how to make decisions about health care, driving, and where to live; • includes helpful checklists and lists of medications to prepare for doctor and hospital visits; • recommends the best technology options, such as mobility devices, emergency device systems, and more; • counters common myths about aging; and • offers resources for additional information, self-help, and support.

Enriched by illustrations, patient stories, and deep dives into science and the latest research, Honest Aging gives you the tools to take control of your health and well-being as you age.

Related Books

edited by Robert H. Binstock, Ph.D., Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., and Peter J. Whitehouse, M.D., Ph.D. foreword by Robert N. Butler

edited by Bryan J. Kemp, Ph.D., and Laura Mosqueda, M.D.

edited by Rachel A. Pruchno and Michael A. Smyer

Ann Kaiser Stearns, PhD foreword by J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr., MD

Edward H. Thompson Jr. and Lenard W. Kaye

Dr. Rosanne Leipzig has been an integral part of the fine work done at the Martha Stewart Centers for Living and the nationally recognized Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Her new handbook on aging is full of clear, practical advice that will make the second half of your life safer, more productive, and more enjoyable. It is essential reading for anyone who is growing older or whose loved ones are growing older—in other words, for all of us!

This book is excellent, and I would recommend it to my patients. It includes all of the things related to aging in one place.

Building on her lifetime of rich experience and leadership in the field of geriatrics, Rosanne M. Leipzig synthesizes decades of insights into an indispensable guide to one's latter years. Among many valuable contributions, the book is notable in its attention to the diversity of the aging experience, including those who find themselves 'coming out' later in life. As a non-profit executive in the aging space, as an LGBTQ+ community activist, and perhaps most importantly as a human being who recently turned sixty, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a resource that wisely, frankly, and sensitively approaches the realities and uncertainties of getting older.

Among the many books devoted to helping all of us to understand the aging process, Dr. Leipzig's Honest Aging sets a new standard. Her writing is crisp and readable for all of us who wish to understand these important years of our own lives as well as help us in engaging and working with older adults. I give her my highest praise. I wish I had written this book!

Aging exists in the shadows of the future. It holds promises of fulfillment and possible harvesting of professional and personal gardens. But it also portends failing health, burdensome medical interventions and prospects of debility. How can we successfully navigate the pathways of hope given the challenges to be encountered? This wonderful book highlights what to expect as we age and provides the intellectual and emotional framework for future positive and frightening events.

Professor Leipzig's book is an indispensable guide for us all as we age, packed with actionable, sage advice to help people prepare for and interact with our fragmented healthcare system. At once a masterful refresher of my geriatrics training, and accessible to all, Honest Aging will undoubtedly serve well as a reference to revisit frequently at key times as life progresses.

Dr. Leipzig's sage advice on topics ranging from hearing and vision to sexuality includes a plethora of well-organized medical facts and recommendations but also, most importantly, addresses the personhood and humanity of the older adult. Her calm, wise (and often humorous!) insights help us all to be less afraid of the years ahead and teach us that solutions and adaptations exist for almost any aging-related challenge so we can enjoy life to the fullest, wherever we are on the aging spectrum.

A wonderfully practical and informative guide to help older adults and families learn what geriatricians know about maintaining health, wellbeing, and independence during the later decades of life. Dr. Leipzig explains clearly what changes to expect when it comes to the mind, the body, and one's abilities as one gets older, why they happen, and provides actionable ideas on how to adapt and what types of medical treatments are most likely to be helpful. I would highly recommend this book as a resource for all aging adults and their families.

What I love about this book is its respect for the intelligence of reader. It is full of straight talk. It is clear and practical. I think of it like a travel guide for the aging process, something only the lucky ones who make it there get to experience. Take this book with you.

This book is essential reading for anyone dealing with their own aging or that of family members and friends. It is chock-full of important information delivered in a warm and accessible style. It addresses embarrassing topics head on and provides enormously helpful advice about thinking through difficult decisions. Dr. Leipzig is a wise counselor. I've told all my friends to order Honest Aging the moment it becomes available.

If you want clear, direct, and practical answers to your questions about normal aging and the diseases of aging, Honest Aging: An Insider's Guide to the Second Half of Life by master clinician Dr. Rosanne Leipzig is the book for you.

Wisdom about aging from a master clinician told by a master educator. In Honest Aging , Dr. Leipzig offers sound philosophical and practical advice that includes something for everyone. The book provides both up-to-date recommendations for maintaining health and enduring principles about how to approach changes that lie ahead. Thus, Honest Aging is both timely and timeless.

Dr. Rosanne Leipzig has taught thousands of physicians how to help their patients age better, and I am one of them. With this book, she has created an indispensable guide to better aging, for both health care providers and their patients.

Dr. Leipzig's book offers a pragmatic, no-nonsense guide to what to expect as we age and how to adapt and thrive in our later years. She provides a refreshing approach—with humor and candor—to understanding what's normal in the aging process and how we can best navigate its challenges and opportunities. A must-read for older adults and caregivers!

Dr. Leipzig does not shy away from the challenges faced by all of us as we age. She discusses the challenges in a straightforward, practical, and often humorous way. She also highlights the less heralded advantages that come with experience and growing older. Dr. Leipzig, a renowned geriatrician, provides a straight-forward, easily read, and fun insider's guide to aging. I highly recommend it for individuals who are aging, loves someone who is aging, or who plan to age at some point.

Dr. Rosanne Leipzig was a geriatrician to my father and stepmother. I cannot imagine a more thoughtful, caring, intelligent person to write on the topic of aging with grace and dignity. A frank book on the topic, written for the lay-person, is long overdue. Her comprehensive guide to self-care will enlighten and empower those facing the later years in life, as well as their children and caregivers.

Honest Aging is a comprehensive and easy-to-read guide to the many changes we face as we age, with practical strategies to prevent decline when we can and adapt to it when we have to. I love the 'Advice for Loved Ones' and 'Resources' sections, and the whole book is absolutely invaluable for navigating growing older. As Dr. Leipzig says, 'how you react to challenges is a choice.' This book ensures that we have the tools to make good ones.

Honest Aging teaches the importance of being flexible and adapting to new situations as we grow older. My late wife, Edie, was a long-time patient and close friend of Dr. Leipzig for years. In fact, just before she passed away unexpectedly in 2017, Edie was scheduled to speak at a seminar, 'Sex in your Eighties' at Rosanne's. Desire for sex and intimacy doesn't disappear when we're older, even if age demands some changes in our habits. Let Honest Aging guide you and your loved ones to achieve new joy and empowerment, not just 'normalcy.'

Reading Honest Aging felt as though Dr. Leipzig was sitting with me in her consulting room, explaining all the predictable things that may happen to us in our aging years, and why they happen, and what to do if they happen, and how to know if they are normal or not. When she was done, I left that meeting feeling safer, smarter, calmer, more competent to help myself stay well in mind and body, and grateful for this invaluable book.

My husband, who died at 101 in January of 2021, and I have both been in the care of the physician who wrote this helpful, thoughtful, truthful, witty book about the later stages of life. I am the fortunate beneficiary of Dr. Leipzig's care and her philosophy, which is embodied in Honest Aging . In every instance, I have found her clinical care and her help in leading me to the best solutions to my particular problems to be unimpeachable.

Book Details

Preface Part I: Aging 101 Chapter 1. It's Only Aging, Get a Grip! Chapter 2. What's Normal Aging? Or, 80 Isn't 60 Chapter 3. Better Living through Chemistry? Chapter 4. More or Less: What's Right for

Preface Part I: Aging 101 Chapter 1. It's Only Aging, Get a Grip! Chapter 2. What's Normal Aging? Or, 80 Isn't 60 Chapter 3. Better Living through Chemistry? Chapter 4. More or Less: What's Right for You When It Comes to Health Care Chapter 5. An Ounce of Prevention Part II: What Really Matters As You Grow Older Chapter 6. Mind Matters Chapter 7. Energy Cycles Chapter 8. Ups and Downs Chapter 9. Balancing Acts Chapter 10. Sleep Cycles Chapter 11. Urine Trouble Chapter 12. All Eyes and Ears Chapter 13. Aches and Pains Chapter 14. Gut Feelings Chapter 15. Weighing In Chapter 16. Sex Talk Part III: Difficult Decisions Chapter 17. Making Difficult Decisions Chapter 18. To Move or Not to Move Chapter 19. Do I Need to Stop Driving? Chapter 20. Who Will Speak for Me? Appendixes 1. Personal Emergency Response Systems 2. Assistive Devices 3. Getting Ready to Meet with Your Doctor Index

with Hopkins Press Books

May 20, 2024

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Managing your Mental Health during your PhD

A Survival Guide

• © 2022
• Zoë J. Ayres 0

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Provides tips and tricks on mental health management

Explores environmental factors that impact mental health

Examines the research culture we work in

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About this book

This book explores the PhD experience as never before and provides a “survival guide” for current and prospective PhD students. The book investigates why mental health issues are so common among the postgraduate population, going beyond the statistics, looking at lived experience of both the author and as well as current PhD students, who have found balancing mental wellness with the PhD endeavour challenging.

The author discusses tips and tricks she wished she had known at the start of her PhD process for managing mental health, such as managing imposter feelings, prioritising workload, and self-care strategies to help others throughout their own journey.

Finally, the book is a call to action, providing tangible improvements from the author’s perspective that university institutions can make to ensure that academia is a place for all to thrive.

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• Mental Health
• Postgraduate
• #AcademicMentalHealth
• Workplace Stress

Table of contents (12 chapters)

Front matter, defining the problem, introduction.

Zoë J. Ayres

Challenging Perceptions: What Is Mental Health Anyway?

Setting the scene: understanding the phd mental health crisis, mindset matters, self-care: without you there is no phd, not another yoga session: university wellbeing programs and why they so often miss the mark, “i’ll read it later” and other lies we tell ourselves: managing expectations and guilt, why you earned it: fighting the impostor, environmental stressors, dismantling the ivory tower: systemic issues that might impact your mental health, perhaps it’s not you it’s them: phd student-supervisor relationships, publish or perish: on the myth of meritocracy, the high-walled rose garden: understanding there is life outside the academy, seeking help, thriving, not just surviving, back matter, authors and affiliations, about the author.

Zoë Ayres (PhD) is an analytical scientist by background, with a PhD in electrochemical sensor development. After spending several years as a postdoctoral researcher in academia post-PhD, she now works in industry as a Senior Scientist. Additionally, Zoë is a mental health advocate, spurred on by experiencing mental illness herself during her PhD. Her advocacy work focuses on improving mental health in research settings, primarily focusing on PhD mental health. She raises awareness of the common issues PhD students face through various campaigns and initiatives, and can be found under the handle @zjayres on Twitter.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Managing your Mental Health during your PhD

Book Subtitle : A Survival Guide

Authors : Zoë J. Ayres

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14194-2

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Biomedical and Life Sciences , Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-031-14193-5 Published: 15 September 2022

eBook ISBN : 978-3-031-14194-2 Published: 14 September 2022

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XIX, 199

Number of Illustrations : 1 b/w illustrations

Topics : Clinical Psychology , Psychotherapy and Counseling , Biomedicine, general

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Can't get enough of 'Bridgerton' Season 3? Try reading the Julia Quinn books in order

Dearest gentle reader, the flowers are in bloom, the weather is fair and if you’re feeling misty-eyed, it may be due to a unique kind of “Polin season.”

We’re talking, of course, about the love story in Season 3 of “Bridgerton,” a long-awaited friends-to-lovers tale between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington. Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton star in the steamy, swoon-worthy period drama on Netflix. 

But before "Bridgerton" became a binge-worthy blockbuster, it was a popular book series . Here’s everything to know about the show's source material.

Who wrote Bridgerton?

Julia Quinn is the author of the "Bridgerton" series, historical romances that follow the eight Bridgerton siblings as they search for love.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The Pacific Northwest-based author has written 38 books . According to her website biography, Quinn was inspired in part to write "Bridgerton" from the romance books she loved as a teen. 

Shonda Rhimes created the Netflix series, which currently includes three seasons and the prequel “Queen Charlotte.” Rhimes, a producer and screenwriter, is also behind popular TV dramas “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal.”

How many Bridgerton books are there?

There are eight Bridgerton books in the original series, plus an epilogue collection. Each book focuses on one Bridgerton sibling and their love story, weaving tales of the other siblings throughout.

Here are all eight books in order, plus which Bridgerton they follow:

• “The Duke and I”: Daphne’s story
• “The Viscount Who Loved Me”: Anthony’s story
• “An Offer From a Gentleman”: Benedict’s story
• “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”: Colin and Penelope’s story
• “To Sir Phillip, With Love”: Eloise’s story
• “When He Was Wicked”: Francesca’s story
• “It’s In His Kiss”: Hyacinth’s story
• “On the Way to the Wedding”: Gregory’s story

“ The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After” contains eight epilogues and a novella about the dowager viscountess Violet Bridgerton, the mother of the eight siblings.

In 2023, Rhimes and Quinn teamed up to co-author “Queen Charlotte,” which accompanied the Netflix “Bridgerton” prequel. 

Another prequel series centers around the aristocratic Rokesby family , the Bridgertons’ neighbors. The Rokesby series follows the aunts and uncles of the Bridgerton eight in the late 1700s. The eldest Bridgertons appear as children in this series.

There are four “Rokesby” books:

• “Because of Miss Bridgerton”
• “The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband”
• “The Other Miss Bridgerton”
• “First Comes Scandal”

Quinn also co-authored two anthologies alongside Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins and Mia Ryan. “The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown” and “Lady Whistledown Strikes Back” each contain four stories with accompanying Whistledown columns.

Season 3 vs. the books: Differences in Colin and Penelope's love story

In what order should I read Bridgerton?

The best way to dive into the “Bridgerton” world is to read them chronologically . The series starts with Daphne, the eldest daughter. After you’ve finished the original eight, step back in time and read the prequel, “Queen Charlotte” and then reminisce on Lady Whistledown’s gossip with the two anthologies.

• “The Duke & I”
• “The Viscount Who Loved Me”
• “An Offer From a Gentleman”
• “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”
• “To Sir Phillip, With Love”
• “When He Was Wicked”
• “It’s In His Kiss”
• “On the Way to the Wedding”
• “The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After”
• “Queen Charlotte”
• “The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown”
• “Lady Whistledown Strikes Back”

The popular Netflix series, however, has not followed Quinn’s chronology. Season 1 followed Daphne and was based on “The Duke and I,” Season 2 was Anthony’s story in “The Viscount Who Loved Me” but Season 3 skipped ahead to book four, “Romancing Mister Bridgerton.”

In part, this decision gives Benedict more time to develop and “let him have more fun before he settles down,” showrunners told Entertainment Weekly . It also continues the tension between Colin and Penelope and her crush that was bubbling to the surface in Season 2.

Actress Claudia Jessie, who plays Eloise, told USA TODAY she’s not sure who will get the starring spot next season, but she’s not in any rush.

"I don't know anything," Jessie said. "But I'm going to be so brokenhearted when I have to stop playing Eloise. I just want to be here as long as I can."

When is Bridgerton set?

Bridgerton is set in the Regency Era and takes place between 1813 and 1827 , according to Quinn.

The Regency Era describes a period of British history in the early 19th century when the Prince of Wales (King George IV) took over for his father, King George III, after he was declared unfit to rule. He became known as “Prince Regent.”

The “marriage market” portrayed in “Bridgerton” has a basis in historical fact – the family fortunes were a consideration, compatibility was favored over romantic passion and chaperones were essential in courting, PBS reports.

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6 Tips For Cruise Room Upgrades

By Donna Heiderstadt | Published on May 21, 2024

Everyone loves an upgrade — and they're especially memorable if you booked an inside-stateroom but dream of balcony views or suite indulgences. The good news: Scoring cruise room upgrades is simpler than you think.

Royal Caribbean offers several ways to earn stateroom upgrades. You can also use loyalty points accrued from previous sailings or apply credit card points to offset part of your cruise fare. Other tactics for scoring cruise room upgrades require a bit of a gamble, including a program called Royal Up.

To take advantage of potential upgrades, the best strategy is to book the least-expensive stateroom you'll be content with during your cruise and then plot your way to a next-level upgrade — from an inside to an ocean-view stateroom or an ocean-view to a balcony stateroom, for example. With continued loyalty and a bit of savvy planning, you might even be able to upgrade from a balcony stateroom to an exciting suite. Read on for everything you need to know about upgrades before your next sailing.

1. Bid For An Upgrade With Royal Up

There's nothing to lose and a lot to gain with Royal Up , Royal Caribbean's bid-based stateroom upgrade program. Once you've booked your room on any Royal Caribbean sailing, you can see if your cruise is Royal Up eligible. If so, you'll be able to bid for an upgrade to a higher category — everything from ocean-view and balcony cruise staterooms to spacious cruise suites.

The process is simple and straightforward. At some point after you've booked, you'll be invited to browse all available stateroom categories and select a dollar amount you're willing to pay for an upgrade. There will be a minimum bid listed, but it's advantageous to make an offer that's a bit higher than the minimum. You can also bid on multiple staterooms, which increases your chances of getting upgraded. Don't worry: You'll only pay for the one upgrade you are offered.

After placing your bids, watch for an email from Royal Caribbean notifying you that a bid has been accepted. This can happen anytime up to two days before your sailing. You can't reject the upgrade, and you'll be charged immediately for the amount you bid. If your bid isn't accepted, however, you'll keep the stateroom you originally booked and you won't be charged anything extra.

Every Royal Up bid is priced per person based on two people occupying a stateroom. The good news for families or groups of friends sailing in the same stateroom: You'll only be charged extra for the first and second guest, even if you have third, fourth or fifth guests staying with you. That makes cruise room upgrades for the entire family — or a cabin full of your besties — that much sweeter.

2. Book Your Cruise During A Free Upgrade Promotion

During certain times of the year, especially the cruise industry's annual "wave season" from January to March and the early fall shoulder season, you might see free balcony upgrade promotions online or in your email inbox. With these deals on select sailings, you can snag a balcony stateroom for the same fare as an ocean-view stateroom or even an inside stateroom. Extra tip: Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor® Society members get notified first, so make sure to join if you haven't already.

3. Gamble On A Guaranteed Stateroom

When you make what's known as a guarantee (GTY) booking with Royal Caribbean, you'll get the lowest price and be guaranteed a room within the category you booked, whether that's interior, ocean-view, balcony or suite. There's even a chance, depending on which categories of cruise staterooms sell out, that you could be bumped to the next category or even higher. It's a gamble though because you don't get to choose your stateroom location and won't know its location until close to your sail date or even until check-in. But if you're a risk-taker or don't particularly care where you sleep, you could find yourself enjoying an unexpected free upgrade. So long, ocean-view and hello, balcony stateroom!

4. Consider Using Crown & Anchor® Points

By cruising often with Royal Caribbean and accruing points with its Crown & Anchor® Society loyalty program , you become eligible for discounts on balcony and suite accommodations; depending on the cruise's length and price, this can be equal to a free upgrade. Discounts begin at the second-level status of Platinum, which is achieved when you earn 30 points, the equivalent of 30 nights in a cabin or 15 nights in a suite. The discounts increase in value with every subsequent level reached. If you book a cruise that's more than six months out, the discount will be greater.

The ultimate score when it comes to upgrades is a free cruise. Crown & Anchor members will receive a Milestone Cruise Certificate for a free sailing for two people in a balcony stateroom when they reach the top-tier status of Pinnacle Club (700 points). A complimentary sailing for two in a junior suite is available at 1,400 points — and then every 350 points thereafter.

5. Use Credit Card Points To Upgrade

Using credit card points to pay for an upgrade is also a smart strategy. Depending on your specific credit cards, you might be able to use points to pay for a portion of your cruise fare. For example, if you see an inside stateroom fare for $800 per person and a balcony fare for $1,100 per person, you might be able to book the balcony by using points to pay for the $600 fare difference for two people, thus earning a free upgrade. If you are a Royal Caribbean loyalist, having the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Card  (with no annual fee) can earn you a sea of rewards — including a fast track to cruise room upgrades.

6. Track When Prices Drop

If you book a Royal Caribbean cruise and reserve an inside or ocean-view stateroom because a balcony is priced several hundred dollars higher, make it a point to track stateroom prices on royalcaribbean.com  regularly. You'll need to do this before your voyage's final payment and cancellation date, which is 75 or 90 days before departure, depending on cruise length. If you find a lower price for a balcony, request an upgrade by calling Royal Caribbean customer service or your travel adviser and asking to switch your booking to an available balcony.

To check out the latest Royal Caribbean cruises, visit royalcaribbean .com .

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Marc Farrell’s insider’s guide to Trinidad & Tobago

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

I’m a very, very proud son of the soil: my dad is from Trinidad and my mum is from Tobago, so I’m loyal to both islands in this southernmost Caribbean republic. Most of my childhood was spent on Trinidad, but I went back and forth to Tobago: it’s a short flight – 25 mins – to get between the two islands. I grew up in a tight-knit family – my parents are both one of seven siblings – surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. I left for college in the US when I was 16, but am still grounded in the magic of my Trinidadian culture.

Geologically, Trinidad and Tobago is part of South America – we’re right next to Venezuela and benefit from the same natural resources as they do. As a result, we’re a relatively wealthy country where industry has taken precedence over tourism and so we’re one of the less visited Caribbean countries.

Coming to Trinidad is like coming to a friend’s home: you must break bread with us. There is a unique joie de vivre here that stems from our mash-up culture. The Spanish settled here over the course of the 16th century; then the English brought enslaved people from west Africa and, later, indentured labourers from India. The result is a vibrant mix of African and Indian people, as well as Syrians, Chinese, Lebanese and French Creoles. We celebrate everything here, regardless of religion – Christmas, Diwali and Eid are equally embraced. I am always happy to light the candles and honour someone else’s traditions. 

Port of Spain, our capital, is where you’ll find hotels including The Brix , with its sleek pool, fitness centre and rooftop bar. A more rustic authentic option is Asa Wright Nature Centre , a bird sanctuary and eco-lodge with an incredible variety of wildlife. The same group is behind Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel on the north coast of the island, where the Grande Riviere river meets the Caribbean Sea. It’s an excellent place to see leatherback turtles.

Food is central to life here, and fancy doesn’t always equal better

Food is central to life here: iconic dishes include “doubles” – fried flatbreads with chickpeas that are sold on roadsides for breakfast, dinner and 2am snacks – and buljol , saltfish eaten with bake, our version of fried bread. Fancy doesn’t always equal better in Trinidad; exceptions to this are The Meena House ’s Indian cuisine and Chaud Café & Wine Bar ’s excellent tuna tartare and tamarind-glazed pork chop. 

We’re a fresh-fish culture – plus crab, langoustines and conch – and the grouper here is softer and more delicious than anywhere else. At Castara Beach on Tobago, you can buy barracuda, mahi-mahi and tuna fresh from the seine net and grill them on the spot. For another low-key option, I like U-Pick Farm – a cool spot in the north-west of Trinidad where you can pick your own vegetables, and where they also serve lunch under a canopy of bamboo. 

Trinidad is known for its nightlife – specifically the energy of its celebrations. From Carnival in February or March to enjoying cocktails on the “strip” – aka Ariapita Avenue – Trinidadians love to gather. People will ask, “Are you liming on the Avenue later?”, meaning “hanging out not doing much”. Liming has its roots in the second world war, when sailors hung out and sucked on limes to avoid scurvy. It can be done anywhere; the only rule is that you can’t lime alone!

Address book

BARS & RESTAURANTS

Chaud Café & Wine Bar Woodbrook Place, Unit 4A Damian Street, Port of Spain, 00000 Trinidad

The Meena House themeenahouse.com

U-Pick Farm @upicktt

WHERE TO STAY

Asa Wright Nature Centre asawright.org

The Brix marriott.com

Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel hadcoexperiences.com

BEACHES & NATURE

Argyle Waterfall Tobago

Blanchisseuse Trinidad 

Castara Beach Tobago

Hundred Steps Trinidad

Pigeon Point Tobago

Queen’s Park Savannah Trinidad

Store Bay Tobago 

The natural beauty here – and our beaches in particular – is a major focus, and Pigeon Point and Store Bay in the south-west of Tobago are both beautiful. On Trinidad, I like Hundred Steps and Blanchisseuse. Other scenic highlights are the Argyle Waterfall in Tobago for a hike, and Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Savannah, an enormous green roundabout surrounded by the Magnificent Seven. These seven stately homes are excellent examples of French colonial, Scottish baronial, Indian Empire and Moorish Mediterranean architecture, with lots of Caribbean flavour throughout.

There’s magic here that’s hard to put into words. I think this is largely because the people are so joyful and creative. The country’s cultural mosaic has nurtured a level of inventiveness, from our music – a blend of steel pan, calypso and soca, calypso’s higher energy, rebellious cousin – to our cuisines. When we bring this ingenuity to other parts of the world – and I believe we will – watch out! 

This article has been amended to reflect that indentured labourers, rather than enslaved peoples, were brought from India to Trinidad by the British

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