This bestselling book on the process of PhD research provides readers with engaging discussion and comprehensive guidance on aspects that other books don't usually mention.Covering all the key topics of the previous edition, including what a PhD is really about, how to do one well, how to decipher what your supervisor actually means by terms like 'good referencing' and 'clean research question', and how to design, report and defend your research,the authors continue to offer an accessible, down-to-earth, and insightful account of the whole PhD process. Their advice addresses how to avoid some of the pitfalls en route to a successful submission.Updated throughout, the new edition includes new material on: Critical thinking Research skills The route to research independence Different models of study The Unwritten Rules of PhD Researchis essential reading for anyone considering a PhD or embarking on one. It will tell you the things many students wish someone had told them before they started.