Blog: Going the distance

Hey everyone, my name is Michelle and I’m a distance learner PhD student from Malaysia.  

Distance learning wasn’t something I had initially thought about but I had been searching for a university with an academic team that could be supervisors for my niche field of research. As this wasn’t available in my home country of Malaysia, the only option was to look abroad. That wasn’t ideal, as that meant finding a scholarship, not working for a few years, and potentially leaving my family behind, sacrifices I wasn’t necessarily willing to make at this time in my life.  

A golden opportunity... 

An opportunity came out of the blue when I switched jobs last year. I joined YTL Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation in Malaysia that was tasked with the management of the Teachers for Educational Equity – an initiative co-developed by YTL Foundation and the University of Birmingham. By chance, the initiative included a research theme that my PhD research would fit nicely into, and as I had to manage the initiative, UoB allowed me to do my PhD by distance. 

Although my instinct was to jump at the opportunity, naturally, I had to think it through since juggling a full-time job and a PhD is no walk in the park.  

Preparing to be a student again 

The last time I was a student was 10 years ago. I currently work a full-time job and live in a completely different time zone (Malaysia is about 7-8 hours ahead of the UK) which meant that I needed supervisors who were supportive and understanding of my needs. In fact, one of them spoke with my partner and me even before I officially started my journey, to prepare us for what the next 6-8 years would look like.  

One of my worries about being a distance learner was loneliness. Honestly, I expected it to be a lonely journey, but my supervisors insisted I fly over to the UK for UoB’s Welcome Week. Not only was it a good way to mark the start of a new and exciting chapter, but it allowed me to feel more connected to the University and the School of Education, where my PhD is based. The School held a Research Culture Day where first-year PhD students like me had the chance to meet the key academic team and share our proposed research areas in three minutes or less.  

I never imagined that the friends I made during Welcome Week would become my support system. Despite the distance (they are all in the UK while I’m in Malaysia), we continue to share our “YAY, WOES and AH HA!” moments with one another through WhatsApp, emails and online sessions. They have helped me settle into life as a working student quite well but being off campus also means I don’t always have the best separation of work and study life...  

Creating a routine that works for you 

When I tell people I usually study between 10PM to 2/3AM Malaysia time on a weekday, they think I’m a little nutty, but I find it so peaceful to sit at the desk with only the light from my monitor and candle, and study knowing that the world around me is asleep.  

Although this schedule might not suit others, as a working student whose classes, seminars and/or supervision sessions are held much later in the evening, it was important for me to create a routine that best suits me. That said, I find myself sleeping in more during the weekends now!  

As I don’t have any classes or seminars for the rest of the academic year, I expect my routine to change and as much as the planner in me dislikes change, I know that this is important so that I’m physically, mentally and emotionally equipped for a marathon rather than a sprint!  

Reflections

The first few months as a UoB student has shown me that I chose the right university. My advice to others who are in the same boat as me or are thinking of pursuing a PhD by distance is:  

“Everyone in academia is smart but not all of them are kind, so find supervisors who are not only subject matter experts but who are KIND!”