PhD support

Are you looking for support during your PhD studies? Below you will find a helpful guide for PhD students on Support Services for PhDs at the University of Groningen.

How do I stay sane during the Corona lock down?

To help you deal with this, we have created a document with tips. Please find the document here: How to stay sane in Corona lock down?

Webinar: How to keep motivated and sane during the Corona Lock down - 13 July 2020

Op 13 July from 11 to 12, PhD Psychologist Karen Huizing will be available online to give information and for a Q&A.

From Karen: "I will share some of the experiences I have been told by the PhD students I have met during the last months (anonymously of course) and also give some tips on how to keep a healthy work life balance, avoid getting lonely and get back some control over your work if possible.

Mostly, it will be a reassuring webinar! We all experience basically the same problems and there are some practical and psychological smart things to do, to make sure you still enjoy what you are doing. Of course there will also be time to answer questions (you can enter them via the chat during the webinar - there will be a moderator) and share ideas."

Please find the link to the registration form for this webinar here.

What can I do?

If you feel you could use some support during your studies, you can always contact your PhD coordinator, someone at your Graduate School, or talk to your supervisor. If you need specific help, you can contact the university who will offer confidential support depending on your situation:

Topics:

• I feel stressed
• I want to feel more confident
• I procrastinate
• I work too many hours
• I am afraid for a burnout
• I want to talk about my supervision
• I want to plan my future career
• I am not sure I want to go on with my PhD
• I feel lonely
• I feel depressed
• I am ill and unable to work

*Please note: The courses may be offered through more than one department. We are in the process of integrating our course offerings. For courses where more than one option is listed, please feel free to choose the course which best fits your situation.

Departments which offer support for PhDs:

• Health, Safety and Sustainability/ Arbo, Millieu en Duurzaamheid (AMD)
• Student Services Centre (SSC)
• Human Resources (HR)

Links below will take you to webpages outside of the Groningen Graduate School site. You may need your student number or personnel number to log in.

I feel stressed

Do you feel stressed a lot of the time and want to do something about it? There are several options available within the university:

• Stress reduction group (ongoing)
• Work Life Balance (workshop)
• Overcome your fear of failure (course: four meetings of 2.5 hours)
• Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR, SSC)
• Time management (HR Department)
• Health Check (AMD)
• Individual counselling

I want to feel more confident

Do you sometimes feel insecure or anxious? Depending on where your insecurity comes from, there are several options available at the university. Some courses provide support on how to manage your PhD, others are more about stress management and coping with anxiety:

• Project management (provided by your Graduate School)
• PhD Support Group (SSC )
• Embrace imperfection! (course: three meetings of 2.5 hours)
• Overcome your Fear of Failure (course: vour meetings of 2.5 hours)
• Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR, SSC)
• Individual counselling

I procrastinate

Do you find it difficult to keep focused at work? Do you often feel like "What have I really done today?" when you go home? There are several options available at the university:

• Project management (provided by your Graduate School)
• Managing your Time (workshop)
• Stop procrastinating (course: three meetings of 2.5 hours)
• PhD Support Group (SSC)
• Time management (HR department )

I work too many hours

Do you work more than 50 hours a week and do you want to learn to work more productive and have more time to relax? There are several options available at the university:

• Project management (Provided by your Graduate School)
• Managing your Time (workshop)
• PhD Support Group (SSC)
• Time management (HR afdeling )

I am afraid for a burnout

Do you feel stressed and find it difficult to relax? Do you sometimes feel like you are not able to cope with everything anymore? There are several options available at the university:

• Stress reduction group (ongoing)
• Work Life Balance (workshop)
• Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR, SSC)
• Hartcoherentie ( AMD )
• Individual counselling

I want to talk about my supervision.

Sometimes your work is compromised by having a difficult relationship with your supervisor. You are not the only one. Find someone to talk to about it, so that you can do something about it in a constructive way:

• Confidential advisor
• Managing your Supervisor (workshop, 2.5 hours)
• Individual counselling

I want to plan my future career

No idea what to do after your PhD? Not sure you want to pursue a career in academia and want to consider your options? There is a series of workshops or individual coaching sessions available for you:

• Career Perspective Series
• My Future Career ( HR )
• Individual career coaching sessions ( HR )

I am not sure I want to go on with my PhD

Do you have doubts whether you want to go on with your PhD? Find someone to talk to:

• Individual career coaching sessions ( HR )

I feel lonely

Doing a PhD can be a lonely business, especially when you come from another country. Please feel free to talk about it and make a plan together to come into contact with other people:

• PhD Support Group (SSC)
• Individual counselling

I feel depressed

Do you feel depressed lately and it doesn’t seem to go away anymore? Please make an appointment with your GP to get advice or to talk to someone:

• Make an appointment with your general practitioner (Don't have a doctor in Groningen? Click here to find out more on finding a doctor.)
• Individual counselling

I am ill and unable to work

If you are ill for more than a month, please report this to the coordinator or your Graduate School.

• Report sick to your Graduate School coordinator or PhD supervisor.