Sadanand Varma (PhD Educational Research, 2019) reflects on his years at Lancaster studying for a PhD following his previous career experiences in the military and consultancy.

"My decision to embark on a PhD was a natural progression in planning my career trajectory. I had spent a large part of my adult life as a regular army officer, and subsequently went on to set up a small consultancy. I had some exposure to part-time University teaching while I was consulting and it seemed like something I would like to do beyond my consulting days. Hence, the decision to pursue my PhD.

Next came the choice of a programme and institution. Even though I had engaged in applied research during my military days, this was far from the academic research rigour required in a PhD. The programme had to be something that was structured, and one that provided a scaffolded trajectory towards the final thesis work. The Doctoral Programme in Educational Research fitted this requirement. I had also completed by Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching with the Management School earlier on and the experience was a good one. Lancaster University was the obvious choice.

It’s been a little over six years since the day I started my PhD journey. The programme design was such that new and second year cohorts were mixed for the module, presumably to engender peer learning. The conversations went over my head as the second-year cohort students navigated the course work and conversations effortlessly, while my head was left spinning after each discussion. The thought of giving up occurred ever so often, but it was the support of the faculty and their nurturing engagement that made the journey smoother. We were treated as peers and every idea was discussed without judgement. I had an excellent supervisor for my thesis and she was always there to nudge, challenge and get the best out of me. I must say that even the viva, which was perhaps one of the most stressful moments of my life, was an absolutely constructive experience.

Rest assured, it was not all work. I still long for the quaint charm of Lancaster, even the many breakfast and dinner sessions with fellow students at Wetherspoons, sharing experiences and exasperations. I also managed to travel quite a bit to soak in the sights in and around England and Scotland. The PhD programme has added rigour to my thinking and added value to my consulting work. It has also set the stage for the ‘third bound’ in my career. Most importantly, I made great friends and shared unforgettable memories. I would do it again in a heartbeat!"