I chose this area for my research as I wanted to continue my previous background based on my experience in the field of Islamic ceramics, with the intention of advancing this field in both theory and practice. Additionally, ceramics and Islamic arts are two disciplines that interest me, so when practising, reading or even writing, I accomplish them with passion and enthusiasm.
A typical day for me starts by checking my emails and calendar as well as setting a daily target. I usually spend my day working either in the postgraduate research space or in the ceramics workshop, but sometimes I like to break my routine by working in the library or sometimes at home. As a research student it is not always the same, as some days I have to attend workshops and seminars that are run by the Doctoral College or my School, or even external events and visiting exhibitions and museums. As a student, a wife and a mother of two, obviously I need to balance my time between my research and family. Therefore, I usually work from around 9.30am to 5.30pm; after that I spend the rest of the day with my family, even though sometimes I need to work late at night.
The main differences between studying a PhD and any other taught degrees is that the PhD student is responsible for choosing their own research topic, as well as planning and managing their own time and goals. Therefore, it is more self-directing, but of course with the support of the supervisors.