Get the PhD support you need across your whole PhD journey. The academy is designed to help you write, think, plan and finish your PhD with greater clarity, confidence and momentum.
It's the support you need that you are not getting – and cannot get – from your supervisor.
From sustainable writing systems, to thesis drafting, technical PhD help, research strategy and submission preparation — the Academy gives you expert guidance at every stage of the PhD journey.
WHY PHD SUPPORT FAILS
PhD researchers are given fragmented, inconsistent supervision, and poor writing advice (if any). Advice can't be translated into concrete actionable steps, and that is a big problem.
PhDs have to manage large-scale research projects, produce original knowledge and sustain high-level intellectual work over years without being taught how to build effective writing systems, research workflows or sustainable academic practices.
Not because of malice, but because your supervisors were never taught these things either. They certainly don't know how to teach you them.
So many PhD students find themselves trapped in cycles of overwhelm, avoidance, perfectionism and reactive working, constantly feeling behind despite working extremely hard. I've seen this over and over again in the 7 years I have been coaching PhDs 1-1, in groups, and in faculties across the world.
The PhD Academy can give you the support you need to address the hidden skills gap at the centre of doctoral education — helping researchers develop the clarity, structure, writing practices and strategic systems needed to make meaningful academic progress with greater confidence and consistency.
EXPERT GUIDANCE FOR YOUR PHD
The PhD Academy has been developed through nearly two decades of academic experience and years of dedicated doctoral coaching work supporting researchers across disciplines, institutions and career stages.
Dr. Melanie Smith
•
• Worked with 300+ PhDs through my courses and workshops to develop research and writing excellence
• Work across disciplines globally, from high arts (Dance) to hard sciences (chemistry) and everything in between
50+
PhDs to successful completion
17+ years
Tenured Ass. Prof in research intensive uni
7 years
Coaching 800+ PhDs and Faculty globally in academic writing
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi consectetur neque a eros accumsan suscipit. Aliquam et est et neque consequat vulputate. Donec lectus est, congue a est vel, efficitur fermentum augue.."
Choose YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT
Individual Courses
Solve one specific challenge
Single course access
Low entry point
€39.00
Specialist Bundles
Master one area of PhD Life
3-course pathways
Best for focused transformation
€89.00
Full PhD Academy
Full Doctoral Academy
All courses + bonuses
Best value + complete support
€497 (save €205)
INSIDE THE ACADEMY
You'll be guided through a structured doctoral development programme to support the realities of long-term academic work.
Alongside the core training bundles, Academy members receive access to ongoing support, live implementation spaces and an evolving ecosystem of doctoral resources designed to help you sustain momentum throughout the PhD journey.
MONTHLY Co-WRITING SESSIONS
Join focused live writing sessions to help reduce isolation and create consistent progress .
QUARTERLY WRITING RESETS
Reconnect with your goals, review progress and rebuild momentum through structured live reset workshops. We recalibrate your research and writing practice each quarter.
EXPANDING COURSE ECOSYSTEM
New bundles, workshops and doctoral development resources will continue to be added to the Academy over time, creating a growing library of support across every stage of the PhD process.
Structured Frameworks & Practical Tools
Access practical planning systems, writing frameworks, workflow strategies and doctoral development tools designed specifically for the complexities of academic research and writing
The Academy supports you to move beyond survival mode and develop the clarity, structure and confidence required to produce high-quality academic work sustainably.
You and your project are not limited by your supervisory support. This is where you take control of your academic progress.
EXPLORE THE PHD ACADEMY
The Academy is organised into focused areas of doctoral development to help you build research clarity, sustainable writing practices, critical thinking skills and high-quality thesis work.
You can explore bite-sized courses to deal with a specific issue, or select a bundle to develop a particular skill set.
Research Foundations and Intellectual Clarity
Strong doctoral research begins long before the writing stage. These bundles help you develop a clear understanding of how to develop a project — from defining originality and designing executable research questions to building a coherent, defensible research project with confidence and direction.
GET CLEAR ON WHAT A PHD IS
3 courses that enable you to build a strong foundation for your PhD by understanding expectations, what originality means and how to plan a timely, achievable path to completion.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS, DESIGN
3 courses to show you how to design strong research questions, align your methodology, and clearly articulate your original contribution to knowledge. You don't know it, but this is often where your problems lie.
Writing Practice & Workflow
Develop the systems, habits and drafting methods needed to produce high-quality academic writing consistently. These essential bundles help you overcome resistance, build sustainable writing practices and learn how to draft your thesis with greater clarity, structure and momentum.
OVERCOME WRITING BARRIERS
3 courses that expose the hidden barriers that disrupt PhD progress and learn how to build low-friction writing systems that reduce procrastination, increase focus and make consistent research work easier to sustain.
HOW TO DRAFT YOUR THESIS
3 courses that show you how to build a sustainable academic writing practice, apply a clear thesis writing method and use the 5 Drafts to Finish framework to move from rough ideas to structured, high-quality thesis chapters.
Critical Thinking and Scholarly Writing
Develop the analytical and editorial skills needed to produce sophisticated doctoral-level work. These bundles help you read strategically, think critically, strengthen your academic argument and refine your chapters with greater clarity, precision and scholarly confidence.
DEVELOP YOUR ANALYTICAL THINKING
3 concise courses that enable you to build a critical thinking system to push your insights to the PhD level.
REFINE YOUR WRITING
3 concise courses that enable to implement 3 editing techniques that centre your contribution, organise your structure correctly, build your argument persuasively and enable you to write with the sophistication, concision and clarity that you need to communicate complex ideas.
WHY JOIN THE FULL ACADEMY?
The PhD Academy brings together every bundle, course and support resource into one structured doctoral development environment designed to support the realities of long-term academic work.
If you are looking for more personal support, you can option that only from inside my Academy.
Alongside all current Academy bundles, members also receive:
•Monthly structured co-writing sessions
•Quarterly research and writing reset workshops
•New bundles and resources added over time
•3 years of Academy access
Whether you are trying to build momentum, strengthen your research, improve your writing systems or move towards completion with greater confidence, the Academy is designed to support every stage of the doctoral journey.
WHAT PHDs SAY ABOUT WORKING WITH MELANIE
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Tempora, beatae, cum! Voluptates porro velit quibusdam ipsum, doloribus, saepe odio explicabo animi placeat omnis, quisquam tempore earum et illum nemo, numquam.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Tempora, beatae, cum! Voluptates porro velit quibusdam ipsum, doloribus, saepe odio explicabo animi placeat omnis, quisquam tempore earum et illum nemo, numquam.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Tempora, beatae, cum! Voluptates porro velit quibusdam ipsum, doloribus, saepe odio explicabo animi placeat omnis, quisquam tempore earum et illum nemo, numquam.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long will I have access to the Academy?
Academy members receive 3 years of access designed to support the long-term nature of doctoral research.
Is this suitable for early stage or late stage PhD students?
The Academy has been designed to support doctoral researchers at different stages of the PhD journey, from developing research clarity and writing systems to refining chapters and preparing for completion.
What makes this different from other PhD productivity or study courses?
The online space is filled with inexperienced 'coaches' who only recently finished their own PhD, or generic course providers who have no experience in supervising students. I have worked with 350+ PhD students and personally seen 50+ to successful completion. Who provides the training matters. The Academy is specifically designed for the intellectual, structural and emotional realities of doctoral research and academic writing — not generic productivity advice.
Are the courses suitable for all disciplines?
Yes, I have experience supervising students across disciplines, from high arts to hard sciences and everything in between. On some limited occasions, there may be disciplinary differences in approach, and the courses take the time to deal with each in turn. The Academy focuses on research practices, writing, workflow and academic development processes that apply across disciplines and methodological approaches.
Can I buy individual courses without joining the Academy?
Yes. Individual courses and bundles can be purchased separately if you want support in a specific area of your PhD.
Will new courses be added to the Academy?
Yes. The Academy is designed as an evolving doctoral development ecosystem, with new resources, bundles and live workshops added over time. But your price never changes.
