GRASP

Five HDR challenges the library can help you with

September 9th, 2026, by Karen Miller Tag(s): HDR Resources, Library services

Undertaking a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) is one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do, and also one of the most challenging. First, you need to learn everything about doing research, from writing a proposal, collecting and analysing data, through to writing your thesis. Second, you may need one-on-one guidance from people who can help you solve particular issues you are struggling with. Third, you may find yourself feeling isolated and disconnected from your colleagues and peers. Fourth, making time to work on your thesis and sustain your motivation over the long haul can be challenging. Finally, you need to find quiet, comfortable spaces where you can actually get that work done.

These five challenges tend to come up again and again for HDR students, and the good news is the Library can help with all of them. Indeed, the Library offers services for HDR students well beyond the traditional remit of “help me find information.” These days, our support includes academic writing skills, research data analysis, training in specialist software (EndNote, NVivo, SPSS, Stata), and a whole suite of events and services aimed at enhancing students’ wellbeing, such as supporting your writing practice and helping to build connections with others.

Here’s a closer look at each challenge, and what we do to help.

1. Learning everything you need to know

Many people start a PhD with years of experience, deep knowledge of their subject, and a track record of intelligent capability behind them. It’s easy to assume that will be enough to carry you through.

So why do so many of us still struggle?

The reality is, a research degree throws a huge number of new skills at you, skills that have nothing to do with how well you know your subject. Writing a research proposal, doing a literature review, developing a research methodology, collecting and analysing data, and then writing (and re-writing, and re-re-writing) your thesis: these are skills in their own right, and they take time to learn and develop.

To help with this, the Library runs approximately 40 different workshops each semester, designed to help you navigate the different stages of the research journey. We have grouped them into different series to make them easier to navigate. They cover: Writing your M1 research proposal; Literature searching and reviewing; Data collection and analysis; Research writing and publishing; GenAI and research.

2. Needing one on one help

Workshops are great for building skills, but sometimes what you really need is to talk through your specific issue with someone who has expertise in that area. That’s where our one-on-one consultations come in.

You can book a consultation with one of our Research Services team for different types of tasks you might need help with - searching for literature, academic writing, data management, data analysis, or using specialist software like EndNote, SPSS, and NVivo.

We won’t always have the perfect answer or solution, but having the opportunity to talk through your issue with someone else is often just what’s needed to help you work out a way forward. So if you’re stuck, book a consult - it might be just the thing that gets you unstuck.

3. Overcoming the sense of isolation

Research can be a solitary pursuit, especially once you’re deep into your own project. We try to help HDR students connect with each other in a few different ways:

  • Thesis Fest - a two-day event held every year around July for HDR students, now running for six years. It’s packed with activities and guest speakers, and it’s a great opportunity to get together with other students who understand what you’re going through.

  • Find Your Tribe - a fortnightly, informal online get-together where HDR students share their experiences (including what they’re struggling with) and support one another. This group is student-led and facilitated, with topics decided by the group. We also have in-person events throughout the year, which usually involve pizza.

Thesis Bootcamp and Shut Up and Work, which are covered in the next section, are also worth a mention here. Working alongside other HDR students, even quietly, can make the whole process feel a lot less lonely.

4. Making time to work on your thesis

An HDR degree is a long-term commitment, and it can be difficult to sustain your motivation and enthusiasm over months and years. We run a few programs specifically to help with motivation and accountability:

  • Thesis Bootcamps - these are intensive writing retreats held throughout the year, ranging from one day to three days long. Students come together in the same space for structured, focused work sessions, working quietly on their own projects. The feedback on these has been overwhelmingly positive, not just because people get a lot of work done, but because they find real support and encouragement from their peers along the way.

  • Shut Up and Work- a shorter, online version of the same idea, running Monday to Thursday during semester.

5. Having quiet, comfortable spaces to work

Finding the right environment to work in can be its own challenge. The Library, in general, is a great place to study, with bookable study rooms and plenty of other spaces to choose from. Two spaces are particularly worth mentioning are:

  • Malayin Mia (Level 7) - a swipe-in study space for all Indigenous students.

  • The Postgrad Room (Level 5) - a swipe in study space for all postgraduate students, with lockers, desktop computers and second screens.

And of course, Thesis Bootcamp mentioned earlier solves two problems at once: a dedicated space to work, and the company of other HDR students working alongside you.

Final thoughts

So that’s a snapshot of some of the support the Library offers HDR students. If there’s one thing we want you to take away, it’s this: we are here to help you.

If you’re not sure whether we can help with something, ask anyway. Even if it’s not something we handle directly, we can point you in the right direction to get the help you need. You can email us at LibraryResearchServices@curtin.edu.au 

Resources

GRASP website: Detailed information about all our HDR programs and events.

Research Toolkit: In-depth information about literature searching, data management, research methods, publishing and more.

Library help: email or phone the Library to be put in touch with the Research Services team.

Please make any anonymous comments/ feedback, or suggestions for further posts at this link. If you would like to get in touch, or write a post for the Ideas Hub blog, please email karen.miller@curtin.edu.au.

Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash