Thesis First – Find your focus for the last year of your thesis!

TitleTimeRoomTeacher
Thesis First – Find your focus for the last year of your thesis! 06.11.2026 13:15 - 14:45 (Fri)Online Dr. Luisa Demant
Thesis First – Find your focus for the last year of your thesis! 10.11.2026 13:15 - 14:45 (Tue)OnlineDr. Luisa Demant
Thesis First – Find your focus for the last year of your thesis! 13.11.2026 13:15 - 14:45 (Fri)Online Dr. Luisa Demant
Thesis First – Find your focus for the last year of your thesis! 17.11.2026 13:15 - 14:45 (Tue)OnlineDr. Luisa Demant
Keywords: 
Energy and time managemernt, procrastination, thesis motivation, thesis completion
Course Description: 

This course supports doctoral researchers in making a deliberate shift from "doing everything else" to intentionally prioritizing their doctoral thesis. Participants examine how their current patterns of work, commitments, and expectations are shaping their progress, and identify what needs to change in order to create space for focused thesis work.

The course addresses practical strategies for prioritization, boundary-setting, time and energy management, and the development of sustainable routines suited to individual academic contexts and life circumstances. Sessions combine guided reflection, concrete planning tools, peer exchange, and structured accountability practices.

Course aims: 
  • Make a clear and intentional shift toward prioritizing your dissertation as a primary professional focus
  • Develop personalized routines and working practices that support steady thesis progress
  • Learn to manage distractions, competing demands, and academic obligations more effectively
  • Increase confidence and momentum toward completing the dissertation within 12 months
  • Establish supportive accountability relationships with peers
Teaching methods: 

Trainer input, guided reflection, concrete planning tools, peer exchange, and structured accountability practices.

This course fits doctoral candidates in the following phase: 

At the end of the doctorate

Participation requirements: 

Participants should be in the last 12 months of their thesis work. 

Technical requirements: 

Laptop/tablet with stable internet connection, microphone, webcam, Zoom (in most cases).

Course preparation: 

None.

Category: 
Fachübergreifende Veranstaltung
Event type: 
Seminar/Workshop
Organizer: 
Graduate School Geschäftsstelle
Responsibility for event: 
Hauptverantwortung
Format: 
Digital/Online
Course Language: 
EN
Course Capacity (Max): 
10
Course capacity (Min): 
1
Duration in hours: 
6
Financial contribution: 
20 Euro
Trainer: 
Dr. Luisa Demant

Dr. Luisa Demant is a coach and trainer for doctoral candidates, working with universities and graduate schools across Europe and the UK. Based in London, she supports doctoral candidates in overcoming procrastination, regaining motivation, and moving through the PhD process with more clarity, confidence, and joy. After completing her PhD, she decided to create the kind of support she had longed for during her own thesis journey. Since 2015, she has designed courses and trainings that combine mindfulness and coaching techniques to help doctoral candidates thrive and achieve their goals. By now, I have worked with more than 250 doctoral candidates across a wide range of disciplines.