Marion Lagadic
Student spotlight details
The part-time structure of the DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development programme allowed student Marion Lagadic to realise and embark on her dream of studying for a doctorate.
'Before enrolling on the DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development (DSUD), I studied Regional and Urban Planning Studies at the LSE, and Urban Policy at Sciences Po, Paris. After graduating in 2015, I started working in a private social sciences research firm specialised in mobility. I am still working there today as a project manager. The pace is that of a consultancy, with projects unfolding over an average of 3 months, and a greater concern for applicability in the short-term than for theory. While I enjoy the challenge of short-term projects, I was aspiring to an in-depth research project of my own.
'I had thought about enrolling on a doctoral programme several times in the past, but I had never quite found the right fit. I wanted to study in a multidisciplinary programme, and those are not common in France, where I live. However, I enjoyed my job and life in Paris and was not ready to leave it. The DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development is a part-time programme that allows students to pursue a professional career while conducting their research. This unique format allowed me to realise my dream of studying for a doctorate.
'Finding the right topic also triggered my decision to pursue the DPhil. I am passionate about Japan and had been fascinated by the very specific Japanese cycling culture for years. I decided to start researching it as a hobby; this initial independent research turned into the research proposal I submitted as part of my application.
'The DSUD programme offers the perfect combination of flexibility and rigour. Students are expected to be independent, but are provided with a high-quality methodological and thematic training that allows them to develop as researchers. The student-supervisor relationship is at the core of the DSUD experience: my supervisor has encouraged me to take some distance from my initial proposal to engage with a much wider literature. Thanks to her guidance, I have improved not only my research project, but also my critical outlook on my own work.
'Students on the DPhil combine work and their doctoral research, and this requires organisation and autonomy. Your DPhil research should passionate you, and it will thus always be on your mind. This will be a richness in your daily life, but it may be challenging at times. I find that compartmentalising my time helps me reconcile my research and work commitments: I work at my office three weeks a month, and one week a month on my DPhil. Some of my colleagues have a much more fluid organisation; the key is to find the one that will work for you.'
Learn more:
