Finding home in Manchester as a PhD researcher

Darya came to Manchester for research, but the city’s quirks and charms have turned it into more than just a place to study.

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d write a blog titled ‘Finding Home in Manchester’, I wouldn’t have believed you.

When I chose to do my PhD at The University of Manchester, I thought, I’m only going to be in Manchester for a few years. It’s not ‘home’; it’s just a stop along the way. But now, 3.5 years later, Manchester is where I feel the most at home!

In this blog, I am going to share my PhD journey in Manchester now that it is almost over. I’ve passed my viva and I’m currently working on my final corrections. I’ll reflect on what it was like to settle into Manchester, my favourite spots, and how this city became ‘home’.

The beginning: moving to Manchester

My name is Darya, and I did my PhD in Fashion Management and Marketing where I explored consumer behaviour in sustainable luxury fashion. I spent the first six months of my PhD in lockdown in London, so, for the sake of this blog, I’m just going to skip that part and go straight to when I moved to Manchester.

Coming from London, an obviously much bigger and busier city, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had visited Manchester before, but only for a day or two. So, at first, I was a bit underwhelmed to be honest. I thought, it’s a decent city; it has everything I need as a PhD researcher. But it’s never going to feel like home, and that’s okay. I’m just here for my PhD. My focus was purely on my research. I spent most of my time in my office and adapting to my new lifestyle as a PhD researcher. But as time went by, I started noticing things about Manchester that made me appreciate it, the biggest and best one being its convenience and walkability! I cannot begin to explain the comfort its convenience brings. I was practically able to walk to all the places I regularly went to. My flat, my office, and my favourite cafes and restaurants. If I couldn’t walk for whatever reason, there was always a bus stop or tram station nearby, and I loved that! It meant that I saved so much time and money on my daily commute.

Slowly, without realising it, I was settling in.

Change of scenery: cafés, libraries, and galleries

Spending years doing the same research and working on your own means that sometimes, a change of scenery is necessary to see your work from a fresh perspective. Even though I had a great office on campus, I found that switching up my environment was key to keeping myself motivated.

Cafés became my go-to for when I wanted to have more relaxed work sessions. Some of my favourites include Pollen and Ducie Street Warehouse, which are great spots to work on your laptop, read and have coffee. Ducie Street Warehouse even has a Pilates studio, which was really nice for when I needed a workout or stretch in between research.

Beyond cafés, Manchester is home to some incredible libraries and galleries, which quickly became part of my routine. My absolute favourite is the John Rylands Library. It always makes me feel like I am travelling back in time (in the best way possible) with its tall bookshelves, old books and gothic architecture. 

Another place I loved spending time in was The Whitworth Gallery. It’s a great spot to spend the whole day, really. It has a nice café, spaces to take your laptop to work, and of course, different exhibitions that you can visit. 

Last but certainly not least, if I ever felt like treating myself to a nice fancy meal, whether that was after long weeks of research or for celebrating a milestone like passing my first-year viva, there are a few amazing spots around the city. My favourite restaurant is Fenix, which has Greek-Mediterranean food, with a beautiful atmosphere and amazing ambience.

Finding friends in a PhD journey

Of course, a city doesn’t feel like home just because of the places; it’s the people that truly make you feel you belong.

Finding friends during a PhD, however, is very different to undergraduate and master’s. Without big lecture halls and group coursework, making friends requires a bit more effort. You need to be more proactive.

When I first started my PhD, I connected with a few people on LinkedIn based in Manchester who shared similar research interests. And believe it or not, without expecting anything out of those LinkedIn connections, they ended up becoming some of my closest friends! Looking back now, I think it’s because it can be difficult to find people who are exactly in the same boat as you, but once you do, you can build genuine connections very quickly. You can go to all the cafes and restaurants I mentioned before, and talk about all things PhD, research, or anything your heart desires.

Final thoughts

Manchester has shaped my experience in ways I never anticipated. It gave me convenience and flexibility but also a sense of community and belonging.

If I were to give any tips to anyone considering doing a PhD in Manchester, they would be take the time to explore, find places that inspire you, and be open to meeting new people. You might just find that Manchester has more to offer than you ever expected. That’s exactly what happened to me!