Painting our way through research, belonging, and London | The PhD Sketchbook

Louise and Tooba are two international doctoral students at the UCL Institute of Education, and in 2026 they are navigating the third year of their PhD programmes.

But what does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it?

In a study room in the IOE Library - table covered with bright art materials - they start at the beginning. They reflect on the ‘seeds’ that motivated them to start a PhD, their paths to London, and the small moments that help an unfamiliar city slowly feel like home, all shared over canvas and colour.

Listen to their ensuing conversation on the IOE Insights podcast, and see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog.