If you are doing a PhD, you’ve probably realised that reading takes up more of your time than you expected. Reading lists grow faster than you can work through them, journal articles feel dense and slow to digest, and it can seem as though everyone else is reading more — and faster — than you are.
This is very common during your doctorate. However, struggling with reading at PhD level does not mean you lack ability or intelligence. It usually means you have to shift the focus and learn how to read strategically.
Strong academic reading skills are about knowing what to read, how to read it, and how deeply to engage in order to assimilate concepts. This article brings together practical PhD reading tips to help you improve your academic reading skills, read more efficiently, and reduce overwhelm — without sacrificing understanding or quality.
Why Academic Reading Skills Matter in a PhD
The importance of academic reading skills increases significantly during your PhD. Unlike undergraduate or Master’s study, reading resources at PhD level means positioning your research within a field, understanding debates, and developing an original contribution.
During your PhD almost every aspect of your work revolves around reading:
- shaping your literature review
- refining your research questions
- developing theoretical frameworks
- identifying methodological approaches
- preparing for supervision meetings and, later, your viva
If your academic reading skills are underdeveloped, you may experience slow progress, information overload, and a sense of constantly being behind. Reading becomes time-consuming without being productive, leading to rereading the same papers and feeling unsure how they actually inform your PhD research.
Developing effective reading strategies is therefore not optional. It is a core research skill that underpins confident writing, critical thinking, and long-term progress.
Common Reading Challenges for PhD Students
Most PhD students encounter similar reading difficulties, particularly in the first year. Common challenges include feeling pressure to read everything in full about a certain topic, struggling with dense theoretical texts, or reading slowly but retaining very little.
Many students also feel uncertain about what “counts” as enough reading. This uncertainty often leads to guilt-driven reading: working through articles line by line, even when large sections are not relevant.
Another issue is comparison. Seeing peers reference unfamiliar theorists or speak confidently about literature can make reading feel like a personal weakness rather than a skill still under development.
If this sounds familiar, then you require a different approach — one that is strategic, selective, and purposeful.
PhD Reading Strategies That Actually Work
First of all, if you want to start reading more effectively during your PhD, you need to recognise that not all reading serves the same purpose. Some reading provides background context, some helps you locate debates, and some demands close, critical engagement.
One of the most important shifts is moving away from linear reading. Journal articles are not novels. They are structured documents designed to allow readers to extract information efficiently. Learning how to approach them strategically can dramatically reduce reading time while improving comprehension.
📚 If you have not already done so, it is worth familiarising yourself with how journal articles are organised and how to prioritise sections depending on your purpose. This is explained in detail here in our guide about how to read journal articles effectively.
Academic Reading Tips: Before, During, and After You Read
One of the most effective ways to improve academic reading skills is to think about reading as a three-stage process: before, during, and after. Each stage serves a different function and supports more efficient, focused reading.
Before Reading: Set Yourself Up to Read Efficiently
Before you start reading in detail, pause and ask yourself why you are reading this text. Are you looking for background knowledge, a theoretical position, a methodological example, or something to cite in your literature review?
Scanning is essential at this stage. Read the abstract, introduction, headings, and conclusion. This allows you to assess relevance before committing significant time. Many PhD students struggle because they skip this stage and dive straight into dense sections unnecessarily.
Deciding early whether a text requires skimming, selective reading, or deep engagement is a key part of reading fast without losing academic rigour.
During Reading: Read Actively, Not Passively
During reading, focus on arguments rather than sentences. Academic texts are built around claims, supported by evidence and positioned within wider debates. Your goal is to understand what the author is arguing and why, not to memorise phrasing.
Avoid highlighting large blocks of text. Instead, make brief notes that capture ideas in your own words or raise questions. This active engagement improves retention and critical thinking.
Reading fast at PhD level does not mean rushing. It means directing attention deliberately, slowing down when necessary and skipping material that does not serve your purpose.
After Reading: Consolidate and Avoid Rereading
The post-reading stage is often overlooked, yet it is crucial for developing academic reading skills. Taking a few minutes to write a short summary or synthesis note helps embed understanding and prevents the need to reread later.
Focus on how the text relates to your research question, where you agree or disagree, and how it connects to other readings. Over time, this practice builds confidence and makes literature reviews far easier to write.
How to Develop Efficient PhD Reading Skills
Reading across a long research project tends to settle into patterns. Some texts slow you down because they are conceptually demanding; others can be moved through more lightly once you know what you are looking for. Over time, the challenge is not simply understanding individual texts, but developing habits that allow reading to support ongoing thinking and writing without becoming overwhelming.
1. Start by Learning How to Handle Complex Texts
Reading difficulties during your PhD usually stem from complexity rather than volume. Theoretical writing, interdisciplinary research, and specialist arguments are an expected part of doctoral study, and struggling with them is entirely normal.
Improving academic reading skills begins with learning how to work through complex material carefully and deliberately. This involves breaking texts into manageable sections, identifying core concepts and claims, and mapping how arguments develop. Slowing down at this stage is not inefficient; it prevents misunderstanding and repeated rereading later on.
🔍 If you regularly encounter texts that feel impenetrable, structured techniques for unpacking complexity can help. More practical guidance on how to do this is outlined in our article on how to break down complex texts.
2. Use Selective Reading to Read Faster Without Losing Understanding
Once you are confident in handling complex texts, reading faster becomes a matter of selectivity, not speed. At doctoral level, fast reading does not mean rushing through articles, but deciding where close attention is needed.
Effective fast reading involves filtering irrelevant material early, adjusting pace according to purpose, and recognising when sections can be skimmed. Introductions and conclusions often provide enough information to assess relevance, while familiar theoretical or methodological material can be read more quickly.
Crucially, fast reading works only because you understand how academic arguments are constructed. Without that foundation, speed leads to superficial engagement rather than efficiency.
3. Build Sustainability by Balancing Depth and Efficiency
Sustainable PhD reading comes from balancing deep, analytical reading with selective fast reading. Some periods of research require careful engagement with challenging material, while others involve scanning widely to situate your work within the field.
Don’t aim to read as much as possible; focus on building habits that support steady progress instead. Batch reading by purpose, integrate reading with writing, and set realistic time limits to avoid fatigue. Organised notes and reference management software reduce duplication and ensure that reading feeds directly into your research.
When reading is approached strategically, it becomes part of a coherent research workflow rather than a source of pressure — supporting clearer thinking, which typically translates to stronger writing.
Conclusion: Smarter Reading, Stronger Research
Strong academic reading skills are developed through practice, reflection, and the right strategies. By approaching reading purposefully, letting go of the idea that everything must be read in full, you will learn to read more effectively and with greater confidence.
Reading smarter supports stronger writing, clearer thinking, and a more manageable PhD experience. Over time, these skills will serve you well not only during your doctorate but throughout your academic or professional career.
FAQs about Academic Reading During Your PhD
How can you read effectively as a PhD student?
Simply put: always read with a clear purpose. Instead of reading everything in full, identify what you need from each text, read selectively, and consolidate your understanding through short synthesis notes. Effective academic reading focuses on arguments, relevance, and critical engagement rather than quantity.
Why are academic papers so difficult to read?
Academic papers are written for specialist audiences and often assume prior theoretical knowledge. They prioritise precision and contribution to scholarly debates rather than accessibility. Difficulty is normal, especially when reading outside your immediate field or engaging with theory-heavy material.
How many papers should a PhD student read a week?
There is no fixed number. Some weeks may involve skimming several papers for context, while others require deep engagement with one or two key texts. What matters is whether your reading supports your research questions, writing, and overall progress.
💡 If You’re Struggling to Keep Your Reading List Manageable During Your PhD We Can Help
If reading is slowing down your progress, undermining your confidence, or making your PhD feel overwhelming, personalised mentoring sessions can help. Our PhD mentorship service offers one-to-one support to help you develop effective reading strategies, engage critically with literature, and build sustainable research habits. Learn more about our mentoring services tailored to PhD students.
