Is the PhD you've been offered fully funded? If it is it would be very difficult to turn down in a financial climate like this!

Saying that I don't think I would have been ready to go straight into a PhD after my undergrad course, but that was just me. Maybe you could ask them to defer your entry for a year and go and do a masters? State that you think you would be better prepared for a PhD that way? They might understand and allow you to start next year?

Good luck deciding!

I started running about 18 months ago, but I improved incredibly slowly!  So well done on doing 25 mins non stop on your first try! I think I would have collapsed when I first started.  I did a 5k race for life last year and then didn't improve after that much but tried to go out at least once a week. I signed up for a 10k this year to force me to make more time for running, joined a lunchtime running club at work and it's worked, I'm noticing huge differences in my fitness and mental health! 

I too bought expensive running shoes at the beginning it does work to motivate you, and as I 'severely over-pronate' when I did try with normal trainers I got shin splints!

Keep it up! It's so good as a stress reliever as well as for your fitness which I'm guessing will come in handy when I begin my PhD later this year!

Ah yeah, I know quite a lot of people who got into a PhD without a masters although that was a few years ago when it was less competitive. I just meant I don't think you can do half a masters and get a fasttrack type thing here. Although our masters are only a year, I know they are longer in other countries, maybe that makes a difference.

I see, I don't think they have that here in the UK, most PhD's are so competitive that you need a masters to get one.

Good luck with your search!

I applied for one initially, got picked for it but the project didn't get funding, I then applied for three others, where I didn't even get interviews.  Fortunately the project I got picked for re-applied for funding for the following year, I had to interview again a year later, but the project got funding and they picked me again! Just keep trying, I found the project I got the supervisor was keen to email me about literature etc. the ones I didn't get interviews for the supervisors either didn't reply to my emails asking for information or sent only formal blurb about the project. So if they supervisors are showing interest in you it's probably a good sign! 

www.findaphd.com  and www.jobs.ac.uk have some too although they do overlap. But not all PhD students get advertised positions, some apply to universities with their own ideas and then apply for funding separately (if they are not self-funding) once they are accepted to a University.

Hope that helps!

I'm sure I read somewhere that only about 60-70% of people with PhD's end up in the field they studied!  If you're studying something so narrow the chance of a job with the same topics is rare, so I guess most people end up with jobs that are 'somewhat relevant'.

Following threads on this forum of people who have recently gained their PhD's leads me to believe that industry jobs often believe you are over qualified if you have a PhD, I guess it depends on your field as all fields would be different. Snoop around on the websites of companies in your field and see if they have staff profiles, it may show you if the staff have PhD's which may let you know if it is worth you spending 3-4 years on a PhD?

Also how do you 'fast-track' to a PhD?  I haven't heard that term before?

We were always taught 'were' at uni, as data is a plural of datum, they made a really big fuss about it! But then that was sciences might be different for other departments.

I have no idea what a Licence 10.8 is, but a 66% is an upper second (2:1) so your grades sound acceptable for both.

Here is how the percentages work into grades in the UK
70% or more = a 1st
60 - 70% = a 2:1
50 - 60% = a 2:2
40 - 50% = a 3rd
under 40% = a fail

I tried but no luck I'm afraid! Sorry!

I think you should be ok, I have been offered a funded PhD and I have a 2:1 and haven't yet finished my masters which looks like I may scrape a merit but probably will just get a pass (it's distance learning and really struggled with working at home when I'm already working a full time job!). I don't even think the interviewees asked me about my masters grades at all. Although I did have relevant work experience too. So I guess if you did have problems, try working or volunteering in something relevant as that really ups the chances of getting picked!

I think most employers will never ask what grade you got for a masters. I got told by my uni if you get a distinction mention it, but otherwise always just write that you have a masters. It's not about the grades it's what you've learned in terms of skills and knowledge that's important. If they are really bothered they can look at your transcript but I doubt anyone will! As previous posts mention just getting a masters is enough to prove your worth so I wouldn't worry so much about the grades. You're not a failure at all! You're a passer

:-)

How many have you applied for? Perhaps the problem is that you're not giving enough time to the application process? You need to tailor your CV and completely rewrite the Cover letter for each project to make sure it give the best fit to the project.

I don't think anything you have done will act negatively, everything you've done seems to be very positive. But it is so competitive at the moment, especially in biological science, even if you get a first a lot of Uni's won't look at you unless you have a masters or relevant work experience too. Most of the projects start in September though so you may have to wait a year, but try and get some relevant experience in that year and it will make you a more attractive applicant later!

Hope this helps!
Caro

I'm not sure on the number of applicants but the PhD I interviewed for had six interviewees in total, although that was in environmental/ecological science. I was told I got it as I showed great enthusiasm and had the right experience (I have worked in the field for over a year). I was nervous too though, and had a few mind blanks, but as long as they can see you're interested and keen you should have a fighting chance!

Do some research into the topic and make sure you read some of the recent literature, especially if they have recommended you read certain papers.  I asked the supervisor if he recommended any reading before mine and got given copies of 20 papers! But I doubt most supervisors would do that! 

Most of all the interviewers just want to see that you can cope with a PhD and indeed that you know what a PhD entails, so say you are keen to do conferences, write papers, learn new skills etc etc. Your work experience will be very useful so make a point of mentioning skills you have learned.  I had an interview with a panel of five people, which seems scary but in the end they were all very friendly, and even helped me answer questions when I got stuck on words!

So just try to be calm and confident and have a clear answer in your head to the question 'why do you want to do a PhD?' as that's probably the most important one!

Good luck!