Is the regression model linear or non-linear. How many independent and dependent variables etc..I guess the best regression fit for an unknown parameter would be the one that minimizes the error between measured and predicted values of a dependent variable.

Sneaks you are lucky.http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/gradschool/phd.html#registration
An excerpt is The normal maximum period of registration for PhD research students is 48 months full-time, 72 months part-time; for MPhil students it is 36 and 60 months. Extensions beyond the maximum will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances and if approved in advance by the Director of the Graduate School.

There is also a rare breed of supervisors who think that PhD is about how successfully you tie a knot between strings(off the shelf) of already proven work rather than going into indepth investigation what actually those strings do....or for what purpose they were made or what are their chemical composition. Quantity rather than Quality. I been blessed with an Exception.:-x

After 3 years a Pal had to submit a form 'intention to submit thesis' and had 2 pay 150GBP/semester for continual registration.

Shanksy: It is very difficult and almost impossible to answer your question. You can check this article for an acquittance what it's really like. http://www.cs.unc.edu/~azuma/hitch4.html.

illimitato(up)

May be she needs a bit more company or attention. What about a regular 1hr walk/jog with her. It is so refreshing for me and gets rid of odd feelings that you could get in a commercial gym and is healthier.

Sneaks: These should be secondary issues. But in your discussion you also suspected that judges are appointed by PM and hence they will be biased. What a democracy is this then??:$ Thats why a majority of British People think that the whole system is Crap and Obsolete. We public are just being used and abused by people who still think we are living in the 18th Century that hold the majority of our lands and £s. The secrets could be that how still we pursuing a methodology of colonialism and will do anything to grab resources like oil for the benefit of a few.. There are other scandals as well like Euro fighters.. We all should work hard to ask the so called champions of parties how they would resolve these issues once they come to power not compromising on their petty manifestos.
Sry, I even did not study Political Science in my GCSEs.;-)

The current democratic system is obsolete anyway. Its been run like a civilian coup. Did Bliars listen to people's voices when staring wars that killed millions is still is on, wrecking infrastructure of a third world country and opting out without any conclusive result. Same is happening in other issues as well from nuclear missiles to tax systems. Its a shame that people earning less than 20K which is the majority of population feeding ones with already swollen stomachs. Banks, supermarkets, transportation, taxman all hit the poor. A true democracy will hear people voices not just at elections but all along the course. we are fooled by these politicians making all those petty promises which are even not fulfilled.

Beautiful Article. Could be demoralizing if viewed with pessimistic angle. I joined a builder during 6 month break from PhD. Now I can do all house renovation work. I found physical work more satisfying and is easy to apply all learning phases/cycles without being dependent on outside world... as in corporate sectors etc where you live in a sort of virtual environment (due to matters beyond your control). Despite coming from an engineering background I still feel academia is doing very little to break the gap between theory & practice especially in UK. Learning a side skill is so interesting if you have time & money.

Doing PhD itself requires leadership and management skills. Our Graduate School does offer Research Management Skills. I guess the way a organization manages itself and others are trade secrets that's why they courses are not open to students. Sometimes, it works from top to bottom and people at implementation level would not even know how the management decisions were made. Mostly, it revolves around money....as far as I know.

sorry lil mistake should have been 'is it' rather than 'it is' . I could not understand your answer nor in anyway it successfully justifies how mistreatment and bullying at work place is a rather normal experience in your view. The whole reason of posting this is to correct my understanding of how it should work taking into consideration other's view? rather than demanding a lecture on psychology. If you not understand the question don't post plz..

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Dear All, Is it nearly an endemic that PhD students are treated as guinea pigs by senior staff in the universities?
I was in a similar situation where my Supervisor was not willing for some reason to give me charge of my project and delayed the assessment procedures and a final proposal to work on which I think was because of the pressure up in the ladder and due to universities not earning enough money as they were earlier due to lack of funding from gov.
I think this is the main reason why so many PhD students get dis hearted and withdraw due to lack of Self Esteem. There could be many human factors why this happens which is close to bullying. One could be that senior staff have not appropriate knowledge of their field and a fear factor is involved.
I was wondering if you ever experience a similar experience and have ever tried to change this culture.