Hey! This is quite common for a masters degree- mine was the same. It wasn't a problem for me, I went on to do a PhD at the the same university just a week after I handed my MSc dissertation in and several months before I knew my final result, although I had all my exam marks by then. Quite a few people I know did this, but this might be because I stayed on at the same place and so they already knew what my result would most likely be etc. I'm not sure how it would work if you went elsewhere to do your PhD but I would be surprised if it caused a problem because so many people go straight from MSc to PhD. I guess you could ask at the universities you are hoping to apply for a PhD at and see what they say? KB

Being out in the mountains at the weekend, seeing my little nephew who was one year old yesterday and wondering who he'll be and what he'll be doing when he's 18, chocolate (in any shape or form!), spending time with friends and family and even my participants (just as well, I'm gonna be spending lots of time with them!), and listening to cool music whilst pounding along in the gym! And more, but that'll do for now...KB

Yeah, I know it will all get done in the end, it's just the thought of getting it all done that is a bit scary lol! Oh well, am gonna jump in with both feet and get into some sort of manageable routine and try to stay sane. Am kind of excited and looking forward to it though, I like to be busy! Good luck everyone, deep breaths.... KB

Me too, I love my PhD! I am scared by how much I need to do this year but I never lose enthusiasm. I absolutely love my topic, I love where I work and the team that I am a part of, and my supervisor is great. I can honestly say I never get to Sunday and dread going in to work on Monday (although a lot of the time I have to do some work at weekends anyway). Sickening, I know! The important thing for me is making sure I get a good balance and make time to socialise and exercise and relax etc. It should be an enjoyable experience overall, although of course some people don't find this, and there will be ups and downs along the way, but that's just life I guess! KB

Different subject but the mark at our uni for a distinction at MSc is 70% (same as for a first at undergrad). Personally I knew a lot more people who got a distinction at Msc level than got a first at undergrad and I'm pretty sure the proportion getting a distinction is higher that for getting a first. But then again, the people doing the MSc were generally those who had a high 2.1 or first at undergrad level so were probably more likely to get 70% at Msc level anyway.....Good luck! KB

Hey guys!

I've really enjoyed my first year PhD and have been getting along fairly well with it. It's been a busy year but I am only just getting to grips with how much more I have to fit in this year! I have a huge amount of testing to do (literally hundreds of visits to participants' homes!), teaching 3rd year undergrads, supervising a number of MSc students, publications to write and submit, conferences to try to present at...not to mention separate studies to conduct that probably won't even end up in my PhD. I know this is all just part of the PhD process and am not whining (well, trying not to ,-)). I am actually quite excited by it all but also quite nervous at the thought of managing to get it all done without having a nervous breakdown. Is anyone else feeling like this?!

Am hoping it's not just me!

Cheers guys, KB!

I think it depends on what you are planning to do afterwards. If you want to get onto a PhD then probably the research MSc would be more appropriate, but I would still have a look at the taught one. I did a taught MSc but the research was a large part of it (40%) and I am now doing a PhD. Although the research component of my MSc has been extremely useful (I cannot overstate how important this was for my PhD) the taught part of the MSc has also been very helpful. As well as expanding my knowledge about the subject it also focussed on how to present research with respect to writing for publication, poster presentations, and orally (and gave us a chance to practice these skills). If you are not planning to stay in research then the taught MSc would probably be better for expanding your knowledge of the field more generally, rather than focussing on researching just one small aspect of it. KB.

Hey! I really feel for you...I have bipolar disorder which I have had to take time out of my studies to deal with and was also treated for an eating disorder back in sixth form. You have absolutely done the right thing by going to seek help, this is one of the hardest things to have to do, it sounds as though you really do want to get better and this is the most important thing. What you need right now is some support, I really would contact your student counselling service and see what they can do to help. Although they might not be specialists I'm sure they will have come across people with eating disorders before at university and will be able to help. Is your supervisor aware of any problems you are having? Even if you don't want to disclose what is happening, it might be worth making him/her aware that things are a bit tough for you right now and that you are trying your best but struggling with the work at the moment. Again, it's a scary thing to do but in my experience supervisors like to know what is going on and will do their best to support you and not put you under too much pressure whilst things are hard for you. Is there any aspect of your PhD that you feel you can still cope with whilst you put other things on hold? Sometimes when I am not so well I am unable to go out testing participants or writing papers but I can manage really mundane things like entering data or filing...it can be helpful just to keep busy and at least feel like you are doing something. But if you really need a break then take it. With the bipolar I had to drop out of uni three times and yet finally I got back and did my BSc, MSc and am now PhD-ing. You can do it, you just need to look after yourself and put yourself and your recovery first. Best wishes, KB

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I would think that your old personal tutor/supervisor would write you one anyway if you can track him/her down, even if they don't remember you. These guys are used to writing references for people they have only ever met once or twice just by checking your grades/transcript etc...I have had references written based on just this information which have read very well and actually sounded as though the referee knew me properly! It's worth a go! KB

Haha, I am having EXACTLY the same panic right now! I ran seminars with second year undergrads this year but there were two of us running them and only about 20 students in each group. Plus we were told pretty much exactly what we had to teach and how to do it. Even with this, I was really nervous. I have found out today that I will be the teaching assistant on my supervisor's third year module this year, which means that at times there will be 60-80 students and just me...I am absolutely cacking it!!! I remember the time when I did that module and looked up to the PhD students as though they were gods and must know everything there is to know, and now I'm gonna be standing up there I am being hit by reality! Oh well, all good experience I guess.....let us know how you get on! KB

Hi! I am in Psyc but previously did 18 months of a biology degree before changing to Psyc. In my first 18 months of biology we did quite a lot of genetics- more so than I have covered in Psyc and of a different sort of nature. Whilst we have done the basic stuff in Psyc and stuff about nature/nuture, twin studies and the inheritance of certain psychological disorders etc, we haven't gone into the more biological stuff like the actual structure of DNA and so on that I did on the biol course. I would imagine that you would need at least a masters in genetics if you want a PhD in genetics, although I guess it depends to some degree exactly what the PhD is in and how biological it is. I suppose you need to think about the competition...I would imagine that most people applying for these PhDs will have a background in biology and possibly also an MSc which would leave you out of the running I would think. In my field the topic of the MSc is vital in securing a PhD, so I imagine if you do an appropriate MSc and do well at it then you might be in with a chance. Good luck, KB

Personally, I have to make sure that the spelling and grammar are perfect...they are the things that really make me cringe if I mess them up! My supervisor says that I write well so I am always paranoid that I am going to shatter that illusion she has. Obviously there are far more important things to stress over in the grand scheme of things, i.e. the actual content, but it's always the little things I like to stress over before I hand anything in! Maybe that's just me....KB

I guess the appropriate number of people to be interviewed depends on a lot of things...the research question(s), method of analysis, availability of population etc. My friend is interviewing 60 people (to be analysed with grounded theory and interpretative phenomenological analysis) which is a huge sample for that type of study, but that's basically her whole PhD. My PhD is mainly quantitative but I am also doing either 1 or 2 small qualitative studies with 10-12 people in each, which is a fairly typical sample size for that type of study in the field I am in. Whilst I have an awful lot more testing and visits to do than she does, it's her transcription and analysis that's gonna take all her time up. I don't suppose there is an ideal sample size that caters for all studies...

It really depends on your subject. In some subjects I would say you would definitely need a good masters grade to 'make up' for your 2.2 at BSc level. I don't know so much about other subjects but I am in Clinical Psychology and it is very unlikely you would get funding with a 2.2, especially without a very good grade at masters. In other subjects you might be okay. A friend of mine got a fully funded PhD in economics with a 2.2 and a pass at MSc. To be honest, I would work seriously hard at your masters and aim for a distinction if you want to be in with a shot at PhD funding...though it does depend a little on being in the right place at the right time and who you know etc. Best of luck, KB.

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Hi Natassia!

I did an MSc last year (I seem to remember that we are vaguely in the same field- are you doing something psychology related?!) and am just coming to the end of my 1st year PhD. I think the main thing for you to do is to concentrate on getting a good MSc result (preferably a distinction, which I am sure you will be capable of seeing as though you have a first!) and to get moving on your PhD application(s). I don't know how flexible your course is on your MSc dissertation, but it is helpful (although not essential) to do it on something along similar lines to what you would like to do your PhD on. I don't necessarily mean exactly the same topic, but maybe within the same population or field, or using similar methodology or something. My PhD is focusing on the same population (people with dementia) as my MSc was and this was good preparation for the PhD. The other thing is that the MSc is a good time to approach people about supervising your PhD. If your MSc is in the same area as your proposed PhD project and you impress your supervisor, they may well be happy to take you on for a PhD and help out with applying for funding and so on. It's best to get moving on this quickly- I would say you could start approaching people about supervising your PhD right at the beginning of your MSc. I did this and it gave us plenty of time to get a few applications for funding in etc before everyone else beat us to it. Finally, I wouldn't stress too much about publishing your MSc stuff. Yes, it's nice to do that, and looks good, but it really isn't necessary at MSc level- the PhD is a good time to stress about publications! And finally, don't stress! MScs are hard work and I'm sure you'll be busy, but you will be perfectly capable of doing well so try to enjoy it! Good luck, KB