Hmmm, I can't say I have had a particular experience of being graded unfairly due to internal politics, but I am aware of how inconsistent marking within a single department or even a single module can be. This seems to be particularly bad when a large group (i.e. the whole module or even the whole year) have their work marked and graded by different members of staff. Sometimes there are blatent inconsistencies, where a person has lost a whole grade for one explicit reason, and another has made exactly the same error and received no penalty for it, or even a comment regarding the error. More frequently though, the reasons for differences in grades are not so explicit, so it is hard to make sense of why one piece of work had received a better grade than another. I think one of the worst situations is where different lecturers mark project presentations, where there is no second opinion and no possibility of moderation since the presentations are not recorded. Yet students' results are sometimes 'surprising' enough for a lot of people to question how consistent the marking really is. On a related theme, I mark a lot of undergrad work as a PhD student, as do many other PhD students, and it is quite clear that some of us are not marking to the same standards, even where the marking guidelines are quite specific. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of politics going on behind the scenes though...what sort of internal politics are you referring to? I have known overall module marks to be 'boosted' due to a ridiculously unfair exam paper etc....KB

Hey Sinead! Just to reiterate what everyone else has said really. Masters degrees are so so hard, I finished mine last year and it is the hardest year I have ever had. Like you, it felt like all I ever did was work, and by the time it got to the end of the year I was exhausted and struggling to drag myself over the finish line. But you have worked so hard and you deserve to do well and get through this. I have been seeing a uni counsellor all the way through my BSc, MSc, and am still seeing her now I'm doing my PhD. Even though my friends and family are really supportive, I doubt I would still be at uni without the support of my counsellor. Please go see one at your uni- they will understand (the one I see is practically a mind-reader), and it is one place where it really is okay to feel exactly how you feel without having to put a face on it or pretend otherwise. In addition, they can assist with practical stuff like coursework extensions and point you in the right direction for extra financial support if that would help (the uni I am at gives out non-repayable 'hardship' grants to people who are really struggling, especially those in their final year). Seeing a counsellor is not about being weak and accepting extensions is NOT giving in- you need to do whatever will make everything just that little bit more do-able for you right now. People do care and they do want to help. With respect to your work, I always did a timetable for myself, set little goals, and ticked them off as I went. You are so close now, just envision the end result and push yourself through it. I still set myself goals and when I go to the gym I pound along on the treadmill imagining what it will feel like when I achieve each goal. Sometimes it feels like I will never get there, but I always do in the end, and it always feels just as good as I imagine it will. Big hugs to you. KB

Hey Pamplemousse! I just had my first year review this afternoon and found it quite nerve-wracking, despite not really anticipating (or having) any problems. I didn't find it particularly unpleasant (although there was lots of nervous laughter involved on my part!) but I always come out of stuff like that and forget or disregard all the good stuff that was said, and focus on any suggestions that were made and take them as personal criticism! The thing is, I know I do that, but I can't seem to stop doing it! Admittedly, there were no tears today, but I have been left in tears before by 'successful' meetings where I have achieved the required outcome, but which left me feeling anything but successful. I guess it's a mixture of wound up feelings, tension, nerves, and then finally relief of some description. I don't think it means we're not cut out for PhDs...maybe we will just get tougher with time! And the other thing is, if you didn't care, you wouldn't be getting upset...and it has to be good to care about what we're doing! Chin up, KB.

Hey Natassia, congrats! I have also done my BSc, MSc and am now doing my PhD at the same uni. Personally, I didn't find that as MSc students we were treated that much differently to being an undergrad by the staff, but then there were around 30 students exactly the same MSc where I was and another 20 or so doing a very similar one (although obviously our research projects were different)- I'm in a really big department. I think it probably depends on your subject. I'm in Clinical Psychology, and to be honest, whatever you want to do in Clinical Psychology these days (or Psychology at all for that matter), you really need to have a masters if you are going to progress, so a lot of people on the MSc weren't there just to get onto PhDs, but to get onto practioner doctorates and get jobs as assistant psychologists etc. So it wasn't assumed that we wanted to do PhDs, and if you did, you had to get on with contacting lecturers and putting ideas forward etc. I found the biggest change was when I approached my now-supervisor about doing a PhD- that is when you start to get taken more seriously, and I think the beginning of your masters is a really good time to start making contacts with potential Phd supervisors. As for the workload, it was the hardest year of my life! Really really intense, taught stuff, exams, coursework, and a huge research project, but I'm so thankful that I did it! Personally, I would just enjoy your summer and not worry about reading up etc. Do some useful work experience or just get some money together I reckon! And relax, it's gonna be a tough year (but definitely worthwhile!). Enjoy! KB

Hey Fairycakes! First off, what you're doing IS amazing! You've got yourself onto a PhD, which by today's standards is not a walk in the park. It's unlikely you would even be there if you weren't capable of getting through it, so remember that. And remind yourself why you wanted to do it in the first place, think about the end point, whoever/whatever inspires you etc. When I get frustrated I think about all the people who suffer from the illness I am studying, including a relative of mine, and what I hope to contribute eventually to this field of research, and I don't stay de-motivated for very long. Your supervisor obviously has a lot of faith in you, so he must be impressed with how you are progressing, or he certainly wouldn't be asking you to present or write articles with him. I guess it all sounds over-whelming right now though- sometimes people having confidence in you can lead to you feeling under more pressure. Speak to your sup about it, perhaps he doesn't realise how tough you are finding things, he might be able to make suggestions to make things a little easier for you. I hate to do the 'feel the fear...' thing on you, but sometimes it works for me. I get really nervous about presenting and I have to present my work to an ethics committee board in a couple of weeks and am shitting myself. Yesterday, in a team meeting my sup completely dropped me in it and announced to everyone that I was going to present my research to them (I had NO prior warning at all) and I nearly died. But I did it :) Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But talk to people- if not your sup, maybe a uni counsellor or something? You CAN do it! KB

I would really think about doing a masters. As I already said, my MSc was an entrance requirement for my PhD, but had I not done it I would not have been at all prepared for the demands of a PhD. In additon, a lot of people get onto a PhD by making contacts with potential supervisors through their masters degree, who might be able to help you to get funding. Also, you might be able to find a masters which is quite closely related to your intended PhD- how closely related is your PhD topic to your undergrad degree? Excuse my ignorance! KB

Personally, I would double check with the unis you're applying to just to make sure. In my department an MSc is a requirement for getting on to the PhD, and if people apply to do a PhD without an MSc, they are expected to complete one before commencing their PhD. But I am in a very different area to you and it is an extremely competitive field- I know lots of people in other departments who didn't need a masters. KB

Hey, you'll probably be fine. So long as you have the entrance requirements (usually just a 2.1 in whatever degree) you should be fine. I didn't even have an interview for my MSc, I just got an offer based on my exam performances to date and references, like many others. At the end of the day, you are paying a lot of money to do a masters, so in all likelihood they will want to take on as many people as they can. I guess it might be different if you were applying for a funded PhD, I would imagine that would require an interview and be more competitive.... Anyway, fingers crossed! KB

Hi! I can really empathize with you there... although my PhD is mostly quantitative (the way I like it!), I am doing a qualitative study as well, simply because I don't believe I can do my topic justice just by doing a load of stats and reducing everything to numbers. But like yourself, I have read a lot about the theory of how to do the analysis (I am going to be using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) but have never actually done any. Although I haven't done my interviews yet, I know how overwhelming it will feel when I actually sit down to do this type of analysis which I have never done before. I am lucky because my supervisor is very well known for her IPA studies and will be able to guide me, but I have also booked myself a place on an IPA conference which incorporates a beginners workshop for people to get stuck in and have a go. Is there any way you could find a workshop to go to? I guess to some extent it is just a case of getting stuck in, but I picture myself in a few months time with a load of transcripts, going 's**t...now what?!'. The other thing that really annoys me is that a lot of people look down on qualitative research, particularly those who have no idea how rigorous and time-consuming the analysis is. I have had statisticians rolling their eyes at me etc when I mention that I am doing some qualitative stuff as well as quant, and this in itself feels like a battle! But in my field (Clinical Psych), this type of research is invaluable. So no, you're not being silly! Good luck with it all! KB

Wow...that's a tricky one. My first thought is that personally, my conscience wouldn't let me do what you are suggesting. But when I think about it a little more, this is the real world and things aren't always clear-cut. I guess if you have to do it, just try to keep it as mess-free as possible- no doubt if you keep it under wraps for another year you will upset a few folk when they realise how long you have been planning this. Is it really possible for someone else to take over? If there is only one year's worth of work left, will someone else be able to jump on board and get a PhD out of it?! I don't mean to judge you, you are in a really difficult position. Usually I would say honesty is a good thing...but if you are looking at your own best interests it might not be in this case. I would certainly spend time thinking about it and don't do anything too rash! KB

I don't think it would put people off, so long as you make it clear that your studies will be your priority. Lots of people have to work in order to fund their MSc. However, it really depends on how intense and flexible your course is. I didn't work at all through my MSc because it just wasn't feasible- we were also advised not to work during term time due to the demands of the course. My MSc was split between being a taught course and doing research, and I was snowed under with so many exams, heaps of coursework, and a major research project on top of that. The project I was involved in was extremely demanding- much more so that many other people's projects, but it got me where I wanted to be in the end so I have no regrets. But it literally felt like two or three years' worth of work crammed into a single year, and I spent all of my holidays either revising for exams or testing participants for my research project. Then again, I know people on other courses which are nothing like as demanding in terms of time, so I guess the best thing is to just wait and see how busy you are going to be. But make sure you do your masters to the best of your ability- they are often the gateway to future PhDs/jobs etc. Good luck! KB

Fraid not....heaven forbid I feel incompetent without first following the correct procedures ;) Have had another fun day of chasing invisible people for signatures, printing out six trees' worth of paperwork, and triple checking that I have enough copies of everything printed and saved in at least four different places, so that I can satisfy the lovely ethics lady tomorrow with my stunning competence! I have a horrible feeling it will end in tears....! KB

Yeah...thanks for that, Hypothesis ;) I have a feeling you are right! And yes, it is the dreaded IRAS 'new and improved/streamlined process'! Just when you think you are ready to submit you make that dreaded phonecall about one tiny last detail only to find that you need yet another form, a different signature, and various other things that just a week ago I was assured that I didn't need! And I do have several research sites. It is very nice to hear that I am not alone in all this though- I swear the whole system is designed to make you feel completely incompetent! Oh well, after storming home in a foul mood last night, I went to aerobics, ate lots of chocolate ice cream and watched some trashy TV. And this morning I feel fit to continue my quest to conquer the ethics world! Have a good day people! KB

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Okay, I've had a s**t day. Is it just me, or does doing a PhD mean that people automatically assume that you know all sorts of things that you could not possibly know unless they had already told you? Have spent weeks and weeks on some ethics forms which I am supposed to be submitting this week. I emailed the person in charge today over a minor query just to be told that the forms I had got signed were in the wrong format so the signatures couldn't possibly be accepted, that I needed another form called something I have never heard of that nobody has ever mentioned, that I needed a reference number which nobody has ever mentioned, let alone given me. You could be forgiven for thinking that maybe I have just been a bit slack and not checked everything out in enough detail, but believe me, I have done my homework and this stuff just isn't mentioned ANYWHERE!! Now it looks like I might miss this month's deadline and I am mighty pissed off. Did I miss the induction at the beginning of the year where all new PhD students were granted with psychic powers? Anyone?!
Rant over. Hope you all had a better day than I did!

I'm sure you'll be fine with the MSc, they're not usually too hard to get onto provided you have a 2.1 and some money! There is something called a 1+3 studentship (I think the Economic & Social Research Council- ESRC- grant them) which covers both your MSc and your PhD fees, but the deadline for this year will have passed a while ago now. Most people have to fork out for the masters but then get funding for the PhD. I stayed at the same uni for my undergrad, MSc and Phd. Some people suggest that this isn't the best idea (although there is no proof that this reflects badly on you) but the general consensus seems to be that you should go wherever the best person to supervise your project is. It would be foolish to move really, if the ideal profs/docs are at the uni where you are already settled. It might be worth checking out the people who are interested in supervising you (have a look at their uni web-page, publications etc) to see exactly what their research interests are, and sort out who might be best to approach about supervision. As I said before, I would mention your interests as soon as possible. Phd funding is a competitive business, so you need to get in there first, as early as you can! KB