Depends on the Uni...

In my 2nd - 3rd year I don't think I did anything .. there was a very weak 'process' set.. I think you were supposed to submit a report detailing your progess but I'm pretty sure I emailed back 'Too busy.. not now.. bye' or something like that..

Can you ask your supervisor?

I don't know if any of you already do this... but is there any way you can work with the disability office at your Uni and be a student support worker or a student mentor for undergraduate disabled students? or what about doing labs, marking exams etc?

I did all this and it REALLY topped up my research grant, not only that.. it really helped on my CV and it looked like I was a caring, wonderful person (Hahahahahahaha..... like that's true)...

It's really good cash if you can get those kinds of jobs and they don't have to take much time per week... it's usually quite flexible in the number of hours you can contribute.

Yup.. I was in your position..

I applied half heartedly as I didn't want to get a job and when I read through my application I think there were about 3 of 4 sentences that just made no sense and words were mispelt (no change there, then)...

I thought "Hey, why not?" I wasn't passionate about my research subject at all.. but it was 'ok', I felt I could 'cope'..

I loved my PhD years.. I made amazing friends and had a fantastic experience, I don't regret it at all and although I'm sure 90% of people feel like you *have* to be 100% dedicated and *have* to want to work in academia and *have* to love your research area etc etc.. I'm not in that percentage and I don't think that's a bad thing.

If you get a job, you have to work.. if you do a PhD, you have to work..

.. the only benefit is, with a PhD you can (sometimes, I did) choose when and where to work...

I called myself a postgrad student, sometimes just a student...

I found a lot of snobbery in other departments who always put emphasis on the *PHD* part and it was as if saying 'I'm not a common student... I'm a PHD student' - Cue me thinking they're a tosser.

Not all, mind you.. but some...

Nope.. didn't do an MSc.

BSc and then straight to PhD for me.

"correct me if im wrong?"

Can only speak from my own experience... and I arsed around quite a lot during my PhD - However I appreciate most students (on here, I am sure) are much more diligent and hard working

I didn't do an MSc.. I went straight from BSc to PhD and that was enough of a culture shock as it was - one of the reasons I did a PhD was because I didn't want to get a job and have responsibility.. so doing an EngD probably would have been much worse for me as I'd have actually had to be in the office for more than 5 hours a day and not sod off to the pub at 3pm.

My Uni has literally only started offering them in the last year and that was thanks to my supervisor who managed to sort it out.. might give him a bell and grill him on them...

"Im interested to know what people doing regular PhDs percieve the ENG degree?"

*Prepares to be flamed*

I honestly thought it was much harder to do an EngD, hence why fewer places offer them and they're much rarer (my own perception, perhaps not true) than PhD's...

A *minimum* of 4 years plus modules suggests that there are things you *have* to be good at, whereas with a PhD - you can tailor it to your own strengths and weaknesses... something that I certainly did with mine, being absolutely dire at maths and programming... thus I would probably fail an EngD...

But hey, that's just me..

'My field is Computer Science, and I cant wait to go back to industrie after the PhD. I assume there the publications dont count so much...'

So is mine - and I now work in industry.

Your PhD and publication count, 'count' for absolutely nothing and most IT employers really didn't care that I was doing a PhD, only that I had my BSc...

As for bothering to do one.. I suppose everyone has their own reasons, mine were most unsual and I don't regret it at all as I knew it wouldn't 'count' in industry...

I hope you appreciate it's probably going to be the same for you, Liverbird...

To be fair.. this isn't the fastest moving forum..

What's the main difference between a PhD and an EngD? does it have to meet certain engineering / science criteria?

How come you chose that?

(Sorry, questions, not answers.. but my Uni didn't offer them until this year!)

Been there.. got the T shirt.. when my partner was doing his PhD, I was really upset about how little time we spent together even though we lived together... he did allocate some 'me' time, however admitted afterwards that whenever he was with me, he felt guilty for not writing up... I wasn't very supportive as thought 'For God's sake.. surely he can give me a few hours?'

Cue me finding out the hard way 2 years later when I was writing up - he was very, very supportive and I felt very guilty for not being understanding over his... I'd certainly suggest you give your girlfriend some of your time, but don't lose sight of your goal.. I'd say Sunday afternoons from 2pm - bedtime and the rest of the week, you work your arse off or something like that.. snatching 30 mins here and there didn't work for either of us as we couldn't 'switch off' so the best thing we found was to visit somewhere for the day and have some exercise and fresh air.

Dude, I thought I was a fake as my viva was so short... I thought I was a fake as I spent most of my 3 years down the pub or watching trashy TV chat shows and not doing any research...

I thought I was a fake for managing to get all my colleagues and supervisor to present the papers we co-authored as I didn't want to...

Meh, who cares? I mean, if you pass, you pass... you *could* be incredibly moral and brow-beat yourself and then find out that as you progress through the PhD you naturally get more confident and draw more on your own skills and knowledge.. or you could perhaps, accept that your supervisor knows what he / she is doing and therefore stop stressing so much

Identify all your week areas and defend them.

I was freaking out and I bought the book 'How to survive your viva'... I found it really, really useful and could reccomend it.

All examiners are going to be different, however..you need to ask yourself - if you *honestly* think your results are weak... are you going to pass your PhD? I mean, I had holes in my research, most people, if not all, do.... but there is a difference between 'holes' and 'total crap'...

Long as you're not in that category, I would try not to stress too much..

"Well, hello there ... *wink*"

5) My boyfriend was doing a PhD and I thought 'why not do one as well, he seems to enjoy it?'

*winks back in a very non-sexual, respectful manner*

My PhD was like a carry on film, it was absolutely brilliant and the best 3 years of my life... wonderful office mates from all walks of life... half days, where we would toddle off down the pub at 3pm and come in at 10:00 the next day with stinking hangovers... and the *best* office parties, where we would invite all PhD and staff members..

.. we got called the 'friendly office'

I dunno, I have read so many depressed PhD students on here and feel really sorry for them as I never encountered many problems at all during mine...

Speaking of which, finally have a graduation date - June the 27th

I know it must be scary to confront him... and your heart will probably beat very fast and you'll feel sick... but keep calm and be positive, assertive and an adult - remember, when you start working, there might very well be a lot more people like this.. and if you don't stick up for yourself.. noone else will.

Think of this in a positive way - if you are able to make him stop his comments AND manage his expectations, then you've learnt valuable skills whether you choose to stay in academia or go into industry.

And as for your parents.. well, quite frankly it's not their life and not their business... they won't kill you.. they might be disapointed.. but unless they are parents from hell, they want what's best for you and a happy child, not a child who is miserable... so tackle the supervisor and don't think about the parents :)

Re the comments - If you find them inappropriate, then they are. I would be very forceful and the next time he makes a comment, you *must* say 'Could you please not say things like that again, it makes me uncomfortable? thanks' ... and let it go.. the NEXT time he does it, email him, CCing the head of the department.

Will it make your relationship worse? probably.. *however* bullies thrive on their victims keeping quiet and you never know, he might shut up and be professional, if not.. look around for another supervisor.

As for the work.. if you keep undertaking more and more.. he'll expect you to do more and more.. and you create a rod for your own back - manage his expectations.. ask him what he expects on a weekly basis and if you think that's unfair, tell him THEN.. don't tell him at the end of the week.. 'Oh, I haven't produced what you asked'...