When it comes down to it, it is in fact about what YOU can offer.
How far do you want to go?
Do you just want a good qualification with no further route in academia? Then go for the place that interests you best academically AND socially, work hard, get a good degree, good references. your hard work and commitment will show where-ever you choose.
A good degree result is what employers will look at as well as that you are a person who has a life/personality outside academia.
Do you want to carry on and eventually be an expert academically in your field? Then choose the place best for post graduate work/experts in your field in the hope you can get good references for further career progression within universities.

If you know your subject well it doesn't matter as much if it is university A or university B: it matters how good you are, and you can prove that anywhere.

Mine is still working ok (after testing when reading this thread).

I have found that after using the 'tomato' for a while I am now able to gauge my time to work in chunks without needing to set the timer going.

I now set myself a minimum time in my head (not more than 35 minutes and less if I am tired or stressed) and must work up to that - much of the time I am busy and the time goes by before I see the clock and then it is like "oh good i can have a break now" rather than "when is the next break".
So the tomato/pomodoro method has taught me focus for a good length of time.

If you are having problems delete it on your system and reload it from the original website with their latest version. Sometimes system updates can mess things up.

Thanks Delta. Have emailed the uni mental health department. So now waiting to hear from them.

Fortunately (if it can be considered fortunate) I have suffered from depression for many years and know the symptoms.
Also have been hospitalised in the past which is why I am trying to get things sorted before I get that bad.
I know cognitive behavioural therapy works with me - which is why I am looking at trying to find the time to incorporate activities which help me control my thoughts without getting further behind on the PhD.

Hi there,

Really struggling with the PhD at the moment and I am suffering from depression. I am finding the work load too much along with the depressive thoughts and am starting to feel I can't cope any more.
I am aware that my state of mind is affecting things heavily, and from past experience know that if I don't take a step back I am in danger of jacking everything in.

Does anyone know how easy it would be to go part time? The GP solution is to have medication but that affects my ability to think and while would help me feel less suicidal will hinder my ability to work.

Has anybody changed from full time to part time? I am funded but I think my funding is allowed for part-time. Is it easy to go back to full time again once I get through this patch? I am only 6 months in so don't want to add years to complete my PhD if possible.

I am aware if I get a sick note for time off I am likely to not go back, so really would like to slow down the pace while I get my head back in gear. I am also not sure how beneficial taking myself away completely from the study would be as I would feel further behind than I do already.
My local GPs haven't been very supportive in the past so I am not sure what written evidence they would give other than the usual 'here is a prescription'.

I am grateful for any advice and tips. Thanks in advance.

I have learnt to stop feeling guilty about it. If I feel bad about myself I am more likely to go off and do something nice to cheer myself up!

try and do a small bit of something. Even ten minutes. Just having spent ten minutes on something can inspire you to do half an hour.
And if it doesn't: you feel less guilty than no minutes!

Hi there,

Here is a Britsh newspaper article from two years ago:
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/the-alternative-way-to-get-a-phd-1942607.html

It doesn't look very easy to set up and it looks like you would meet similar challenges to what you already have in Australia, however, the article proves it is possible in the UK.

Perhaps first you could try and see if anyone you have previously studied under has links to RMIT and would be willing to get you a foot in the door there.

Would you consider an industry sponsored PhD placement? You would gain extra experience with research and be working on something that the company wants to take to market.

Do you need a PhD to show you can progress with a big project over a longer timespan than a years masters? Perhaps someone else can answer that?

I would look on internet for solar cell manufacturers and contact them to find out how they employ - or if they have any university affilations.

Hi Ziad,

You have had the misfortune to be good enough that, before now, you have sailed through your academic career where you could get away with less effort and still pass.
However, at PhD level it is effort that counts even for the academically gifted. All of a sudden we can't tell ourselves a rubbish result is because we have just coasted - A rubbish result can STILL occur even if we have tried really hard!! Fear of failure could well be what is causing you to procrastinate.

First thing: you need sleep, you have no chance if you are too tired and will make mistakes. You are going to procratinate anyway so "GO TO BED!". Allow yourself six hours minimum a night - there will be nights when you wiggle and the mind is racing but the physical act of resting will at least give your body a break.

Next: You mention you feel down because you are not doing sports. set an hour or two each week to do the sports you love. You obviously are not focused so withdrawing this pleasure is not helping. Give yourself this opportunity for exercise. It can help take your mind off your problems and may give you the chance to see things in a new light after an active session.

And now the hardest part: get a clock, sit down, and work for half an hour, do this every day for 5 days. Only half an hour. Next week have 2 half hour slots per day. Up by half an hour when you have found the previous level easy. If a day goes rubbish, try again the next day: every day is a clean slate. Every day is a new start to improve on the past.

You can get through this, I know because I have major lazy days and weeks (and it doesn't get into months cos I have a supervisor who will wop my ass!). Often I produce substandard work but hey, tough! That's just what they're gonna get - Better than nothing!
Give them rubbish - no major disaster will happen because of it.
Then work on that rubbish - now you have a target for improvement.

The computer seems to be a souce of your distractions: can you print out papers, have books to read and go and sit in a uni library or local park? Take yourself physcially away from the distraction. Go to a cafe for a coffee (without laptop) and sit reading. (yes you may spend most the time daydreaming and people watching but at least this time you will have spent a relaxing hour or two).

Consider this as your training for your future job: YOU are the business. You need to devote study time for YOU every day. Just a little bit at the start and build it up day by day, week by week.

Tomorrow (Friday) I will finish my report re-write and email it to supervisor so she can give feedback so I can work on it again ready for Tuesday group presentation.
I will not put off doing report because I know supervisor will come back with something that needs redoing and I am lazy.

(Last time did report at last minute before presentation - thought it was brilliant - didn't show supervisor cos I didn't want to hear it wasn't brilliant - so supervisor did not see report until after I had presented it to another group - supervisor not a happy bunny because report had a squillion and one faults:-()

Definitely agree about the lying part.
My husband was fired a few years ago. In the interview he was asked why he left the last job.
He was honest about why he was fired, why he wouldn't do it again, and what it taught him.
They were shocked but appreciated his honesty and gave him the job.
I think if you prepare for the worst thing you could be asked about yourself (your greatest shame) and how you have made a positive move about it, then it will help you feel prepared and less afraid of the 'unknown question'.

I am always cheerful and smile at everyone. Someone you just make small talk with may be a member of staff who's opinion will be asked. (I had one interview where a group of us were shown around the site - I was the only one who asked questions - it was one reason why I got the job.)

Hi there,

Yep I agree there are extra commitments being married.

Visiting family is one - family expect regular visits and sometimes moan about me "always having my nose in a book".
Both my husband and I have divorced parents so 4 sets of family plus the expected visits around the country for extended family.
Not easy getting family to understand the work load!

Fortunately I have a very supportive husband.
Housework is one thing that suffers... thinking my daughter is getting to an age where she could do the dusting - make a nice change from frantically hoovering every surface when the family visit.:-)

======= Date Modified 21 Mar 2012 13:44:24 =======
Hi Deb,

One practice I find really helpful is to treat my PhD like a job. I come into university Monday to Friday and work 8 am to 5 pm.
This ensures that I work every day on the PhD and do not get distracted doing things at home.
My university has as a guide of 150 hours per month on the PhD. this works out as a 40 hour week with 7 weeks holiday per year.

If I am finding it hard to work then I set myself half hour challenges: write notes on project for half an hour, or read some papers for half an hour.

There is no rule on how many papers you should read or how much time you should spend in the lab, but I always have at least one day per week where I do 'lab things' and often Friday afternoon (when I feel sleepy and lazy) I do a literature search. I print off any interesting papers I find to read over the weekend.

It can really help to break your work down into small chunks:
For example: Today I will write for an hour on my thesis introduction.
Or: Today I will spend the afternoon sorting out my data and making some graphs that show my results.

Sometimes it is hard to manage time because we see the PhD thesis as a huge lump of work, rather than lots of little chunks of time. Do a little bit at a time. Vary your work so you are working on different things throughout the day.
Even if only writing up you can work on different chapters, or work on images and graphs to get the variety that will help you to keep working hard.

I have done both distance learning and full time study. They both have advantages and disadvantages.

DISTANCE LEARNING
* You can be at home if you have children.
* You do not need to move to a new city.
* You can keep your job if you need the income to pay for bills.
* You are able to arrange the study to times that suit you best.
x You must be very organised or you can get distracted and not work hard enough.
x If you work as well, you can be too tired in the evening to study.
x If you have children their needs can prevent you studying (if they get sick, baby up all night etc).
x You can feel isolated from other students.
x It can be hard to get support from you tutor if they are busy and do not reply to emails.

UNIVERSITY BASED COURSE
* You can devote all your attention to your study.
* You get to meet lots of new people and make new friends.
* Every day you get to talk face to face with someone else doing your course so can easily find support.
* You have more chances for professional networking related to your course.
* If you need to see a tutor you can find them in their office.
x It can be difficult financially to support yourself.
x There may not be much flexibility in your course - hand in late is not an option.
x Moving to a new city can be lonely if you are leaving many friends behind.

If your study is helpful for your job, then distance learning is the better option. You get the qualification and the work experience to use that qualification.

However, I love being a full time student and would recommend it if you wish to change career.

======= Date Modified 21 Mar 2012 13:06:19 =======
The more you 'surround yourself' with English the better your own English ability will be.

Everyday try reading English newspapers on the internet. www.dailymail.co.uk or www.guardian.co.uk are two examples.
This will make you familiar with how English is written in a non-academic setting.

Can you get English radio stations over the internet? The BBC is particularly good because they have several radio channels.
Listening to English speech in the background will help your pronunciation.

Going to a teacher is good if you are the only student, or are in a small group of students. If you can afford it, and you have an important exam ahead, it is always worth having a teacher for a few sessions.
A teacher, even in just one session, will be able to advise if you are ready to take TOEFL and get a good score.