Hi fatbob,

Those terms sound well dodgy. How do they expect you to survive on six hours teaching? Just to put it in context, the research councils pay fees, give you maintenance stipend and allow you to do six hours work a week as well (if you want and can find it). I cant see that it is in the university's interest to have you start a PhD while putting you in an impossible situation re being able to support yourself.

I dont know if there are any awards you could apply for as a top up I'm afraid. I do know some people do more hours work then they are officially supposed to (bar work and stuff) - supervisors aren't likely to find out, but for your situation where you'd be relying on it it is far from ideal.

Have you thought of questioning them as to how they expect you to live on those terms?

oh, that's a pain, having to wait over the weekend

There are some people working on the same topic but using a different approach, and some using the same theories but applied to different topics. so yes I have some options for plan B. I just really want to work with this guy - I just dont want to have to wait three months to find out if I can!

ah, in that case I would prescribe a glass of wine rather than tea. and definitely a coastman hug if we can find him - where are these idle PhD students when you need them

aww, ((((((((piglet))))))))

have some chocolate as well, chocolate is always good, and a nice cup of tea, and tell auntie aliby what's wrong.

Hey 404, congrats on getting an interview and good luck! I'm on the post-doc trail too. I got in contact last week with the guy I want to work with - he really is the only person doing stuff in my area and using the same theories - and got a 'hmm, maybe, get in touch again in September'. This wasnt even asking for money, it was a 'if I get funding can I come and work with you'. Now i am in limbo, I guess I should start on some plan Bs, but i am really hoping this guy will say yes eventually.
So yes, I'd say you've done well to get an interview!

have you looked at the MRC/ESRC interdisciplinary studentships?

However:

- the application deadline for these is April/May time, so you'd be looking at October 2008 start.
- they pretty much require a masters, so carrying on with the MSc won't hurt, but you might want to check, if it is a social science one, if it is ESRC recognised.

If you are coming up with your own project, you need to have an idea, but then find supervisor(s), and they will help you refine it into a proposal. They should also have past successful applications that you can have a look at to get an idea.

Oh and the reason they bother (with running non-ESRC recognised masters) is because there are naive fools like me who didnt know anything about this whole ESRC recognition thing till after they start. So at least you are aware of the issues before embarking on a course!

Like Shani says, you can still apply for the 1+3 after doing an MA, and I know people who have been successful doing this. Or, you can make an argument why you dont need to do another, RT recognised, masters - or at least you could as this is what I did but I am third year now so it might have changed. My circumstances were a) relevant work experience b) the masters I did got recognition the year after I did it, based on the units I took c) I signed up to do the core units from an RT recognised masters in the first year of my PhD. so it's not impossible, but not sure what a difference it makes to the way your application is viewed.

Alternatively, are there other sources of PhD funding in your field, other than ESRC?

Certainly, for a lecturing job you'd need a PhD, but having a PhD doesnt mean you'll get an academic post. I dont know about consultancy though - my guess is that for economic consulting a PhD is likely to help. Have you talked to your Uni Careers Centre? They should be able to offer more knowledgeable advice on what qualifications are needed for what jobs.

IMHO getting some relevant work experience (paid or voluntary) is more likely to help with securing a PhD position than doing a 'transferable skills' type course. Any job is going to develop communication (if not presentation) skills, and more effectively than doing a course because you can say you have demonstrable experience.

The other thing that you might want to check is whether the department is ESRC recognised, and whether the Masters you are doing counts as a research training masters for ESRC purposes (i.e. will count as the 1 of a 1+3 scheme). The ESRC like you to have a "suitable" masters, and, if you are looking to ESRC funding, if the one you are looking at at Durham is not considered so then you may have to do another masters on the ESRC 1+3 scheme rather than going straight to the +3 PhD. Have a look on the ESRC website http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/index.aspx

Hi Rick,

I've finished the interviewing now thank goodness - at the writing stage.

I dont think you necessarily have to do interviews, a survey approach may have advantages. But I think you could find the same sort of problems (people not inclined to participate, not wanting to think about things that arent actually a problem now) whatever method you use.

hope it goes well whatever method you employ

I guess with guidelines, at least medics are aware of the concept, even if not the specific details of the ones you are interested in, so that will probably help. But yes, in short, you are right to worry about people, especially busy professionals, not wanting to engage with stuff that isn't actually an issue for them at the moment - though I dont have any good solutions.

Hi Rick,
I've been looking at the way a new science is incorporated into medicine, and started out wanting to interview health professionals about whether they thought this particular science was going to be helpful or not. I found most people just said 'I'll worry about it if/when it happens'. I also suspect that because it was prospective, many people did not choose to participate, as they considered they had nothing useful to contribute. Consequently I shifted the focus of my research to look at what different professional groups within medicine currently do (for which interviews were useful) and how this new technology would fit or not with existing practice. So a more structural focus if you like.

[cont]

I agree with Oz, talk to your supervisor now! They should already be aware of your difficulties surely?

I think though you don't need to panic quite that much. I would imagine (it certainly is where I am) that the four year deadline is to submit - viva can happen afterwards. So I think you need to devote your summer to writing and get something to hand in by the end of September. Use the deadline to focus yourself! Because I'd be very suprised if you are allowed an extension without extenuating circumstances.