Planning your research (timetables etc) is clearly important. However, just because work is planned to fit neatly into 3 years, doesn't mean it's going to! It's hard to plan for the inevitable delays due to lab techniques taking longer than expected to get up and running, oversubscribed equipment etc and impossible to plan for broken equipment or sickness. And if your research involves people then you have ethics committees to get through etc etc. In short, there are a lot of things that can delay you EVEN though you might well be working as hard as possible. Getting a PhD completed in 3 yrs takes a lot of luck too (yeah, mine took just over 4, opps!! )

It is usual nowadays that everyone registers as Mphil/PhD in the first instance and undergoes some kind of formal transfer to the PhD route after 12-18 months work. The transfer stage is a useful step on the path to PhD and also, the Mphil/PhD route allows a student to complete the Mphil if they choose not to pursue a PhD (or have the decision made for them). However, institutions do differ in their policies so if this causing you concern, I'd advise clarifying the situation with the postgrad office. Good luck with your research degree.

Very best wishes, sock it to 'em!

If it's a funded PhD then the funding will already be in place. Hence, as long as you are eligible for that funding, then you won't have to do anything (other than be the best student applying for that studentship, of course!). Good luck.

Chores Sat morning, walk on beach in pm, watched lunar eclipse in evening. Today went for long bike ride in the rain and got soaked then down the local pub for a family meal

The only way to find out for certain is to ask the people you have applied to why your application was not successful. They won't mind that you have asked and it will be important feedback. It's only when you know what you are doing wrong that you can make sure you are doing it right next time.

Could it be a funding problem? i.e. where you eligible to receive the funding for the project (if you have been applying for a funded place). As always, if you are able to self-fund then there will be many more options available to you. Good luck.

Hehe@Piglet! I'm intrigued, what job ARE you doing?? (Good to hear from you BTW!)

Do you mean a 4th 'writing-up' year? In which case, getting funding (other than maybe from a sympathetic supervisor) will be extremely difficult. Most people will work part-time to support themselves when writing-up and/or finishing off the last few bits of work for their thesis.

Yes, we all love a citation Good luck!

They do, see!!!

I'll ask her, but I don't see her very often...I think the job is in Bristol.

My colleague (currently writing up her PhD) has just been accepted for exactly this position so I don't think you need worry. Plenty of clinical scientist trainees in the NHS have PhDs.

There will almost certainly be a reduced 'writing up' fee for your 4th year. I paid about £110 per semester. The fees are so little (although I've rather have spent the money on something fun, obviously!) because 1) you are registered part-time and 2) you are considered to need minimal supervision at this stage - apart from the small matter of forcing your supervisors to read numerous drafts...

The reality is that funding for a 4th writing up year is very hard to come by. Most people (myself included) work part-time (I was a locum medical secretary, LOL!). Hope you can find someway to keep yourself solvent, good luck!

I like the books and even went on to read The Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion...that said, I am a bit masochistic when it comes to books and it's very rare that I don't finish something I start, even if it is dire!