Eughh, re The Word - great programme but I can't think about it without remembering the 'I'd do anything to get on TV' slot and some bloke drinking a glass of vomit...

Congratulations!!! I've no personal experience but I know of a few heroic women who have combined pregnancy/tiny children with PhD studies so it's possible.

IIRC, educational doctorates aren't quite the same thing as a PhD as we know it (as you say, they are more like a high level taught courses than research degrees).

A studentship simply means the position of being a student i.e. there is a vacancy for a student. A scholarship, however, usually implies that there is some funding available to support the student (if they are eligible for it).

sorry, 'undertaken' should be 'undertaking'

Claudia is right, while some PhDs have a taught component (especially the newer 4yr ones), a PhD is a research degree and as such primarily involves the undertaken of novel research.

Search this site for transfer viva, there's been a fair bit of chat about this lately. Your questions will mainly be specific to your research to assess your understanding of your topic and, in particular, the data you are presenting. However, you should be prepared to talk about how you will develop your research to fulfill the requirements for a PhD i.e. how will you/have you expand(ed) upon current knowledge and what is (what will be) novel about your research. Good luck!

http://www.answers.com/topic/apollo-moon-landing-hoax-accusations

Hang on in there Wickid, I ended up working P/T as a locum medical secretary when my PhD funding ran out!

"I tell you about my life experience, and you give me a PhD, right?"
"What do you mean 'thesis'? I have to write a thesis?"
"I will be allowed to operate on people after getting this doctorate, won't I?"
"I can't possibly work in a laboratory, I'm 2-mercaptoethanol intolerant"
"I'm sorry I'm late for this meeting, my giant snail escaped"

Hurrah for Bayes!

http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=382968

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5295656.stm

DanB's reports on his experience here (don't be alarmed by the thread title!)
http://www.postgraduateforum.com/showmessage.asp?thread=4842&cat=4&threadpage=2&newview=1

Yeah (DanB), your posts are beginning to look like mine! For forum posts, I don't think you just can't beat a good smattering of commas (and plenty of asides in parentheses (or double parentheses if you're feeling especially brackety)).

Hello Freya

Welcome to the forum

I think only you can answer the 'how long a commute is workable?' question. It will depend on many things not least your own personal tolerance for driving or travelling long distances. Other things to consider are the extent of traffic you are likely to encounter (i.e. will you have to travel at peak times which might make your journey longer or will your hours be flexible?), the costs involved, how many times a week will you have to make the journey (can you work at home for part of the week?), is there the possibility to car share with someone to keep down costs/give you a break from driving each day/be greener?!