No it's not! A PhD is like a rollercoaster, sometimes good but often you will be feeling very low as it's very stressful and frustrating therefore it's not worth doing if you're not 100% committed! You need to be passionate about what you're doing and why you're doing it as there is nobody to motivate you to get your work done, you just have to get on and do it! I don't think it's worth it unless you want to work in academia as the pay isn't great and you're expected to put up with a lot! Acadmeics are a strange bunch! There is alot of insecurity and egos around which manifests itself in strange ways!

Not all PhDs are fully funded although there are quite alot that are but it is usually very competitive depending on your subject and your uni! I would definitely think carefully before considering one as what you get out of it depends on what you put in and why you do it. So if you are not sure I would take some time out and consdier what you do want to do! A PhD is definitely not the easy option though it might sound like that! Choosing a program depending on your supervisor is very important - there are many threads on this topic! Basically you need to get along and they need to be helpful and supportive!

1. As I did a lab based project I lived there! It's good to come in so people don't forget you and you can socialise a bit. The office isn't probably the best place to work if you get distracted easily as there will be usually lots of people sharing a room! It's good to have a sense of community as it can get a bit lonely doing your research by yourself as PhDs are individual things!
2. All the time - I had an enormous amount of labwork to do and not enough time to do it. I often didn't have time to do much else and definitely not enough time to catch up with everything I was supposed to be doing as well!
3. There wasn't too much on offer in our dept but I did get to do some demonstrating!
4. Oh yeah it changed! The basic idea didn't change but I had many problems so had to keep adapting what I was doing and new opportunities came along which I took advantage of so what I ended up doing and what I was supposed to be doing is quite different! You have to be flexible as things don't often work out the way you think/want them to!
5. If you've been out of student halls/accommodation for a while don't move back into them! There is a time and a place for them as an undergrad/MSc student it's great but as a PhD student I wouldn't really recommend it! You really need your own space and somewhere where you feel comfortable! Having said that it's difficult to meet people when you first go to a place esp if you are working all the time so maybe use them in your 1st year and hope you get good flat/housemates! But if you can try to get somewhere decent to help you unwind or if you work at home somewhere where you can feel productive! PhDs are hard enough without having domestic problems with your living arrangements!

Good luck! (up)

That depends entirely on your department! But I would choose your supervisor very carefully! They can make or brake your PhD as the saying goes!

1) Make sure the two of you are compatible i.e. that you can work with him/her and that your personality doesn't clash! It will save alot of hassle!
2) Make sure he/she is helpful and willing to spend time and take an interest in your research area! This really helps and it's good to know that you can count on their help and support!
3) Generally going for the person that is the most relevant to your field is the most useful. Unless there are others that can help!

It really comes down to who you feel most comfortable with. Different people have different supervisory styles (some are very hands on/ hands off, don't care you exist, or are happy to let you get on with it and glad to help when you ask for it etc ...) so it is very important to find one that suits you. The important points are that they are willing to help and knowledgeable in their field. It's a good idea to talk to the supervisor's current/previous students to see what they think (honestly!) and to get a feel of the place to help you decide although this is not always possible.

Good luck!
(up)

Hello, that does sound tough but unfortunately there are lots of graduates even with Masters so the competition is pretty intense! Especially in a field like pyschology! Have you thought about trying to get some work experience to make you stand out and look very dedicated? I realise that not everybody can afford to do this but it's one way to get your foot in the door! And it's good for getting contacts which are very important to getting a job! I'm afraid I can only offer general advice, hang in there and something should turn up!

Be flexible as alot can go wrong (sorry to be pessimistic!) so you need to be able to adapt to changing circumstances and move forward! Keep a notebook of ideas, a lab book if you do labwork, keep your references upto date as it'll save you loads of time in the end! Use a reference manager! Establish a good relationship with your supervisor - very important as PhDs are hard enough without them adding to your problems!

That depends on your workload I think as if you have loads to do holidays are a luxury! Especially if it involves labwork (depends on the type you do!) but generally takes ages! I think most places allow upto a month and sometimes 2 months with supervisor's permission but then it depends on fast you want to get it done! I found that there are not enough hours in the day! You have to play it by ear! Sorry couldn't be of more help!

While it is true what your lecturer said but it depends alot on you. A PhD is a big jump from a Masters which gives you an idea of what it's like doing a PhD so for an undergrad it would be a big leap as it's totally different! What you do is very individual and can be very isolating and not to mention the stress of actually doing a PhD! Having said that it's different for everyone, most people who do a Masters find the transistion alot easier as they are more prepared and have more of an idea of what is expected. No if you have a PhD it supersedes a MSc so it doesn't matter. A Masters helps you focus and see what areas you are interested in as what you study at undergrad so broad!

Hello, I don't think having a 2:2 is a problem as I know people with the same grade that have gone onto do Masters and PhDs! Where there might be a problem is if you wanted to apply for a Masters and PhDs funded by the Research Councils most will insist on a 2:1 as there are very limited places. There are other ways of getting funding or partial funding so that shouldn't stop you.

I would say that doing a Masters is worth it as there are so many people with degrees that it does make you stand out. It would give you a good idea of whether you would be interested in your chosen field and help you focus your career. It certainly helped me decide what I wanted to do as I was unsure after my undergrad degree.

Hope this helps and good luck!