Yeah you'll still need to register. Agree with Algaequeen, ask your department if you are able to claim funds for it (if you're funded you'll usually have an amount set aside each year for such things), and ask the organisers of the conference direct if they have any bursaries for PhD students (I went on two conferences and got full bursaries for both from the organisers).

Hi Sag.

I guess the first question is what really interests you? Was there a particular module or topic you came across in your degree that really interested you? Or is there a particular field you have an interest in? Or do you have a desire to branch out into a different area (e.g. into technology, or bioinformatics, or games programming) that would still build on the skills you already have?

One idea might be to get a list of some computer science departments at some universities and see what kind of masters they offer and how their courses are structured - often with masters you will have "core" courses and then optional courses as well so you can get a variety still. Then you might get a flavour of which masters you might be would be interested in.

Hope that helps in some way.

Hi jjdempsey, there have been quite a few threads about these if you scan through but Endnote seems a favourite amongst a lot of people but you have to pay for. I used JabRef during my PhD as it's free and platform independent (and really good if you're using Latex/bibtex).

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The funding cuts are a lot of the reason why they've changed all their recruiting policy. It's really annoying as well, I live quite near to the main site and they've just shortened their opening hours at the library - so no evening opening after 6 or weekend opening at all. Although that's an aside.

But the good thing is at least you do have an interview - that's a really positive thing. And readvertisement definitely sounds more in your favour if they weren't able to successfully recruit before, perhaps nobody with the right knowledge so if you have that it should do you well. But as for the details you ask, not sure at all. I keep looking just in case an external vacancy comes up on an appropriate course I could teach but nothing yet :(

Agree with PamW; I was looking to tutor this year but their new policy means it's really hard to get in so congrats on getting an interview!

It seems a well known ploy to use evenings and weekends to post spam and for trolls to come out to play - just the same on another forum I used to use! Has anyone written a PhD thesis on it 8-)

Oh and (sprout) for you!

It may well be, Algaequeen! Oh the joys of Google streetview - I was actually looking for something nearby and it appeared as a place marker on the map so I thought I'd check it out!

Usually the topic will be predefined; however, I don't think this sounds like a bad idea as most people don't really have a specific direction until at least end of first year, and a lot of people (myself included) change direction at that point.

As long as you're happy with the field and happy to work in the area that they're working in in some way, I think it sounds reasonable.

Especially for the graduates of this oh so fine and wonderful academic institution

*snigger*

A (supposedly) academic institution whose entrance is next to and offices are above a McDonalds?

I think it speaks volumes :-x

(sprout) for the first person who can figure out where I'm talking about !

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh so much! Is it for public sector job by any chance? They love all that kind of rubbish. :p

They can't "just get someone in without advertising" I'm afraid. Having said that, many companies do often take speculative CVs, some don't - there's no hard and fast rule. I sent out many speculative CVs when I was looking, but the only ones I heard back from were from companies with specific job adverts and I don't know of anyone who has got a job from a speculative CV. Not to be negative, but I know for example my company doesn't take speculative ones as they get so many people apply for the specific positions they advertise, they don't have time for non specific applications.

However, just set it out like you would if you were sending a covering letter for a specific job. So explain who you are, what you've done recently (i.e. your PhD and what area it is in), what sort of work you are looking to do, any particular skills you can bring. Treat it no differently to an application for an actual job.

Yes, R is the statistical professional's choice (I would use it at work but we're forced to use SAS, uggggggghhhhhhhhhhh).

I don't think I even know what SPSS looks like but I've always used R or Matlab (which has good statistical functionality and, imho, better graphics outputs than R).

Hi strugglingstu. Firstly, are you doing this part time or full time? HAve you done enough work already that would be worthy enough of a PhD without struggling through this part? What has your supervisor said about your work, are they supportive?