Work on it regularly and consistently. Make sure your supervisor has agreed the whole structure of the thesis in advance as you don't want to disagree further down the line. Approach it with a plan and regularly review the plan and goals and just keep chipping away at it. Good luck!

Can you locate a thesis in your field and see how they've approached things?

Thinking about it, with the amount of debt many students amass for an education and considering the high level of graduate unemployment or underemployment it throws a question over their intelligence;-) Is it really a 'smart' move going to university?

I know the average IQ is 100 but I still think anyone with this IQ could complete a PhD, after doing a degree. It is possible that studying could increase IQ, maybe?

It does, I agree, but most people have a level of intelligence sufficient to complete a degree or PhD and that's my point. Whether or not they can apply themselves to do it is another matter.

In a lot of universities students are registered in the first instance as MPhil students and then may be upgraded, depending on progress etc, to a PhD. It might be worth checking if you are officially registered as an MPhil student or a PhD. The theory is an MPhil should be completed in two years and three years is given for a PhD but very often these overrun. If you want to complete an MPhil your supervisor might help you scale the project for that degree of work.

Best of luck!

I believe I am intelligent but no more intelligent than someone who decides to be a shop assistant. If that shop assistant got fed up with their job, decided to change direction and opted to study for a degree and applied themselves to their studies, I believe they could do as well as I have academically. I am no more intelligent than the average person, in my opinion.

Oh and don't forget to find out if your university has an international relations office and also student support should be able to give you guidance about services and help etc.

Anyone can be naturally quiet and that's fine just as some people are naturally talkative and that's fine as well and so don't worry about your natural disposition, as most people will get to know your nature and accept you for it. If you are required to give presentations or talks, you will need to overcome your natural quietness and convey your message as effectively as you can. If you are nervous, seek help now and don't wait, learn some relaxation techiques now and don't wait and see if your university do any short communication skills courses for PhD students and try and do one if you can. Language differences can be a barrier but it's a barrier that can be overcome. Practice, practice and practice and you will gain confidence and lower these barriers. Also listen to how the British talk. For example, do they generally talk at a quicker pace or slower pace than you? Seriously, things will improve with practice and so maybe even try to record yourself giving 'pretend' presentations to see how you get on. Don't worry about being quiet in company as listeners are as well received as talkers!

Let us know how you get on.

If someone doesn't pass their PhD and accepts an Mphil, is the Mphil thesis accessible to the public in the same manner as a PhD?

Does your University have an international relations office? If so, they could put you in contact with other international students. If you feel worried about making conversations with british lab mates, try not too worry as some people are naturally quieter than others anyway but why not join some clubs, sports etc which require less conversation but will allow you time to adjust to the language barrier while making friends.:-)

I used to feel intimidated by high achievers but not anymore. Simply because appearances can be deceptive, I'm not competitive and am not overly ambitious. I want to feel content, secure and don't feel either at present and so it is the people that have these that I envy but they don't intimidate me. I honestly don't feel a PhD has anything to do with intelligence but has more to do with application, hard work and endurance