To put it another way: it is akin to thinking that if you spend long enough watching the racing, then eventually you can be Frankie Dettori.

Thank you bewildered: I think that as far as the original post is concerned, that, as they say, is that.

Thanks also for the reminder about dcscience though- it's great reading even for (or perhaps, especially for) non-science types.

Hugh forgot to add 'or if you just *want* to' :)

"What is the most important aspect for you when choosing your means of
transportation for vocational travelling?"

...safety???

Four months of that will be getting Mendeley to work :)

Interesting that people who have done / are doing the doctorate are advising against such a course.

Yes.

Was their any necessity for the PHP training (AKA SPAM)? ;)

You should keep your dog: seriously, she could help keep you sane. There will be times that the PhD is taking your entire word, and the dog will be perfect for reminding you of the carefree life that you will have again, but seems so far away.

Yes; my profile pic shows I am biased :D

Oi. Your request has alrady been fulfilled, here:

Mark hossain why have you asked the same question twice?

Ah thanks. Yes have to echo ToL; no expertise here either, sorry. But regarding the length, twelve pages is OTT: try and summarise it in a couple of pages (for instance, cut out the lit. rev, but DO highlight where your work will sit within the current literature). Can you reduce each section to a couple of lines?

Ultimately though these are cosmetic points- the proposal is intended to demonstrate how your work will contribute original to current knowledge. If you are being rejected, it is ultimately because they don't see any originality in it. Incidentally- who have you been showing it too? You say you've been at Kingston for both your previous degrees- were you thinking of staying there? Institutions are usually keen to retain students for postgraduate studies, and there would be nothing unethical about you discussing proposals within your curent department- finding a gap in knowledge- before submitting formally.