It sounds like you need to check with your supervisor/tutor about exactly what is required, or check the handbook or other information you were given at the beginning of your course. It's difficult for us to say without knowing the type of Masters (MSci, MSc, MRes etc are all very different courses), and different institutions will have different rules.

Alternatively, can you get access to dissertations by students who did your course in previous years, to see what they've included and how they've structured the dissertation? Your university library might have copies, or your department might make them available if you ask.

I don't know, sorry, but maybe you could try applying for postdocs and see what happens? The competition is tough (for everyone), but you don't know until you try.

Definitely a positive sign that they've asked for a second interview; I doubt they would bother to do that if they weren't seriously considering you.

Maybe it'll be similar questions but a chance for different people to interview you before making a final decision? Or they might ask more detail about your research interests, longer-term career plans, why you want to work in this department/university/with this supervisor etc specifically. Whatever happens, just be as positive and enthusiastic as you can - and good luck :)

I would not advise doing a second PhD, it isn't really a step forward and probably wouldn't look very good to potential employers. Also, while yes there are funded PhD positions in the EU, many of them are only for EU students, and you might not be eligible. There is not much funding for Masters courses in my experience (and again as an international student your options would be even more limited).

I would not worry too much about university ranking. When it comes to getting a postdoc or research job, I think the most important things will be your publications (especially for academic positions) and your lab experience and skills.

Congratulations. Really good to read this, it give me hope I might get there in the end!

I think I remember your previous threads and the upsetting experience you've been through.

I would say that it's incredibly rare for someone to fail after getting minor revisions (though I appreciate there's huge variation in what counts as 'minor'), but I can understand you being worried after all the difficulties so far. Hoping you have some news soon. It's difficult to predict how long it would take as I've heard of people waiting anything from days to months. If you can I would try to put it out of your mind and focus on something else for now (easier said than done I know).

I'm doing major corrections myself at the moment and I know that feeling of seeing others graduate and move on, and feeling like you'll never get your PhD. Also know the feeling that the whole process seems unfair and inconsistent. Good luck. You're not alone.

I definitely felt the same when I sat down to write up -- it really forced me to confront all those little inconsistencies and flaws and things I hadn't 100% understood or couldn't explain clearly.

I wouldn't panic though, it sounds like you have plenty of time (there's usually another year to finish writing up and submit after your final year finishes, and lots of people don't even start writing until then). Think of it as an opportunity to get your understanding and your arguments clear in your head; it's a process and the first draft doesn't have to be perfect. You'll get there.

Feelings of failure and guilt sound totally normal for PhD students sadly! But no point worrying about what you could or should have done in previous years, you can't change that now and it's a waste of time and energy. Focus on what you can do.

Congratulations! I've found there's no correlation at all between how I thought an interview went and whether I actually got the place/job

Of course you can leave; as long as you follow the proper procedures for handing in your notice (usually has to be in writing) and working out your notice period if required, no one has any right to stop you.

I completely understand the thing about not wanting confrontation, and in general it's a good idea to be careful about burning bridges etc -- but at the same time you're not actually doing anything wrong or in violation of your contract, and you can't go to far the other way and let yourself be trapped in a situation that's not in your interests just to placate an unreasonable person.

Do you think he'd give you a bad/no reference in the future? Is there someone else you could ask instead if you ever need a reference for your time at this institution?

It does depend very much on the university, so everyone should check their own regulations. At mine for example there's no formal category of 'major revisions' -- it's either minor revisions to be done within 12 weeks of the viva, or else 18-month revise/resubmit. I got the latter, as my corrections were judged too much for me to do by the 12-week deadline, especially as I now have a full-time job as well.

I guess the important thing is that you eventually pass; it's the same qualification regardless of how long it takes to get there (that's what I'm trying to tell myself anyway :)).

I would guess your potential supervisor would probably care more about your lab/research experience than about your undergraduate exam results, especially if it's very relevant to the project you're applying for.

However, I think a 2:2 can sometimes be a problem in terms of eligibility for funding; some studentships have strict criteria and I'm not sure how flexible the institution would be able or willing to be (although you have nothing to lose by asking).

If it's a problem, you could consider doing an MSc first (I'm assuming the 2:2 was for an undergraduate 'Masters' like an MSci/MChem?). Or is there any chance your current employer would sponsor you to do a PhD?

Check with your intended journal, sometimes they need to have permission from the individual in question if you are going to cite something as 'personal communication' (I work for a journal and this is what we do). Of course if it's just general thanks for help and advice, that could just go in an acknowledgements statement and wouldn't need any particular permission.

There was a PhD student in his late 50s in my department (fully funded as far as I know), and there were two of us in our 30s as well. It's unusual, but certainly not unheard of.

Yes, mine is science-based, which I guess is a very different area from linguistics, and the application process probably works differently (maybe it's even more competitive). I would expect research experience and publications to count for a lot in any field though, as surely they prove you're capable of doing what's required for a PhD. Good luck with your remaining applications!

Ignore me if you prefer not to say, but can I ask what subject area this is? The requirements sound very tough -- I don't know anyone who already had publications before starting their PhD (and several who didn't have any by the end, for that matter)! Have you been getting interviews, or just rejections at the initial application stage? I'm wondering if you can ask for honest feedback from any of the interviewers about what went wrong?

However, I wouldn't despair yet if you still have five applications you're waiting to hear back about, you only need one to say yes, after all!