Cheers for the info on Loughborough. I think my nerves are bad this week, as I am signed off work this week, so can worry more than usual...owing to an accident at work (I nearly knocked myself out in a 17th century house), hope my head calms down soon!

Where are you going Tricky? I will have to bring some whisky down with me, and distribute it round new PhD student's around the UK to calm their nerves!

Ta for the reply DanB. No I havent studied south of the border before, I did my previous study in Aberdeen & Edinburgh. However, I have dug & have family south of the border. Any advice on Lufbra?

I have done some background reading, and have several papers I would like to read, so look like I will be investigating inter library loans asap!

Hello I have hung around these forums for a bit, but decided to ask a question now. I am due to start my PhD in October at Loughborough in Geography (Although orginally I started out as an environmental chemist, who via archaeology is doing her PhD in Paleoecology).

Ok my question is: Is it normal to be feeling sick at the thought of starting your PhD? I may have 2 MScs but I am still bricking it! Any advice you could give to help me calm down, and any hints would be much appreciated.

At my recent interview, from which i got made an offer, I was asked about my accademic career (as I have 2 master degrees, one in Archaeology & another in Environmental Chemistry...with the PhD being in a Geography department), my future expectations & why I wanted to do a PhD. All in all it is what I expected (I went through 4 PhD interviews 3/4 years ago when I did my first masters.