Yes, many departments and supervisors will appoint the first good student they find, so applying earlier means you will have more choice (although some posts are not advertised until later in the year).

Funding can be hard to come by - particularly for international students, who may have to apply to a number of different sources for funds. Each of these sources will have different application deadlines, and the sooner you start applying the more chances you have.

PhDs take different amounts of time in different countries. The UK has the shortest time. The explanations are both historical and sometimes logical, but mostly tedious and would take up too much space.

Just make sure you've read any references you've been advised to look at, particularly reviews. If you haven't been guided to any references then find some yourself.

Be prepared to talk about your final year laboratory project as this will be the only guide they have as to how good you are in the lab and at interpreting your results.

See our Funding and PhDs Explained sections for links and information. The JASON database should help.

You will need to contact the university you attended and request a 'certified copy of transcripts of your academic record'. Certified just means that the university they're from says that they are authentic. In reality this will probably be just a copy of your degree certificate.

As you probably already know, a UK research council grant will only cover EU students course fees. Did you come to the UK to do your degree or did you move here before then with your parents? (if so you may qualify for residency status).

You could also try the Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS) web site

Some universities are developing on-line interfaces for PhD study, but we are unaware of any in law. The important thing for a PhD is access to the tools you need for your research. In science this may be a lab, in Law this may be relevant archives. As long as you have access to the things you need it doesn't matter where you are. You will need to be able to visit your supervisor once every month or two, but otherwise you could be on the other side of the world (as long as that's where your source material is).

Having said all this different universities have different policies and some may require you to attend a number of taught modules, particularly at the start of your studies. First find a supervisor whose area of research interests you, write to them and see what they say.

Finally you should be aware that you cannot expect to do a full time job and a PhD successfully at the same time. A PhD is not a hobby.

ditto.

As a clinician you should be able to find a PhD which allows you to maintain your current salary (much to the annoyance of most other people who do a PhD). You need to find an academic supervisor who is already working in the area which you are interested in researching. Write to them and outline your research proposal asking if they will accept you for a PhD.

A PhD is not a taught course. You need to carry out supervised research for at least 3 years and then produce a thesis upon which you will be examined. You cannot do a PhD and a full time job at the same time unless you work in a university.

A PhD is a research degree and most UK PhDs don't require traditional 'course work'. However you must produce a thesis and be examined by a viva. Before either of these you must carry out research under the guidance of an academic supervisor and be registered for PhD study at a university.

It may well be the policy in that department - ecology is one of the most competitive subject areas for PhDs as there are too many students chasing too few studentships.

You are unlikely to be asked to serve much of a notice period. Whatever the validity of your reasons for leaving, you are inevitably letting some people down. It is courteous to go in and see what loose ends they would like you to tie up before you leave.

Don't think about the reputation of the university, it's the reputation of the supervisors and the department that's important. Either way the difference between top and top 3 is irrelevant.

Dear Texas, search FindAPhD.com for relevant projects. See our Funding and PhDs Explained sections for links and information.

Kensington is a very expensive area of London. Most people who work in that area do not live in it.