'To those competing using undergraduate degrees, it can be done'.

Sylvester, you were in Management consultancy prior though? That has to enhance any application. You were hadly the average undergrad if indeed the case.

Nigeria? They all want to get out of there and come over here don't they? South Africa is cheap [PhD wise] and hot.

Mellory you asked 'I just don't get why it is so hard for them to write'. Simple answer....they're lazy.

...and why not. A good 1st from a quality establishment and [obviously in your case lots of enthusiasm] makes an undergrad a strong candidate I'm sure. Good luck to you Sir [for Saturday's lottery] and congratulations on the place

Certainly fortuitous...I'd play the lottery this weekend if I were you Sylvester.

'I have lived here now for 1,5 year, pumped money into this country by doing a masters' degree'.

Wow. That long.

'Most scientists I know have travelled/lived at differend places around the world, so this argument is not very strong'...

That how many, out of how many in the UK?

Sorry, I can appreciate you're position but [and thats a big but], why is it the responsibilty of the British taxpayer to house/clothe/feed etc. you? Thats what it comes down to.

At this point I'm very tempted to enquire as to whether anyone will be voting locally for the BNP today [oh I just did]. Apparently they are getting a quite sizable foothold in my neck of the woods [the north-west].

The difference between an MRes and an MSc in Dept of Computing at Lancaster is ONE module [about 12 taught hours] out of 6.

Putting aside my obvious disdain for the profession I would imagine what Keith is actually suggesting is extremely difficult if not impossible. Indeed I can envisage most Universities not taking Keith on if he were working F/t as a solicitor [have you asked any Keith? It might be an idea]. Also what does being a trainee solicitor involve [examinations?]. Indeed Keith if you did get a Uni that will take you on [I did say 'most' as my old Uni would probably take Bobo the chimp from the local zoo on to do research into eating banana’s and its impact on primate intelligence] would you just end up doing both things very poorly. It would arguably be a better idea to become a [trained] solicitor and then consider you options.

No Keith I actually meant your colleagues. Worried me a bit Keith that you didn't 'get' that exceedingly unsubtle attempt at humour. Can't say I'd want you representing me that being the case.

I agree Dan it was very unconstructive but then again having been divorced twice I do have some experience of the profession as a whole and have some right to be unconstructive.

The problem I have found with trainee solicitors is that they tend in their job to mix with the absolute dregs of society and it has a tendency to rub off on them. Put aside there coming into contact with qualified solicitors they also have some objectionable clients to deal with too.

No I'm wrong..there was ONE [see here http://politics.guardian.co.uk/women/story/0,12913,1332209,00.html]

...'The other thing that women know but men don't is how annoying it is to be sexually discriminated against. Thatcher felt this very keenly when she was campaigning in Finchley, and complained often, but there's little evidence that she had a broader interest in women's working conditions. The Equal Pay Act as we know it may have been passed under her tenure (in 1984), but it was an amendment of the original 1970 act. At government level, too, she was markedly uninterested in the advancement of other women. Baroness Young popped up in cabinet very briefly, as leader of the Lords, but Thatcher made only eight other female ministerial appointments during her time in government - and only one went higher than junior minister'.

Says it all.

'She is the reason that most women have a career whilst juggling a family and social life'.

That's just plain wrong. Most political commentators suggest MT actually set back the political careers of many women MP's by being anti-woman. For example, she never in 11 yrs in office had a women in her cabinet. That hardly makes her a female revolution icon.

Don't you just love ebay. Wish I'd have thought of it.

The CND bit was just a bit of colour. I was merely demonstrating [quite badly perhaps] that people's interests can change over time. He was I am informed background checked by the FBI who rejected him - some more colour.