My boyfriend lives in Quebec. I miss him ...

I've taken up running. Feel better. Don't wanna write thesis, wanna run marathon

i will be starting a phd (if everything gets sorted out) soon. Whats the worst bit about doing a phd?

Hi,

I've actually secured an EPSRC CASE award within the Photonics group at Aston. OK, its not Oxford or Cambridge - but I'm told the group is known and respected internationally, and has a great reputation.

Cheers.

Has anybody heard of a book called "Current Research Interests in Britain", or a book with a similar title? does anyone know how i can get a hold of it? Thanks

Sheer arogance, I hope you fail miserably and end up on the dole

Hello, Francis, Do you have an idea of the class of degree you will get? Do you have a First or 2.1 Bsc? May be you could try for an ORS award.

If someine has a face to face interview would that person be at an advantage relative to someone that has a telephone interview? Has anyone done a telephone interview and was successful? Any advice.

Its people like you who don't deserve to get offered a place on a PhD course. Just because you have a 1st supervisors seem to think you are worthy of doing a PhD. When it comes to research a 1st means NOTHING. Its a lot of hard work and dedication. So if your not up to it don't bother. There are other people more deserving than you. No offence!

it all depends on you and what you want to do with your life. if you wanna get into academia, you still can presuming you'll at least get the MPhil but some lecturers don't even have postgrad degrees. If you want to get into industry, might be a bit difficult, but you can still do it. it's not the end of the world if you drop out, if you can pick yourself up.

for me, for the first year all the new phd students are being registered as MPhil student before differentiation. so am planning to make the most of it and work for 20 hrs a week. after differentiation its 6 hours and for a business phd you can take two days off and work coz you have no obligation to be in a lab or in the lib. after differentiation try getting a teaching job, you'll earn the same as 20 hours a week doing bar work or even more for the six hours a week teaching.

The ESRC timetable comes from UK Grad, and is a version of one produced by the University of Melbourne, http://www.gradstudies.unimelb.edu.au/phd/managecandidature/calendar/. This is a good generic timetable. Your University will have specific requirements, e.g. for progress monitoring, upgrades etc. I do a formal review of progress and forward plan every 3 months, discussed with my supervisors - you could suggest this to your supervisor if it is not a requirement at your Uni

Dont think the research council allow you to work during your PhD except for up to 6 h a week demonstrating. At least i think thats what the BBSRC rules are? hope this helps

Yes - I did forty-something hours (in one semester) of demonstrating in undergraduate labs and got paid £9 an hour (in addition to normal pay). I found this was a nice break from routine

I used to teach undergrads one afternoon a week during term time -(it ended up as 1 day a week working with preparation and marking). It was Ok time and money wise. maybe its better to get paid work that you can include on your CV and teaching is good for that -try asking around your uni and other similar depts in London.