Firstly you do have time to have a decent academic career. More importantly you want to do a Ph.D so just go for it. I (at 23) think it is pretty brave and would admire someone for doing what you are doing. Certainly not funny, just go and do it (and enjoy it!)

Actually I am doing my P.G in India. I want to go to abroad for doing PhD in nanotech. How can i get scholarships for doing that. to whom should i approach.

Dear Emmi, you are so young!!! I'm 34 years old and, after 7 years working experience in dairy field, I would like to start PhD studies too. An Irish Postdoc told me that, even I'm a little older than many of the students applying for postgraduates studies, I have the experience often lacking in them. Knowing how to plan, perform, realize and publish research projects is a great advantages on my side that younger workers don't have. So feel confident you will get the goal.

Dear Starter, I can comprehend your feeling as I'm 34 years old and, after 7 years working experience in dairy field, I would like to start PhD studies too. An Irish Postdoc told me that, even I'm a little older than many of the students applying for postgraduates studie, I have the experience often lacking in them. Knowing how to plan, perform, realize and publish research projects is a great advantages on my side that younger workers don't have. So feel confident you will get the goal.

PhD studentships sponsored by industry usually have a slightly higher salary. So you could expect to start at about £20-22K. Post-docs in industry start at £26K, if your good that could go to £29K but that's the high end of the scale esp. if your coming straight from PhD, more likely to get that if you've already done ~2yrs post-doc. Depends on the position largely. If you are thinking of post docs, and doing so in industry, the Marie Curie fellowships pay well and you qualify for the benefits that regular full time employees get.

I've been given the chance to go to China for 7 weeks to work with another research group and try and hopefully bring about some future collaborations. One of the things I'm worried about is taking 7 weeks off my research as the work I'll be doing in China will, in all honesty, not contribute to my thesis. I've just started my second year and although I know this will be a great opportunity I don't want to affect my PhD. Is 7 weeks to long a period?

I will be starting my PhD next year. By that time I will be 38 years old. This means I might finish when I am 42. Is that too late? Will I be able to pursue an academic/research career after I finish? Moreover, will other students find it funny?
(I have several years of experience in Info Tech.)
Thanks
Me

Although I am 22, I reckon the later starters have the life experience as well as the academic experience. You are at a good age to start

I started straight after the BSc but there are older PhD students here. I automatically respect their experience regardless of whether they're coming from industry or something else entirely. I wouldn't consider 28 as a particularly late start anyway. You'll be working alongside postdocs who will be in that age range - and when in the lab there is little distinction between the PhD students and the postdocs. Your 'supervisor' is their 'boss', you attend the same lab meetings, seminars and will likely be doing similar experiments to them all day. Good luck!

Never knew that. *adds brazil nuts to his shopping list*.

It's understandable that's he's upset. For one, you misled him at the application/interview stage into thinking you were happy and committed to the project. Your actual complaint about the field/research group is unclear. Certainly not a case of extenuating circumstances either. No empathy from me.

I've completed my PhD this year and I'm 30. Most of my friends with PhDs were the same age as me or a bit older when they completed, as Mia says, a lot of people start PhDs in their late twenties. Go for it and good luck!

DO you have any other supervisors? Are there any friendly post-docs or fellow PhD students who can do some proof-reading for you? Have you told your supervisor how you feel and actually asked for some more guidance? Hang on in there, writing up is a long and lonely process but you WILL get there in the end. All the best.

You will need to have legimate reasons for asking for a transfer - I'm not suggesting that you haven't got valid reasons, just making the point that transfers are difficult and the University and your supervisors will not generally consider one unless you have a very good reason for requesting one. What stage of your PhD are you at? Do you have a specific problem with your supervision or are there other issues? All the best.

thanks Mia, it's nice to know there are others doing the same thing!