Is there any research to suggest that students with a 1st from less affluent, established or renowned universities are of a lower calibre that those from the famous UCL? Or is this assertion based purely on Stella’s prejudices? I would have thought that grades are awarded according to national standards rather than a quota system, so that competition would mean more high grades rather than making it harder to achieve a high grade? Can any academics out there help to solve this one?

I am PhD student,Technical University “Gh. Asachi” Iasi, Romania (I graduate in 1999 in Technology of Inorganic Substance). My research subject is “Ionic exchange processes”, particularly “Electrodialysis” and I am very interested to find a modality for continue my research.

How can I get access to funding institutions for phd in area of Population and development. I would prefer to school in the US. I'm currenetly living in my home country, Ghana and hold BA, MA, Mphil.

i know that your situation is a little bit tough, but if you really think it is better for you to not to accept the offer, just tell them and give them your reason. i think every institution has this kind of experience, and they will understand. Keep in mind that you are not the only and the first person to do so, and it is very common. So do not feel too humiliated if you want to refuse an offer

I have accepted a PhD offer a month ago, and have since decided not to go ahead with it. I feel terrible about accepting it in the first place, but at the time I was convinced it was the right project for me. Will I get into alot of trouble if I decline this acceptance and accept another at a different institution?

to be honest, people said that it is greedy to try as most possibilities as you can. but i do not think so. it is all right for you to try as many chances as possible indeed, but you really need to settled down at one in time in case that you cannot manage more. i know it is painful to cut off some good idears but you do have to do so in some situation :(

why do you want to study for phd? what is your plan in the future?

Please can anyone give me some information on PhD interviews? What kind of question I can expect? I applied on a PhD in sediment dynamics.Many thanks.

Count yourself lucky, having a supervisor that has set a direction from teh earlier stages. P.hD is all about contributing something new to a particular field. You may start from a general view but have to start looking inwards(specific) to be able to produce a work that would be of P.hD standard. Good Luck mate. Having direction early in time can make the 3years programme a memorable years of you life.

I'm stuck in a rut too as I can't get motivated by my PhD at the moment. No-one seems to have time to for me. All I hear are things like 'You need to clone' or 'design primers' or 'why didn't it work? I canmake it work'. After 3 months on thePhD I've only just got in the lab and surely they should know that we need some help for the first few months. A bit of guidance?

I've been doing my PhD for about 3 month snow and have only recently been in the lab. Because I worked for 2 years beforehand they assume I know all the techniques...I don't! And when I dare to question something i just seem to get sneered at. It is one of the UK's best Uni and I enjoy the topic, but some more help during the first, well year really, would be useful.

Thank you so much for all your advice! I did not realize so many students had been where I am now. Just a question Ellie, have you found a better lab to do your PhD?

I was in a similar situation and quit after 10months.I was in a field I though I would enjoy, but found out it wasn't the subject for me or the work that I am good at.If you don't like the work you're doing, then leave. It's not worth the stress. But if you like the work and the main problem is the people, then that's something to work on, or find a way around.If you still feel like this in a few months,get your MPhil and find a more fun lab!

Is a PhD funded by industry or government as good as one funded by a research council?

Maybe one of reasons is you are at the begening stage as it is always difficult to see clearly a direction. Through
you may consider all possibilities but you should focus on one or few of them and work on it. I think when you find a direction and should be stick with what your supervisor specialise in, and push him hard.