Right, i have been offered an MSc place at a top university (cant name, but its 5*), which is no big deal. However, i have also been awarded a NERC studentship for this course (fees + stipend). Basically, the area is in one of my interests but i have many so its a big decision. Also, do i hold out and hope that i get a PhD, or do i just do the course and then get a better PhD? Is an MSc worth it?

I am a M.SC. student from Italy and am going to look for a phd after my graduation next january. I have some questions regarding some of the phd programs I have read and I was hoping to get some help here. First of all one of the requirements is that you must have a b(i) degree, or its equivalent, how can I calculate my degree to this scale? Secondly the money that university offers to these candidates how much tax regarding to UK's law is paid?

I am coming to the end of my PhD in education and I wonder why I bothered. The only work available seems to be part-time limited term contracts, and the pay is a lot less than I used to receive as a teacher before the PhD. I have applied for 8 post-doc fellowships, but they are generally given to natural scientists. Although I read in the THES that education lecturers are in short supply, I don't see any job advertisments out there. Does anyone have any insight?

I have a BSc in Maths and Info Systems, and an MSc in International Management. I am currently working as a project analyst, but I am very keen to pursue a PhD in the areas of management (esp emerging management techniques in IT/Telecomms in developing countries ). I want to pursue this in the States and have some travel included in this. How do I go about this? And I can only do this if I get full funding and some 'help' towards living costs. Anyone have any ideas?

I am extremely keen on taking on a PhD but I am a bit worried about whether I will cope. I do have sporting interests and I would like to continue with them. Is it possible to still have interests and a decent social life while doing a PhD. I have worked hard on my BSc. and I do know my priorities, but it just worries me that it could be a 3 year slog??!

I thought to finish because my "boss" didn´t allow me to put in practice my own ideas at the moment of designing my experiments...
But actually i haven´t a grant but i hope have it soon.
This is my story :)

P.S.- Ellie, i had thought in your situation and i know is very hard. Don´t worry (much)about it and think everything carefully. It will be an important decision.
Good Luck Ellie

Dear Matt, your relationship with your supervisor is the most important thing if you are going to be successful. If you feel it is not going to improve you can consider quit now. Employability depends on the type of subject your research is and the kind of employment you want. But an MSC or Mphil in itself is a well recognised postgraduate qualification, it will ceratinly mark you out from graduates if a postgraduate experience is what is needed.

Dear Ellie i think you should consider all options now before it is too late. Once you spent a lot of time and energy the option of quitting is not avilabe to you. Talk to your freinds especially those who have done a phD in a similar field to you and as k for their advice. You have already started seeking advice by coming to this forum. You need a specific and relevant advice from some one who knows your circumstances better. Whatever you decide,good luck.


David

Ellie, Hang in there. Apparently, most (if not all) PhD students have some kind of crisis in their 1st yr. See how you feel at the beginning of your 2nd yr. Unfortunately, once you've started a PhD you usually have to stick with it, if you want a PhD. There are very, very few opportunities to change to another PhD, once you've started one.

Thanks for your reply Ivan. Can I ask what you decided in the end?

Work wise things are going well, but I really don't get on well with my PhD supervisor and I don't particularly like the lab environment (Bit too stiff and reserved for my liking!). So firstly, how employable is someone with an MSc and an MPhil? Secondly does it look bad applying for another PhD after dropping out during the first year?

I was in the same situation, and I think is better for you to leave this project and look for other one. It´s strange that the things change to better in a little time. It´s only an opinion, I hope that you decide well and are lucky with your decision.

Hey all...I am currently doing a PhD in Neurochemistry, and am now thinking that I made a big mistake in my choice of project. There are lots of little things conspiring to make it a bad experience so far, and now I'm confused as to whether to quit and look for a new project, or to stay and hope it gets better. Was just wondering if anyone had any advice on what to do? Or if anyone has been in a smiliar situation.
Thanks.

Sometimes suitable candidates don’t get the position they were offered because funding wasn’t secured by the supervisor, who was probably too lethargic to get it in the first place. The latter scenario is an unfortunate state of affairs, but those who find themselves in this kind of situation consider yourselves lucky: You could’ve spent 4 years struggling with that lethargic loser!

Anyone can get a 2:i, if they wanted to. And anyone without an adequate social life can get a 1st. If you have a 2:i or higher, does that mean you’re automatically eligible to do PhD? No, of course it doesn’t. Doing a PhD is nothing like doing a BSc. You have to demonstrate (at the interview, or in your written application) that you can think independently, not regurgitate what you were taught at BSc level. There’s a difference, and if you can’t see it, you shouldn’t get a PhD.