yeah I'll pitch in too, here's a tenner

how about approaching it from a different angle...

Do you think this skirt goes with these shoes ?

buy a car then?

seriously though (was serious before too!) your uni really should have a post-grad society thingy. if they don't then suggest starting one. you'll be fine-its always a bit crappy when you first move somewhere new

suggest a night out at the pub and ply them with alcohol. they'll love you forever!

bloody hell, am going to have to re-think entire outfit??

amui- exactly how big do you think my house is? perhaps you are not taking this "changing the ideology of fundamental research as we know it" question seriously enough?

Hi Lonely. Have you tried joining any clubs and societies through uni ? Fear not, a lot of people will be in the same boat as you. Or what about the postgrad society if you'd rather be amongst your peers ?

Hey- it'll get better! Try to fing something to do in the evenings- do a language course, find out about the university sports club.... or whatever interest you. Otherwise you'll end up going home and sitting infront of the TV feeling dissatified because all you do is work.

Besides- after a few weeks you'll get the hang of things and feel less stressed. Many of my colleauges have families too- how about other labs? Do you have any next door labs with new PhD students?? Go and start conversations with others about Manchester or what ever.

In order to have a career it is required to have spent some time working/studying abroad (in some countries). If you are struggling with the language and the PhD system and the culture of the UK (not to mention the funding situation) this would seem very daunting to me ....

As has been pointed out most of these students do not come from the UK. They come from a different culture and some are struggeling with the English language. For us it is obvious that their requests will be ignored because we know how our society "works". In their home country they could maybe expect (?)a helpful reply to a general "find me a PhD" plea.

Hey oala. Have you thought about doing another degree i.e. starting all over again ? Or what about doing something like an art foundation course part time whilst working and see if that's what you really want to do ? Then if you decided you really wanted to get into art, go back to uni and get trained in it. All the best !

Well- at the end of the day you are much more dependent on your supervisor than they are on you. You can't just change your supervisor, and you will need his/her reference and if you are very lucky mentorship at the start of your career. A researcher is not rated on his/her teaching/supervising qualities - all that counts are the papers written & the grants they can get.

If you can't finish your PhD you've got to find another PhD, which can be difficult (especially if you're an international student). On the other hand, if you don't finish the supervisors/and the departments ratings might go down a bit - but in the end the supervisor will still get funding - especially if the supervisor only has a problem with one student (and others finish).

So in my view its the best to try to ignore rude/unhelpful/unapproacheble/demoralizing behavior of your supervisor and seek advice of the postdocs in the lab (if there are any).

John, you are right. If some former Polytech, which claim to be University stop, offering courses that they can't teach might help

Hi. I have just started my PhD in Manchester (Chemistry). I am from Scotland and don't have any friends here. I have been out with some lab colleagues but they are older and have families. I am feeling a bit lonely and stressed with starting the PhD. Any suggestions what to do?