Who have you submitted it to? A funding body? A supervisor?

This is likely to affect the timeline for a response.

Do you have a supervisor/tutor with whom you could discuss these titles? Essentially it's usually through having a chat about a proposal that supervisors are able to estimate whether a question is small enough/big enough for a PhD. For example, your third question might be feasible as a case study of one or two institutions, but if you wanted to assess the general case that might be beyond the scope of a one person project.

You essentially need to find a question where you can find a suitable method for testing the hypothesis rigorously in a suitable timeframe. That's where more experienced researchers should be able to guide you.

Also be aware that it's better to choose a question to which the answer will still be of interest in 3-5 years time. E-learning seems to be going through a transition stage with MOOCs (though whether they are sustainable is another matter), so factor in what kind of issues people are going to be likely to want to know about in the future.

If you seriously want researchers input on this sensitive issue then canvassing opinions on a general PhD discussion forum probably doesn't constitute robust qualitative methodology.

If you really think forums are the way to go, you might receive more specific input from some kind of public health policy/employment law type group.

Are you asking us to do your homework for you?

Is it just for students or will there be staff/supervisors there as well?

You've done fantastically well. I know you must be exhausted but you're so close to finishing.

Are there any tasks you can delegate to someone you trust (e.g. arranging for printing, putting together a list of figures) so that you can focus on the bits that must be done by you?

Don't forget, almost every submitted thesis contains some errors, so if those last few things are not quite perfect, don't panic. There will be opportunities to correct them later.

Good luck:-)

Assuming you are at a university, have you tried requesting them via your library? There is usually a small fee (e.g. £2) per request, but that's a lot less than whatever the journal will charge.

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There's no one fixed rule - as you note, there are funding cycles that come into play, and different unis have different policies. Mine seems happy to let people start at the beginning of each term - when I was offered my PhD I was given two options of start dates and chose the latter as the former would have been a bit of a rush to move, but the latter was the latest it could be due to the stipulations of the funding. I suggest if you see projects you're particularly interested in then just contact the supervisors and see what the situation is. Even if they're tied to October, it might be good to make contact with groups you might like to work in.

What's your field?

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1. A post grad cert usually involves fewer modules than a postgrad diploma. A Masters will usually have the same number of modules as the diploma, but with the addition of having written a dissertation.
2. I'm afraid I don't know, sorry. Probably.

It also depends very much on the subject e.g. in basic laboratory sciences, the project will almost always be proposed by the PI. In arts and humanities it's more common to write your own proposal.

I don't know where the best place to study computer science is (although in terms of 'reputation', look at the department or university, rather than just assuming that the USA is a better place to study). However, I would suggest you also take into consideration the respective supervisors and the nature of the projects. Good supervisory support can, in my experience, be a major determinant of whether a PhD experience is good or bad. And having enthusiasm for the specific topic will also be important during the challenges.

Wherever you do the PhD, there's nothing stopping you going elsewhere afterwards, so don't feel like you have to accept the USA offer to stand a chance of working there when you're done.

Maybe other people with more experience of programmes outside the UK will be along to give more detailed advice?

You may well get more uptake with an online questionnaire. There are several popular sites used to that end e.g. Survey Monkey, or your uni may prefer you to use a particular one.

Given that it's probably still in copyright, I suggest you try Amazon or another seller of e-books. Libraries may also 'lend' e books these days.