Hi
There's a couple of really interesting PhDs that have come up, and I'm certainly going to be applying for them. The only problem is doing any research, since I am not currently working within a university, and as such don't have access to any journals.

This is particularly a problem when "key references" are sited in the advert, but I'd need to do research for all applications.

Does anybody else have (or had) the same problem? What do (did) you do about it? :s
Thanks ^_^

What sector are you in?
A PhD won't necessarily allow you to get a "better" job per se, but it will open up some doors for you.

Thanks for the link 8)

Yeah, I've seen it. I've actually been offered a PhD at Aber to do with fish biology, but it doesn't come with any funding. I was thinking of applying to this for it, but I know the competition is ~really~ steep.

Still, if I don't apply, I definitely won't get it, but if I do, there's a chance, no matter how tiny!!

Thanks again ^_^

Wow - really good advice! As I'm sure most men do, I've been fretting about baldness - I'll check these suplements out...

And good going, Fifi - I know someone who had Alopetia on my Masters course, and she did seem very stressed about a lot of things - not just about the work (she was clever, so she shouldn't have fretted too much) but also about her social life, as well. And it embarassed her, so she worried about that too. It's good to hear you're doing well with it 8)

Oh wow, thanks. I'd heard about MarLab, but didn't really know much about them so I just checked them out. Nothing right now, but I'll keep them in mind. Thanks!
As it happens, just had a look at Aberdeen uni. There's a nice PhD they're offering which is in one of my favourite fields (predatory ecology), but it may be much too stats based. I'll have to ask the supervisor 8)

Well, I've studied marine biology, my masters was in shellfish biology and fisheries. I'm interested in doing anything along the lines of ecology or behavioural ecology of marine organisms.

Thanks for the replies.

It's actually in biological sciences - I don't really know how that compares to other sectors in terms of funding :s

Well done for submitting your thesis, Kronkodile =) How do you feel now that you've handed that in? I think that's pretty inspirational for other people, especially those who think the research part of their courses didn't go quite so well. Congrats, and thanks to you both.

Oops lol I hadn't quite finished.
I shoulda said that I already have been offered one, which anybody who saw my other topic will know, but will that always be a one off, or will my chances be similar everywhere?

Hello, I'm new here and I was wondering what my chances of getting a PhD were. I know that nobody can give a definite answer because everywhere is different, but I got a 2:1 for my undergrad degree, and I've just finished a Masters and got a distinction for that. How much help will that be? Thanks for any answer =)

Might I just add - I want to go somewhere where I'll be happy and confident. Everyone says a PhD is a difficult thing, and I don't want to go into one with a concern already hampering me. I need to be fully confident that the subject, the supervisor and the location suit my needs as much as I suit theirs. This place is, self-declared, even remote to science. Is that going to be good for me!?

I applied for a couple of reasons. It was a speculative application, I didn't know what to expect and I was hoping for some good experience of a complete application process - from the form and covering letter, up to the interview.
I also wasn't sure whether I'd like the place. I figured it's worth trying, and if I got it I could check the place out. I knew vaguely what it was like, but I wasn't sure.
Let's face it, it's not just about a supervisor being happy about a student - a student has to be happy with their working environment, too. I've definitely got the ability and drive to do a PhD, I've been working towards one for a while. I'm just not sure how much I'm prepared to sacrifice for one. And you're right - that is probably a stupid issue.

In response to aliby - who can provide careers advice for postgraduate work - Masters and PhDs, and so on? Would a company like Reed be able to do that, or would you need to go to a specialist of some sort?

Just making a correction cos something went weird there... top line:

in Millport, less than 200 people aged 15 - 35...

See! Aber's awesome! In Millport, there will be _> Who will I connect with? 8`(

In all seriousness - that kinda scares me. It's killing me, cos I really wanna do a PhD, and this MAY be my only chance (I've got another couple of applications in at the moment, and I'm in the process of applying for a DREAM PhD in New Zealand)... But what's the point if a lack of people my age to speak to is going to depress me? 3 years is a long time.

Aberystwyth, eh? I did my Masters in Bangor, which I think is probably about the same size. That wasn't too bad, because at least there were lots of people there - well, at least enough to provide some hustle and bustle. I'm from London too, and where I'm going (Millport) is tiny, and on an island. A big change, even from Bangor.

Fifi - are you at all familiar with Millport? I know it's near to Glasgow, but "near" isn't the same as "in" lol. In fact, in this case, far from it :s

I'm just very concerned the loneliness will get to me.