hi. i didnt need reference when applying to the university i got both my bacholors and masters from. but yes when i applied to another univiersity i was told i needed 2references from people who taught me at masters level. they firmly stressed they did not want references from my bachelors degree.

hi. thank u bewildered. iv had a look, i take it that site shows the amount of funding alloacted to universities? the one im at does not have anywhere as much as the one i was thinking of going to. and in my field of expertise, there is absolutely no funding. my thesis would come under criminology&criminal justice. and looks like it does not attract any funding. yes i am self funding and yes i hope to see myself through as best as i can. i hope when i finsish to stay in the academic world lecturing/research

im a single parent on limited funds about to commence my doctorate in september. it hasnt been easy. i have come this far on my own. i had student loan for my bacholors i finished in 2004 at age 38- i got a 2:1. i finihed my master of science last year with a merit. i do wonder how il cope with my doctorate as i am self funding with no help. i have saved my first years fees and will over the year save the next years. its not easy. but i am determined. my children are aged 17 and 18. i have suceeded this far and i will finish i tell myself.

bewildered. thanks for your reply. how do i find this out?? the ratings?

thanks. i have had offers already from both unis. the one i had both my degrees from. i have a bsc sociology and criminology 2:1 and an msc criminology and criminal psychology (merit). the uni i studied at for both degrees want me. they know my work and my standard. i just have to rework my proposal. i sent in one i quickly wrote out and the guy i know said yes you have a place but i want this proposal rewritten to a much better standard. he has very high standards. a friend of mine started last year straight from the masters we finished and he told me he rewrote his proposal 5times for this guy!! he's a stickler for perfection. the other uni accepted without question and offered a place

thank you very much. i did ask the guy i know that i was peeved off that i was asked to rewrite the proposal and he said it was cos it wasnt good enough and i should be careful that the other uni are just out to take my money etc. the other uni however said to me that they look on a proposal as a guide and when i start the phd, the real work would commence and the thesis would then take its shape properly etc. although the guy i know hasnt got a phd, he has published a lot of work and is well known in his field even appearing on tv to do with problems in that field. i respect him and get on very well with him though i see him as a slave driver when it comes to work but then as iv said to him that is what a i need to see me through. tho i havent started yet, he is already in contact with me and guiding me already.

im applying to start a phd this year. im torn between 2 unis. the one i did my 2degrees at which has a brilliant department and a supervisor very knowledgeable in my research area. i get on so well with that person who knows me so well and how unmotivated i can get and knows how to push me to work. i also get a discount so works out cheaper. however people tell me that this supervisor has not got a doctorate and therefore how could he supervise me properly? this supervisor has never taken anyone through as yet to a successful phd conclusion as he's only had phd students over the last 2yrs. however there will be others with phd on my team.
next problem - i have sent a proposal into another uni who are not expert in that field yet say they can take me on and dont need to have an expert in that field because they claim they can guide and supervise me even though they havent got anyone who has researched my field. they also accepted my proposal on first submission whearas my university i applied to asked me to rewrite my proposal x