We really need to know the topic so we can decide whether the gym/pub is preferable ;-)

A lot depends on where the conference is - both from a practical perspective and from a where are the other delegates are from perspective (I presented at a conference in April in the middle of Borneo where it was 38 deg and most delegates were Australian or Malaysian) - I wore a linen/silk mix dress for my presentation and a green silk dress from monsoon (sale) for the conference dinner - I had a lot of complements because the colour stood out.  You might also think how long your clothes are going to be in your case and take that into account - when I went to Malaysia my clothes were in the case for more than 36 hours. I have a black wrp dress which can be crewed up and still coem out fine so tghat is a conference standby. The keynotes varied in their dress but most people dressed up more when they were presenting and on the day when there was a visitor from the Malaysian Government (inclduing jackets and ties).  Other delegates wore traditional dress (so long robes for delegates from the middle east on more formal days).

Other people might slate me for this but I think you need to dress more formally if you are a student (particularly if you are / look young and if you are presenting - it will give you gravitas) - I received a piece of invaluable advice in my early career in industry - dress for the job you want not the job you have - so if you aspire to being a serious player in your field dress like one not like a student. That isn't to say you need to wear formal suits but I think jeans are out.  Yes some people (and in some fields this is more common) do dress in jeans all the time but there is a risk that it says scruffy student not potential leading academic - which would you prefer?


I've also been to some VERY swanky conference dinners where long dresses and serious bling were worn by many (female) delegates and even black tie by many of the male delegates - if there is a more formal dress code then it would be indicated but I think you might want to have something a bit dressier - the ideal solution is black trousers, heels and a couple of tops - one dressy one so you can switch if you think people will be less dressy.

Study days are the norm in my field and on thsoe days people dressed as though they were on holiday

Yup - if it's copyright you shouldn't use it. Can you contact the copyright owner and ask for permission?

ICAEW is considered the gold star qualification - most of the training is in audit and taxation rather than financial management.  Most employers will decide for you which qualification they will want you to complete (while it is possible to take the exams independently as a student it is not possible to qualify without on the job training so most employers will sponsor you (by paying for classes, exam fees and offering study leave) to take the exams while you are training).

The best thing to do is take a look at the websites of the various accounting bodies - these will have links for students which will outline the requirements (both formal exams and practical experience) and also indicate whether you are eligible for exemptions based on previous study (for example my first degree was in Economics and so I did not have to sit the economic paper). All levels are assessed by 100% examination.

www.icaew.com (Chartered Accountants - mainly train by auditing)
www.cimaglobal.com (Chartered Management Accountants - train within industry - more financial management, budgeting etc)
www.cipfa.org.uk (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy - mainly for people working in the public sector where accounting rules differ)
uk.accaglobal.com (Certified Accountants - a bit of auditing and a bit of industry)

There are also bodies for Chartered Accountants in Scotland and Ireland which offer similar qualifications to ICAEW.

As I have only just had my proposal accepted I am such a long way from what you are going through but having sat exams at 6months and submitted my MA thesis three weeks before giving birth, I really feel for you - will be thinking of you (and everyone else) going through the viva. :-)

I just love the idea that a disseration guide can make all my dreams come true - what even the one about winning the lottery and marrying George Clooney? Where do I sign up?

Only you know what is or isn't making you happy - I spent 16 years earning a big salary (well for the last few years) with a car, health insurance and other perks but I was so unhappy that at 38 I quit to go back to college to do another Masters. I've been lecturing for 5 years nearly and although the pay is less than half what I was on and there are no perks I am much happier. Big salaries arent everything.

Since they don't require a masters and they know about your difficulties while doing the masters I think it would be pretty harsh of them to throw you off esp as you are goign onto MPhil first. Is this a funded PhD - if so you need to get something in writing as they may have to go through formal advertising and interviewing process to cover them. Get the application in and then you will get something back confirming it.

Thanks Sneaks you are a star (and I would give you an extra star if I knew how to do it so have a (gift) instead). 

I've put "submitted to J of ... (May)" for the one I am submitting end of this week and "in preparation for submission to the 'J of Not very good (but an impressive sounding name) but my head of department knows the editor and has promised her some articles' "and one just "in preparation". I have one journal in mind for that but it isn't in my field (tourism) it's in geology and I think I should aim for a tourism one (even though the paper would have more impact - although not necessarily for the right reasons - in the geology one).

OK so I am being really thick here (in my defence I have had a really productive couple of days on my lit review and I think my brain is worn out) - when you put submitted you can say where it has been submitted but I have two papers in preparation - one I know where it is going but one I don't know where to send it. - what should / could I put - just "in preparation"

Thanks everyone - I knew you would have the answer I was struggling to find.

Hi
I am applying for a post at another university (the one where I am taking my PhD). I have come a v close second twice in the last year but the sticking point was not being registered for PhD (that is now sorted) and publication record. I am just putting the finishing touches to a paper for submission to a journal (I have already been in touch with the editor and she has said very encouraging things about the subject). Is there any (honest) way I can include this in my application - I think she will send it out for review but it won't be done in time for the job application so is there anything I can put that isn't a lie (ie I'm not going to say anything that suggests it has been accepted) but I'd like to put it in there.

I teach a course in event management but I don't really understand your question. More info might help.

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I live at home with my husband and children but other post grads I know seem to do fairly well out of being a hall tutor (think that's like a warden) they get free flat on campus in exchange for being on call a few nights a week. The senior hall tutor gets paid as well (about £6k I think) but has a bit more to do.

A lot depends on what you are used to, if it's a new town etc - do you need to make friends in which case on campus might be good but there is the problme of first years partying all the time. Are you used to having your own space in which case shared flat might be hard going.