Hi, I guess an MA/Msc dist. helps, but I know several PhD students who don't actually have a masters. I think it's more arts/humanities subjects where funding is scarce and competition is more fierce.

With regard to the RA thing... yes, it can be a route to a PhD. You'd be a contracted staff member, but can be simultaneously registered for a PhD at your manager's discretion (provided they're happy for the RA work to form a Phd and that it's sufficiently original). There are pros and cons. RAs tend to progress faster than 100% PHD students - they can be privy to conferences and meetings otherwise inaccessible to students.

However funding can be an issue. RA jobs are often fixed term posts and not be long enough to cover minimun registration period for a PhD (3 years in UK). You can find yourself without funding or struggling on a lower income for the last part. The key thing is to get an RA manager who is fully aware fo PhD regulations and can act adequately as a PhD supervisor.

Not all conferences are peer reviewed... if it's in a fairly specialist subject then it's likely that all submissions are accepted because they sometimes don't generate enough responses to choose between them.

really scary stuff. I awoke first hearing a loud bang like something had crashed into the house, I woke my husband who sleepily said "don't sorry, probably birds in the loft" I was about to say "bloody big birds!" then the vibrating and rumbling noise came again, he woke up then! we both sat bolt upright in bed - it went on for several seconds and literally the whole house shook.

My first thought was that there were burglars in the house trashing everything! Earthquake didn't even occur to me until I went downstairs to investigate and saw people out on the street in their dressing gowns.

Hi there, congrats on getting an interview. Is it for a PhD studentship? Or a salaried research position? You are not legally obliged to disclose your pregnancy. I *think* it is also illegal for a potential employer to ask you (may be wrong on this though, so anyone, please advise if you knwo otherwise).

AS you are visibily pregnant though it puts a different emphasis on things. It may be worth discussing at interview what implications this would have on you commencing the project if you were successful. While your circumstances may be fine, there may be other constraints on the organisation (sponsorship requirements for example) to get the work done within a certain timeframe, etc.

Congrats, PC! very well done!

Your thesis must have been exceptionally well written, I know someone who's wiva was only 50 mins long, he was given optional corrections!

Enjoy being a Dr.

I think it is very wise to concentrate on the "now" as you say. From about the end of my second year onwards I spent so much time worrying about what i was going to do, where I could progress too, what additional things I needed to do that were quite separate from my PhD. It had quite a detrimental effect on my progress and I'm sure prolonged the time I took to complete. Seriously, concentrate on getting your PhD for now.

Brilliant - congratulations!

totally in agreement with Olivia.

Rather than simply concede, say that you are very grateful that she has agreed to change, and when can this be done? Use very positive language. By being politely assertive, she, and everyone else will know not to mess you in future.

I've had situations like this at work recently, and normally I would have just conceded, but the last couple fo times I've fought my corner, and feel much better for having done that

absolutely you should have bothered! I would have been hopping mad!!
It's not just about the inconvenience issue and downright rudeness at them not consulting you...

What about handling other people's material? you might have sensitive/important information, and by boxing it up/moving it, surely it is in breach of the university's ethical standards of inforation handling? I'm assuming she has nothing to do with your project, so therefore she has no right to handle your materials/equipment. If you were required to move, you should have been notified first, if only to for this issue. Common courtesy is another matter entirely, and sadly lacking on some academic staff,

Hmmm, not sure what amount you're looking to borrow, and to be honest I don't think you'd be able to afford your stipend alone these days. In terms of whether banks/building societies accept stipends as income, this can be tricky but is possible. My husband and I bought our home a couple of years ago, he was the major earner, I had the stipend. Halifax considered my stipend as income, they requested a letter from the stating what it was for, etc. I believe HSBC will allow stipends to contribute to a mortagage application too.

I also know a friend bought a house on her own - several years ago before the house prices in the UK rose to stupid levels. Her stipend was her main source of income, and she got a mortgage with it. Not sure which lender she was with though.

fantastic news - well done!

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not in bits about this or anything, and other deaths do get me more upset..

I think I was just more surprised at this as Ledger wasn't exactly someone who was in the news all the time, unlike the Winehouse/Doherty/Lohan crew.

Quite shocked - he was only 28, and leaves a young daughter behind. Very sad. I thought he was really good in Brokeback Mountain.

I hope it's not someone else who's been lost to drugs...

One day I'm sure the same headline will apply to Amy Winehouse

Hi, very best of luck, let us know how you get on! The best pieces of advice I can give are:

1: at the point you go into yout viva, remember that nobody - repeat; NOBODY - will know more about your topic than you. Sieze that thought and feel confidence

2: don't assume that every question you are asked pertains to a weakness in your thesis. Even if your thesis is perfect in every way, an examiner still has a job to do, and some questions may be just simply because they are genuinely interested.

3: enjoy it if you can - I was a wreck before mine, but as I got into it, I enjoyed the conversation. You'll never talk in depth about that piece of work again so make the most of it.

Your examiner' decisions are final. They both agreed that you should be passed, there is no reason for the school to dispute this (indeed, no reason why anyone would dispute such a fab result!)

Sounds like someone has forgotten to type something up, or it may have been mislaid in internal post, etc. I think you should chase this up as a matter of urgency though. A letter could have been sent to you requesting you submit bound copies by a certain date, and if you haven't had it you won't know. You don't want a situation where they think they've sent you something and are waiting for something to come from your end. Let us know what comes of it