Hi Lithops00,

I am a humanities bod, not a scientist so I am unsure that my advice on introductory emails will be apt, but here goes.

I established potential supervisors for my research proposal, and prior to making a formal PhD application, emailed the each potential supervisor (or the administrator (who became the middle man/woman!) for their department if that was the preferred method) introducing myself in a short paragraph. I then briefly included their relevant research which directly related to my proposal and asked if they would be prepared to read my research proposal prior to me making a formal application. Once they had read it, they let me know whether they would be prepared to supervise it or not, and a couple entered into an informal dialogue about the potential direction of the research etc, - if all was well, I made a formal application to the uni. The initial email was no more than a couple of short paragraphs: first about me and second about their research and my research proposal.

But, as I said - I am unsure if it is the same process for a biologist. Do you have a research proposal or are you applying to principal investigators for their existing/new research projects?

Lizzie

Great, thanks so much Chickpea and AislingB - really helpful and I am now on what I hope is my penultimate draft! Sending it to a law scholar friend - so hopefully some objective advice will take it thorough to the final draft!

Thanks again,
Lizzie :)

Hi!

I am applying for a PhD studentship, and have been asked to sum up in 500 words my proposed research for the lay reader. This may seem easy, but does anyone have an idea of quite how un-academic I should be? I feel as if I am offering a very wordy, inarticulate explanation if I cut out all academic terminology, but at the same time, don't want to use it and then be penalized. I am summarizing proposed research in a humanities subject, so I don't feel like I am using vast amounts of unreachable terminology anyway, but things like research fields and methodology need to be in there I feel. If I replace them with an explanation of what they are/do etc, I feel like I am patronizing the reader and wasting words! I am on my third draft and just feel really at odds with it!

Any suggestions would be very welcome!
Thanks,
Lizzie

Not at all, Dr TheGoodShip! You write excellently (of course!). It was really fun reading the build up, and like Fled - I too would read it again! :-)

What?! Wow (and a jolly good chuckle)..thanks, Ian.

Woooop for the Exeter bias. Although, I guess the supervision is the most important factor, wherever it may be..

Have a great time on your trips!

Lizzie

Hi Max,

I haven't applied for an interruption to studying, but know a couple of friends doing PhD's who have. As Satchi mentioned, it was a case of filling in a form and submitting it to Admissions / the College office and then waiting for confirmation of the interruption. Both friends got back into studying with little problems, as far as I know, and one has just submitted.

Good luck,
Lizzie

Thanks Molly!

And yes, Treeoflife - Exeter it really is. I hope that the right post-doc will pop up there for you. It is a great uni and beautiful part of the country.

In terms of working space, Ph.D's get an office in the dept/college (I believe this is pretty standard). As an MA, I worked in my department computer labs, or the library or the old library. The library has good space, but arguably not enough however the huge benefit is that it is open 24/7 - librarians are there between 8am-8pm and security are there throughout the night. The old library is great but closes comparatively early. My dept's computer labs were also open all night but I don't know if that is the same for all.

The student population seems separated from the city, but may be I felt that because I lived and spent a lot of time on campus and the campus is over a mile away from the city centre. Exeter is a pretty city and has a very good variety of shops and a decent social scene and a few clubs to enjoy. I am not one for clubs so mostly go out to eat with friends - there are the generic Pizza Express type places or individual, often tiny local places to eat - both can be fun. There are little theatres in the city and one decent theatre on campus, as well as the Great Hall which hosts orchestral concerts. Apart from the city, the seaside is very close, as is Dartmoor - which is beautiful.

I loved Exeter, and felt it was the absolute best place for me - campus felt like 'home' and I feel very fortunate to study in a great dept, great uni and in such a beautiful place.. If you've any further questions, please feel free to ask.

Good luck with your decision!
Lizzie

Postgrads arguably have less support than undergrads on campus, however the postgrad soc organise regular social events. There is also a host of societies to get involved with -anything from flute choir to dragon boat racing. Go to the student guild web page and have a look. They all recruit in 'Welcome Week' (fresher's week) and they are well supported.

The campus is beautiful (and very hilly), with ponds, landscaped gardens and big enough to take months to explore. There is a great sports centre, with a good gym and an excellent tennis centre, and an outdoor pool which is open from late Spring to the end of the Summer - prices are reasonable. There are good places to eat on campus, ranging from the very reasonable to the more sophisticated eateries ie Reed Hall, and enough places and variety to not get board!! There is a good shop to get the necessities from in 'The Forum', which again is reasonable but is limited in variety mostly due to its size. A lot of people on campus order supermarket deliveries to halls or go to the city shopping. The latter sounds practical but when I mentioned the campus is hilly, it is VERY hilly and getting a weekly shop up the hill from the city is not fun. There is also a good Print Shop for stationary and computing needs. Campus security patrols all night and will assist anyone in halls if needed.

Contd

Huge congratulations,Molly.

I did my MA at Exeter.

In terms of the league table stuff, Exeter seems to be ever climbing and in the Humanities especially, world and national rankings are impressive.

I have recently met a PhD student from the Geography dept. and they were very complimentary about their experience thus far (they were in their first year) mentioning positives such as very regular supervisions, excellent support in preparation for the GPC, use of office in the dept for study space and good support from a personal tutor. Although I wasn't a Geography student (which I am presuming you will be?), so I am passing on second hand information. Exeter has a very good Humanities conference in Jan/Feb, which the MAs are invited to and last year another conference was held at Exeter (QERN), but I believe that changes every year. My department frequently offered the chance to submit to journals, both peer review and not - but again, I don't know if this is the same in each dept.

In terms of wider postgraduate life, I can directly comment on that. I lived on Campus (Stretham) in postgrad halls. In terms of the building, it was quite old in comparison to the newer undergrad halls, however this was a minor issue, it is also a small building, which I really liked. The accommodation team did an excellent job in matching the people in my hall and we all got on very well (you are asked to complete a questionnaire re your interests etc so you can be 'matched'). We studied together, talked about our work, and I certainly have learnt huge amounts from my hall mates, who I also consider very good friends and a massive support in Exeter (I moved there knowing no one!).

Contd...

Where are you applying? Do you have an expected overall grade?
You cant not really cover up your grades, however if you are in the US, isn't there the opportunity to resubmit papers to improve your gpa?
In the UK, a good 2:1 or First is required at Undergraduate, to progress to Masters level but I am unsure if that is widely used criteria.

Well, they initially only offered Skype to international students and I am a home student, but currently with a spinal injury so travelling the 320 round trip not an option, and meant I missed formalities of the day ie lunch with the faculty and tour etc. My first Skype interview for anything and whether it was normal or not, I missed out on major parts of the day. They were lovely but I would have liked to have been there with other candidates.Thanks for the reassurance though :--)

Thanks TreeofLife! :-( indeed. I will ask certainly, I think it would be very useful!!

I wish I could have gone down and taken part in the tour and lunch with the college of humanities (even though I did my MA there) and that, even though it was over Skype, I wasn't so nervous!!! I am kicking myself but there is nothing I could do about not going down -it would have been hugely painful. The panel were all really lovely and kind, but the first question 'how will your proposed research make an original contribution?' stumped me a bit!
Thanks for all the advice though - hugely appreciated.
Lizzie x

Thanks Tree of Life and Chickpea! I think just doing the first one was a huge hurdle. Pity it is the one I really wanted! My deadlines were throughout Jan (for humanities) - Uni studentships and research council. I really hope more come up - I really want this. But hayho. I really appreciated all the advice and support! Lizzie x