No problem at all - one thing I forgot to mention. While for some projects, a little prior knowledge is expected, there's no way that you could have any more than extremely basic knowledge of a PhD area before you start it, as you'll be spending three years on it. If you already knew everything there was to know about it, there's be little point in doing the PhD.

Keep us posted on how the application goes!

As far as I'm aware, when you apply for a pre-funded post, they're very much looking for what an employer would look for. If you have to write some kind of personal statement or covering letter, emphasis why you want to do a PhD, why that one specifically, maybe what draws you to the lab or university if they are held in especially high regard. Perhaps describe what you've done in the past, science-wise, and how this shows that you're suited to a PhD. Finally, you could mention something about the difference between your past studies and the subject area of the new PhD, and give evidence of something which shows that you're up to the challenge of transferring to a new area.

Hehe, well, I'm sure your studentship would have been cool and I bet you'll get someone Ann. You'll have to let me know what and where it is, just so I can keep tabs. Am very pleased with mine however - I got a gut feeling in the lab that I never have elsewhere. In a good way, of course!

Hi Goods,

Yes, it does indeed mean that I'm sorted for September now. At last! Hopefully, that's now the end of this episode and the start of a new, exciting one...

I'm sure this ranks as one of the most mundane questions asked on this forum, but where do you guys get your lab coats from, and what sort do you wear? I used to think they were all of the "jacket" design, but I've seen some recently with high necks and which almost wrap around a little. Any info?

Hi Ann,

I may well be interested - keep me posted!! Any more details by the way? I'm aware that the answer to that might be "no" though...

Hi Ann,

I may well be interested - keep me posted!! Any more details by the way? I'm aware that the answer to that might be "no" though...

I'm currently applying for a PhD in Neuroscience, and have found a rather ambiguous question. After asking about my general details, and my educational history, there is a question asking for "Other Interests and Skills". There are other questions which ask for details of my research interests and experience, and techniques which I have used, so I'm baffled as to what this means.

The only thing I can think of is that they're asking about "non-academic" (outside) interests, but I've never seen this on an application form, and would be surprised if this is what they actually want.

Any advice?

To be honest, I have a huge amount of admiration for anyone who goes through all of this, culminating in the viva. PhD candidates often get a bad press and are talked down, so to hear these stories really gives a completely different picture

What annoys me most of all is software with a limited licence. If I buy a program, why can't a install it on my PC, my sister's PC, and my parents' PC, wihtout needing to buy a separate package for each one???!?!?!?!

What about OpenOffice, Golfpro? ;)

Not really. Torrents are not illegal in themselves, but are often used for the downloading of copyrighted or other dubious material, hence your university blocking them.

It makes you think though - on my certificate, as far as I know, the only difference between an authenticated (£20) and non-authenticated (cost of a photocopy) copy is that the authenticated one has a sticker on it, signed by a registrar. If someone is keen enough to bother forging a degree certificate, I'm sure they'd have no problem forging a "sticker of authentication". I wonder if it's a mutual, unspoken, agreement between universities to ask for certified copies all the time, so that they can rake in these ridiculous amounts of money.

You'd have thought so Piglet, but I guess the people who do these things have to make it look as though they're busy...

My old uni charges 20 quid for the first copy of a certificate, and a quid for each one after that, and 25 quid plus one quid for further copies for transcripts. Criminal if you ask me, but they have a monopoly, so you can't really do anything about it.