======= Date Modified 08 Feb 2009 03:21:47 =======
It certainly does make interesting reading!

I'm not sure if this guy will have much luck in the courts, and whether he has shot himself in the foot by launching this action and website before finishing his PhD. I guess whether he has success depends on the stipulations of his GTA contract.

But putting aside his litigation (of which we read only his side of the story), it is very apparent from the emails he has accessed via the Data Protection Act that there is much of arse covering by the academics involved.

The OP was referring to a US publication...in the US many PhD programmes involve both 'coursework' and 'research' i.e. a student will spend the first two years of their PhD attending courses, and then the latter years of the PhD researching and writing up a thesis (thus, a thesis will often state that it's only 'in partial fulfillment' on a PhD).

Linguist, from start-to-finish, it is possible to do a 2 year PhD, but exceptional. I know one person who did a second PhD (crazy? probably) in two years, and I also know a few people who are very established in their professions who submitted a PhD based on their niche knowledge in two years. I believe it is also possible to submit a PhD to some institutions based on one's previous body of work...once again this is exceptional and I'm not sure if all universities allow this.

By far the easiest way to do a 2 year doctorate is to go to Germany or Austria...but then you run the risk of having a qualification that is not the same calibre as a British PhD.

Hi guys!

Well I got nothing done yesterday. I've come down with a really nasty cold/general lurgy type illness, and spent most of the day in bed with a migraine. I'm now doped up on a whole array of cold medications. Is it wise to eat a jumbo pack of Strepsils.... :p

Today, I'll do what I was supposed to do yesterday! I also have to sort out a software programme for drawing diagrams..grrr. Do you use any diagramatic software in the sciences, Lara? Any recommendations? I have some basic diagrams to draw (nothing fancy), so far it looks like I'll use Smartdraw. Powerpoint looks a little amateurish, and MS Visio takes too long to master.

When is your submission date, Ruby? It looks like you're on the final stretch. I'm looking at submitting around May.

Hi Gazzer, as far as I'm aware you don't have to pay anything back unless it was specifically stated in your funding offer and/or any contract you signed that you'd be liable to do so.

If you are absolutely sure that PhD life is no longer for you, then it's best to leave sooner than later.

I doubt anyone will find you decision offensive....this only occurs when students start stringing their university and funding body along when they have no intention of finishing their research.

Hey Lara! I'm out here!

I often read this thread to check out everyone's progress.

You seem to be plodding along very well with your revision. (up)

I'm in a bit of a pickle finishing up one of my chapters. I have an 18 page bibilography just for one chapter - full of papers I haven't yet read (or read so long ago I cannot remember) and I'm submitting in the next few months! It looks like I'm going to have to cut things down by a considerable amount. Dare I say...but I think I'm doing too much research for one thesis, or at least biting off more than i can chew.

I'll be accountable today:
Add some final references into chapter 1.
Cut down my reading material for current chapter.

======= Date Modified 06 Feb 2009 12:17:23 =======
Yep, I think Smilodon is right, the professor is referring to the actual completion of the thesis, not the whole research time. 12/18 mths will be the back end of a 5 year US PhD programme.

LOL@baldmoney

...is the OP talking about a water bath in the lab or in a house?!?! (I misinterpreted this at first glance too).

I don't know anything about water baths in labs....but I do know I wouldn't want to be responsible for burning my university down! Possibly the equipment will just cut off if it overheats...

(this thread has made me giggle!).

It could just be the case that they can't get one of the examiners to confirm a date.

It is just worth chasing up with your supervisor (who normally organises the viva).

I'd plump for wearing a suit. You can't really be too formal for an interview, but it is easy to be too informal.

Charles Tyrwhitt have a good sale on at the moment! A friend of mine got a suit for under £100.

Sarah, I agree. There are so many of approaching our viva soon and it's also the type of subject lots of new posters would come on here to talk about..an 'official viva thread' would be very helpful.

Congratulations again!

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Hmm, now I'm more undecided! lol.

Ruby, I have the same very generous margin as you...4cm on the left. I may stick with 1.5, but also put a generous margin of say 3cm on the right.

My main goal is to not annoy the examiners.

I've personally not encoutered this (unfortunately!), but my friends and family (again in the 'real world') have been asked to write their own references. I agree with A116, take advantage of it, and don't be afraid to big yourself up.

Talking of Newcastle, it was quite funny on ITN last night when a bemused lady from Newcastle declared 'we often have snow like this and it doesn't bring the city to a stand-still'....and right she is! Last time I was in Newcastle in cold weather, all my shopping froze in the boot of my car...alas, nothing stopped running and everyone was in work.

I cannot decide whether to use double or 1.5 spacing. On the one hand, 1.5 looks quite good, but on the other, double allows enough space for examiners to write comments.

I know some in-house styles specify double spacing, but this seems to have fallen out of favour with some other universities.

Which spacing do you prefer? (or your supervisor prefers).