Unfortunately, management courses are always very expensive as they are often funded by the private sector (not by grants, but by employers sending their employees on Msc or MBA courses) and universities have to find funds to pay for their shiny new management schools. As for funding for masters courses generally, there is usually very little funding available. I would imagine your best chances of funding is via a university scholarship.

======= Date Modified 13 Nov 2008 05:15:52 =======
Like others say...practice is the key. Know your presentation inside out. Many public speaking trainers recommend spending 1 hour's practice on every 100 words of your material (this equates to something like 20 hours of practice for a 30 min speech). Once you know your material, it makes it much easier to control your nerves.

Some tips I use to calm/hide my nerves:

- Practice in front of friends/family.

- Check the volume of your voice. Many presenters don't speak clearly or loudly enough, nor slowly enough.

- Remove all 'erms' or other filler words from your presentation (the odd one or two is forgiveable). It's shocking how many top academics still manage to splatter their presentations with 'erms'.

- Remember that while you will be very nervous, the audience will probably not recognise this. Only 1-10% of your nerves will physically show.

- If you have shakey hands, hold something (papers or the lecturn or a paperclip).

- Remember that the majority of the audience will switch off after 2 minutes.

- Never admit to the audience that your nervous.

- Time your presentation to perfection...running over time will immediately turn the audience against you.

- Like someone else said, go somewhere private before your presentation and shake out your nerves and take some deep breaths, then walk out 'acting' confidently.

Hi,

As long as you get a good Merit or Distinction in your Masters, then you'll have a very good chance of a funded PhD. If you get a Pass at Masters, this may put you in a worse position than if you only had a 2.1.

Are you looking to do your PhD in Manchester? Because doing your Masters at the same uni as your PhD is a very good way of getting a place and funding.

If you do see opportunities come up for PhDs, do apply (even without the Masters). I don't want to give the impression in my previous comments that you have no chance.

For my discipline, most complete in around 4/5 years. It's easy to let it drag on for a variety of reasons.

Universities are now very keen on completion rates, so you will be looking at finishing at the 4 year mark.

I know some people who finished on the 3 year mark, but they chose fairly straightforward subject to write about and kept it as simple as one can at PhD level. My advice would be to not to chose an overtly difficult area of research.

======= Date Modified 08 Nov 2008 21:07:58 =======
I'd agree with Sleepyhead - your chances are not great.

Not many people with a 2.1 get a funded place in a top university, and with only a 2.1 from a non-Russell Group university. However, it often depends on how competitive your subject area is and how well funded it is. You'll have a much better chance after completing a Master's programme.

You need to ask yourself what sets you apart from everyone else with a 2.1 who will be trying for a funded PhD? Do you have work exp. or a first in your dissertation etc.? You need to make yourself very competitive, particularly as there will be a lot less jobs next year and more students will go for postgrad courses.

I completely agree with Juno. Just make sure your work plainly and clearly states your thoughts. The temptation to high-brow vocabulary tends to irritate most readers, and looks like you've tried too hard.

Here are some 'signposting' words, that can help to make your sentences flow:
http://cedar.humanities.curtin.edu.au/TeachingMat/OLLD/Argument/12-0.cfm

======= Date Modified 05 Nov 2008 14:51:49 =======
I imagine they just want to meet you to ensure you get your PhD submitted in the near future.

Universities seem to be getting more and more stricter about ensuring students complete their PhDs (I think this is because PhD completion rates are now being published).

As Smoobles says go in with a plan and tell them what you intend to do and when.

I'd like to see Paul McGann make a return.

I also have this problem. I cannot work in a shared office, or even next door to a noisy office, or in a busy library (and libraries are always busy). I have always studied from my student flat/digs or now at home. You're definitely not a weirdo, I'd say at least 50% of people find it difficult to work in the presense of others. I can never understand how people who do very high pressured/technical jobs can cope with working in an open plan office.

As for tips...is it not possible to work at home, and just pop into your department once or twice a week? Also, have you had a good look around your department for some quiet space? I often find that seminar room can be empty for most of the week. And, have you tried using earplugs or wearing earphones? If you wear earphones (even if you're actually not listening to anything) people are much less likely to disturb you.

It is very exciting. I may stay up to watch the results come in. I always stay up to watch the British election results, and well British politics pales into insignificance compared to the glamour and controversy in American politics (and humour thanks to Palin). I hope Obama wins by a landslide, but realistically, given the race divide, he may only scrap through, but he has to win! Could America really survive another 4 years with the Republicans in office??

BBC One has live rolling coverage of the elections from 11.30pm tonight and live text commentary at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/americas/2008/vote_usa_2008/default.stm

Just to add (and not that the point needs taking any further really) this is a commercial UK website. It's ran by a UK firm (see the bottom the page), and obviously makes its money from advertising masters and PhD programmes in the UK, so it's unlikely to attract many international students unless their intentions are to study in the UK. When a thread is posted from an international student who is asking about study outside the UK (and EU), then they invariably do not any answers.

======= Date Modified 31 Oct 2008 13:40:52 =======
Alice, you're right to say to check out the tax situation. I was only presenting the bare bones (the complexities of internationals working the UK often justify seeking specialist advice because it can get very messy).

However, generally, international students (non-EU) have a stipulation on their visas stating they must not have 'recourse to public funds'. This means you cannot get tax credits, housing benefit, council tax benefit etc. However, liability to income tax/NI is the same as a UK national.

Well done!! Have some time off for a few days (or weeks).