Hmmm this explains your curt replies...you're a drug addict!


On a serious note, I'm in the same boat to some extent - I'm addicted to diet coke - I need a caffeine 'fix' everyday otherwise I too feel 'flat' and sluggish.

I've always been tempted to move onto the caffeine tablets, but I did know someone during my undergrad year who ended up in hospital with a dangerously racing heart beat due to over-use of ProPlus. I also had a friend who would take speed to help with her studies...but that's another story.

Solution: you need to go cold turkey.

You can circumvent this problem by re-writing the paper in the thesis and adding citations to your paper, but blatant reproduction of the paper may land you in trouble.

Jouri, I think for the most part you're wrong here - you cannot just use your own text from another article and transplant it into a thesis. The copyright is usually owned by the journal, not the author. The normal practice is to reference one's own work, just like any other materials.

Lara, if you want to word-for-word use your paper in your thesis, you will probably need permission of the journal and also a statement that the material is 'reprinted' - this is because, assuming you're at the UoL, they can supply copies of your thesis to 3rd parties for a fee. The UoL is then breaching copyright by reproducing the journal's paper, if permission is not given. Obviously, if you retain copyright - it's okay.

I'm not a Man U or Chelsea fan - but Chelsea were truly robbed last night. They completely out played Man U.

However, I was quite pleased with myself as I correctly predicted Ronaldo would miss his penalty :)

8 years is quite some time - but not uncommon. It surprises me that some people are so shocked that others take that long. Lara, don't be too embarrassed about taking that long - lots of people actually do take ages to complete their PhDs, particularly those who have worked in faculty jobs before submitting. Although, when you became a full-time RA you should have suspended your studies (in fact, isn't it against the rules to work full-time and be registered on a full-time PhD?).

In my subject area, the average time for submitting is 4/5 years (not the 3).

Lara, at this stage you should just get the PhD knocked out asap and take the chance that you may get it thrown back for re-writing.

Sounds like your supervisor is almost pushing you out. You should be questioning why he isn't being supportive and more directive with your work. If you experiments aren't working out - surely, it's his responsibility to be pointing you in the right direction?

If you think about it, a US PhD takes 5 years full time, so the idea of it being 10 years part-time is reasonable (although I think usually it's 8 years). You only need one or two years out due to work or sickness etc. to end up going over the 10 year period.

Worryingly, I know a few people in the UK who have taken 10 years or thereabouts to get their PhD!!! (although all are full time academics or professionals).

I'm really not looking forward to the period between submitting and the viva, which is approaching fast.

Why would you think the relief would come after writing the last word?

You'll only find that once you walk out the Viva with a pass.

I've never heard of any 'correspondance' PhD courses in the UK - the US seems to have the monopoly in that area.
It is possible to do a part-time PhD and work abroad, and visit your supervisor a few times a year.

With respect to the UK being a harder system, this is debatable.

The UK system is certainly harder than Canada and the US where marks are often given on a bell-curve, open book exams are commmon, passes are be achieved just by turning up to the seminars/lectures etc. I know a few people who are taking graduate courses in Canada/US, and rank the standards as not much higher than British undergrad standards. Obviously, this is just anecdotal evidence.

In comparison, some continental European countries seem to have much higher standards for their students, particularly at undergrad level. Although it's much easier to get a doctorate from continental Europe :)

In the UK, I have seen students look in horror when they get a 60% in an essay - then I have to explain...in your country this is more like an 80.

For the US, a GPA of around 3.3 to 3.7 is the equivalent to a 2.1. A 3.7 to 4.0 is a first. In Canada, a 3.25 or sometimes a B+/A- is equivalent to a 2.1. These equivalencies (sp) do seems to vary by British university.


Emmaki, it is unlikely your mark will equate exactly to a UK mark. I thought Greek students were marked in points eg. a 8.0 equals a 2.1.

There are number companies, the names escape me, which for a fee will translate your grades into other country standards. Lots of uni's use these companies.

Hebby, if your undergrad degree is a 2.2 it is unlikely you'll get a PhD place, and if you do, it will be at a lower university.

If you want to 'top-up' your 2.2 with a masters - you'll need to achieve a distinction or high merit to prove your ability.

I would agree that you do the PGCE course first, then you have a profession to fall immediately back into, if the PhD doesn't work out.

Also, funding opportunities for a 2.2 student are virtually non-existent.

I cannot comment on engineering directly, but I have been told by a professor that the US PhD is more descriptive in nature, while the Canadian PhD follows the British PhD standard, and involves a 'unique contribution' to the field - thus, is more research intensive.

To some extent, it depends on your subject. In my subject area, a masters is now usually required at a high merit or distinction level to progress to a PhD. However, I do know people who have successfully gone straight from undergrad to PhD, with 1st or good 2.1.

If you're willing to self-fund, and you have a 1st, you should be able to get into a very good university.

Talk to potential supervisors, and they will offer opinion on whether you need research experience.