I would assume that as part of the 1+3 you would go onto the PhD, subject to satisfactory progress of your MSc. Perhaps check with your department? and/or the ESRC?

I'm a first year, and my hours have been really odd! When im in the office I come in around 8.15am, and leave around 5pm 4 or 5 days a week. I tend to do some reading at the weekend to.

I know next year, I'm going to have to put in some more hours though! :(

My supervisor is pretty tough/strict and does expect me to be here a lot of the time. If Im not here for a few days at a time, I'm obliged to tell the department why!!! Other PhDers have different schedules in different departments to mine, ie come in much later, leave much later, work through weekends etc etc.

To get my funded PhD place though, I REALLY had to fight for it as it was an advertised PhD studentship. I got there by;

1)Really researching the background of the project
2)Talked at great detail about how my experience will be of some benefit to the post
3)Talked about my publications (were slightly relevant to PhD)
4) Talked about my academic merits at MSc level (ie distinctions in relevant module material. By the way, I haven't got distinctions in either of my MScs, but I did average in the high 60s
5) Got a good reference from UCL (where i did my 2nd MSc)
6) Showed by enthuasism for the PhD by grilling them (the interviewers-now my supervisors) about the PhD and relevant PhD type questions, ie supervision, networking for PhDs etc. etc.

Yes-me!!!

I have a 2.2 psychology degree, I have 2 psychology MScs and am currently about to finish my first year as a PhD student at a UK university. My PhD is also a CASE ESRC studentship :)

Hi all!

My supervisor has nominated me for a seminar leader for a research method seminar course. I'm very flattered that shes chosen me!
Does anyone have any experience of running seminars? I'm not starting until the autumn term, and the stuff is not that hard to grasp (basic theoretical theories etc).

Any experiences/comments would be much appreciated :)

I took some time off over christmas; but thats about it! :( I want to stab people who are lucky enough to go away on holidays to lovely exotic places such as mexico and america-whilst i'm stuck here feeling like crap (given recent events). :( Oh well, only two more years of this then im free :) and WILL relish the sites of this world.

I'm in the office around 8.15am and work through till after 5

Thank you for all your replies. I do appreciate it! Despite whats happened, hes been great in being so supportive since it all happened. The five years of my life I was with him was purely the best years of my life. I would have done anything for him. All I wanted was to make him happy and give him loads of children; now I have to accept that it will never happen. He wanted to break things off to focus on himself and himself alone and to develop his self worth through his career etc. I just hope he wont regret his decision. I believe that material things; which hes going for, shouldnt be the be all and end all. I also believe there should be a balance between work/material stuff and emotional stuff like a relationship. I wasnt expecting it-well things have been funny for a while-hes been distant for months; I never thought it would end, but he wants to remain best friends with me for all time; and thats good enough for me at the mo.

I have a 2.2 degree.

I successfully completed two MSc courses, both which required 2.1s and were at very good unis (UCL).

I'm currently on an ESRC funded PhD at a good university (top 30 in terms of uni league tables). Its really unusual for a person with a 2.2 to get funding and a position for a PhD without a 2.1 or first. I was able to prove my ability through my previous experience, my publications and my 2 MScs degrees

I really liked that! Thanks for sharing :)

Hello...

I'm devastated. My boyfriend of 5 years has broken up with me. He said that its due to him wanting to establish himself. He has felt really inadequate next to me (PhD, MScs) and his pride has been hurt as a result, so needed to break things off. He was my everything; my world. We've promised to remain best friends, and hes asked me to promise him that I would stay in his life, which I have done. We had plans to marry and have many babies. I would have done anything for him.

Has anyone got any advice? I'm finding it really hard; i cant eat, sleep and i physically feel sick/ill and ache all over. PhD work really is not my priority anymore.

Hello forum, I'm in my first year of a PhD. A person has just returned from maternity leave and has become involved with the project. She works part time and has previously worked for the department for a few years. Since shes moved back into the department, she seems to be hellbent in getting her view across at the expense of my own etc. I've been working steadly since September, I write loads of reports for them, but she seems to like to belittle my contribution to the projects; which is a little upsetting!

Perhaps its a personality thing, shes sociable and mingles with all the staff; as I'm 'only' a student (although im treated like a staff member!) I tend to get myself fully involved in the project and don't do as much of the socialising and mingling (although I do some socialising!).

I just don't know how to deal with really competitive people! In meetings, she likes to get her own opinion across all the time, and tends to overwhelm the meetings with her questions and comments. It sometimes feels that she wants to take over my position/role which is a little unsettling.

Does anyone have any advice?

A CASE studentship is different from the normal studentship as its a partnership between a university and a non academic insitution such as department of health for example. A CASE studentship also receives more money each term in terms of maintainance.

Your PhD lives sound so different from mine! I started in September, and I used to spend the majority of the time in the libraries or in my study bedroom rather than my office. Since January, my supervisor has rather insisted that I be around in my own office at all times (pretty much 9 to 5-although I tend to do 8.15-5-30; Mon-Fri). If I'm not in the office, I have to let the secreatries know for their records and for fire safety.

I quite envy the prospect at being in pjs all day and working away from the office.

Having said that, I don't know whether this helps, but being around in the office and socialising/meeting up with researchers/supervisors during the day, definitely improves motivation and focus, as well as getting stuff done in time!

Yep, I've heard of someone who had 2 PhDs, in totally different areas. She must have been mad! This PhD will probably kill me! I will probably go onto a professional doctorate after this PhD; although its ethos is different to a PhD.