Hiya,

I dont know if this helps, but I completed a MSc in the psychology department of UCL.

The university is just fantastic. The sheer fact of studying a postgrad degree there, opened many doors for me, including an immediate offer of an advertised ESRC PhD studentship.

I would go for UCL-but LSE is pretty good too!

Hiya!

I really wouldnt worry about it. I got low marks in my group projects (each worth 5%-I wonder if you are doing the same MSc as the one I've just finished!) something like 62 and 63. I managed to get an overall average of 65/66. Ok not the best marks in the world-and pretty average.

You should be able to make it up in the final project/dissertation, which is worth substaintaly more than 5%. Some people failed some of the modules (less than 50), got low marks on their group projects, but still managed to get overall averages of 68/69.

Im sure you will be fine! I wish I had the luxury of 1_+3 funding. I would have loved to stay at UCL. I had to pay for my MSc and spent ages searching for a PhD +3 funded position elsewhere (which i got!).

Hello!

Im a current PhD student who has the dreaded 2.2 degree, so it is possible!

In my situation, I had to fight for my PhD as all of the other candidates had at least a 2.1. To prove my worth, and to improve my profile I obtained 2 MSc degrees (1 from UCL), obtained relevant related experience and published some of my work in journals.

It was a hard slog for me, and it really has knocked my confidence, but has not stopped my determination! I hope this provides some comfort for you, because I know how it feels! My field is however, in social sciences, so Im not sure whether the same applies to engineering, but I think the key is to show dedication and also, networking with relevant professionals really helps in getting experience to show your interest in a subject.

Hope this helps!

I would just like to say that I've got a measly 2.2 degree and managed to get ESRC funding for a PhD. My PhD was an advertised post.

I really had to fight in the interview, as the other candidates all had 1sts and 2.1s. I proved my ability by obtaining further MSc degrees after my BSc(Hons). I have 2 MSc degrees (1 from UCL). In order to improve my profile I tried to get as much experience as I could with professionals and obtained some publications, despite having the dreaded 2.2.

I hope I've given you some hope that perhaps underperforming at undergrad is not the end of the world-but it will make things difficult later on if you do!

I've just turned 26. I feel SOOOO old. Im approaching late 20s. AHHHHHHHHHH

Hello! Im a new PhD student too!

It is a comfort to know that first year PhD students do actually exist! Im the only PhD student where my office is located, and I too feel very lonely and isolated, and am wondering whether I have made the right decision! Im determined to keep going as its only been a few months now-how Im going to cope for the next three years I dont know!

I have days when I can get work done and days when Im really not that productive. I have been writing since day one and have over 30k words of notes to condense into a literature review (ahhhh!).

Does everyone keep to their office during term time? I tend to move around alot, work in the library, study at the research libraries in London, work from my room in halls. My supervisor picked up on it and would like me to stay in my office. Im starting to think that my supervisors have made the wrong decision in offering me the studentship or maybe im being paranoid!

Oh well

Thank you! I thought I was the only one worried about this!

I basically run out of money before Christmas :( and have had the bank on my back about my account. Roll on tomorrows payments. I hope everything will run smoothly. Fingers crossed!

Hi!

I got funding for the ESRC, and I have a 2.2 degree. I have got 2 MScs degrees from UCL though and 3 years of research psychology experience. I did have to fight to get funding! but I managed to get +3 funding through a PhD studentship that was advertised.

Hiya!

Thank you for your swift responses!
My PhD is in community care at the tizard centre, university of Kent. My supervisors seem great and seem to be very supportive.
I have started to collect some really interesting and relevant papers. I am thinking of summarising and taking notes of each paper I come across onto my laptop to form a background for my literature review. What do you think??

Hiya!

I am a new PhD student and am brand new to this forum!

Do any of you have any gems of advice regarding the PhD? I would be very grateful! At the moment, I feel a little overwhelmed by it all and am finding the transition from taught MSc to research PhD a difficult one!

Thanks for reading!

Anne