That does sound rather complicated, and I can understand why you are confused!!

I am not in hard science, so I'm not entirely sure how it works re funding for equipment etc. But how would you fund your Masters? I, as a lot of people did, took out a Career Development Loan, are you asking prospective universities for funding? To be honest, although exams lowered your mark, research degrees will be more interested in your marks for ongoing assessment. I used to work in Special Education (in schools, I know at HE it is referred to differently), and I know the impact dyspraxia can have, and I find it very difficult to believe that they didn't take your problems into greater account - if they had there would not be such as disparity in your marks.

With regard to the bullying issue, was your complaint well advertised? I know a number of staff at my Uni have gone to the media when certain things have happened which did not help their cause... How would future unis know about this issue, do you think referees may have noted something?

You're post is rather contradictory. Although you state you have dyspraxia, you then note that the main concern in applying for courses has been the fact you have only an Ordinary, rather than Honours degree. Have you asked the Universities why they rejected you? What was your average mark in your degree (it must have been decent enough if you got onto a PGCert)? Are you changing discipline/what discipline are you in? What 'rank' of university were you at/are you applying to? Are you confident that your references are solid?

These are all questions you need to answer before you make presumptions regarding disability (which surely your earlier institutions took into account)

I know you are in your first six months, and I am a haggard old end-of-the-third-year-and-bitter PhD student; but really, if this is the biggest problem you have then I really wouldn't worry. Find another Mac user with Word and borrow it off them (you get three codes).

If you are citing from papers people presented, you have to ask their permission first. Although the work is public, it is not published, and most people woul caveat a conference presentation with "work in progress". If someone cited any of my presentations without formal permission, I would be *very* unhappy.

Hey Ergogirly

That's truly awful news, and the thought of having to leave your course must really hurt. I haven't tried these myself (friends have though!)... your Uni will have - must have - an Access to Learning Fund, which is also open to postgraduates and is there precisely for these circumstances. Alternatively Funds for Women Graduates runs an emergency grant scheme for upto £1500. Both of these are based on financial difficulties, and not knowing your financial position you may not receive anything, but its worth applying.

If you think you can really work with the first supervisor, and that they will be helpful and supportive, then snap their hand off! Decent supervisors are worth their weight in gold, and they, more than passion/interest in the subject will get you a PhD

I have no money and a load of PhD work to do - given your accounting genius what should I do?

Oh Bug, I cannot say how sorry we are. It is truly terrible what has happened in India and Bangladesh with Cyclone Aila. I just hope that you and your family can get through this awful time with the help of family and friends and that you can get some peace eventually...

Hmmm, this thread is very interesting, but as stressed said, also rather confusing! Eueu, your original post seemed to have a lot of overlapping but separate issues, and I hope am not taking you out of context (but let me know if I am).

Firstly - with regard to your age. One key issue with a PhD (and I'm a 27 yr old third year) is that you will, by the nature of the work, spend a significant part of the next few years, which many consider to be the 'prime of life' sat in a library or a lab on your own. My mum remarried last year and her new husband who I think is fantastic has three daughters who are all slightly younger than me and who are all in long-term relationships. As a good catholic mother, my mum constantly asks when I am going to get a nice boyfriend (frankly I don't have time!). Society values other things over a PhD you are correct, but that is because most people either do not know what a PhD is, or see is as an extravagance, a luxury that does not 'contribute' to society - although we like to think they do, of course!!!;-)

This is linked to the second part regarding celebrity. People are used to 'instant' answers and results nowadays - the whole MTV generation thing - and the general public like fast simple 'dumbed down' answers. That is not a criticism, it is a reflection on the fact that people go to work, often in mundane jobs - if they have a job - and when they get home they do not want to be 'taught'. In an earlier post you said that the general public could 'learn a lot' from PhD students; but they don't want to learn! They have other things to do, that is why they like celebrity endorsements, they are more accessible and easier to understand. Some people will of course want to "self-improve" but many don't ("You can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think").

What I think is most worrying about your post is that you seem to want 'popular' validation. The fact is that in academia, impressing the peers in your field who know about your subject is much more worthy than having generalised popular acceptance.

Its fairly unusual for a Uni not to take you on if you are willing to fund yourself; has anyone you have applied to given you an indication why you have not been successful? It also depends to an extent on your discipline - if you are in pure science do you have enough to cover lab costs and materials etc?

You never did say why you felt this was the only option left to you...

As such, terrible as it sounds, you deserve to fail your course.

Benm

Not to disregard the quality of the research undertaken elsewhere in Europe, in particular the universities you attended, but the answer to your second question is 'because they can', something of which you are active evidence. Rightly or wrongly, UK HEIs attract significant numbers of international students, and unlike the comparable US institutions do not have significant private incomes - so they get cash this way...

You also have to look at the flip side for UK students. We have to 'deal with' lots of PhD, Masters and Undegrad places being taken by international students because they pay more. Some top places (in particular LSE is known for this) actively discriminate against UK students to ensure a diverse student body and higher income. Unfortunately the choice is either to make everyone pay more - or to make those people who can't vote in this country pay more.

;-)

I absolutely agree with Bug here, and am ever more angry at those who choose to do this.

There are no circumstances where this can be acceptable. If you have personal problems, your Uni will allow extra time/those circumstances to be factored in. If you are struggling with the course, why have you not approached a member of staff for assistance? If you just haven't bothered to do the work you deserve to do badly. I took out a loan to do my Masters, and still worked 30 hours per week. I came out with a distinction, even though I changed disciplines, because I worked. And I am far from the only person to do that

And finally to Cwilson79. If you are in receipt of funding, and do not regret your actions (which are likely to have removed funding from a genuine student) then you are selfish, grasping, (most likely a simpleton) and have some essential part of your soul missing.

It'll be tough but I agree that you should tell your supervisor. Saying that my supervisor (who puts the fear of God into me via his eyebrows), said that to fund the last year of his PhD he did a PGCE (back in the 70s). Even though it was not as intellectually demanding it was the sheer volume of work required to do training other than a PhD that should be avoided...

I guess it depends on your other commitments such as family, relationship etc. Tough but doable under the right circumstances

That's a truly sad state to be in... I'd think whether cheating and breaking university regulations (which is what it is) is worth it. I personally would find it hard to go round saying I had a Masters if someone else had done the work.

Plus most essay-writing services will have set phrases they use - these are easily spotted, trust me!