You don't need permission to go to a conference - just do it yourself.

It is pretty rare in my dept for a student to get funding to go to any conference anywhere and this is not unusual. I try to present something once/year but it is entirely up to me to find the conference, organise my trip and fund it. I have had some luck with funding from outside sources but never from my dept. Money is too tight. I think you are being unrealistic if you think you will get sent to any conference that is not totally relevant to your topic. Of course my supervior goes to many conferences - that's the usualy thing with superviors.

If you can't make a really good case to go then that's the end of the story. Cool down. If this were a job and you yelled at your boss over something like this you'd probably have disciplinary procedures begun against you.

Your supervisor should be careful not to make promises he can't keep. In future always view such 'promises' as 'possibilities' until they materialise.

I am under some pressure to sumbit by Jan and I'm aiming for Xmas for my own sake. Only one chapter has been read so far - and not checked very throroughly either.

I have heard of this. I'm writing up now but I'm still not sure how many chapters I'm going to have:p

What do you think about the reasoning behind this - is it valid do you think? Will you need extra time because of this?

It is quite normal to ask your supervisor some of this directly e.g. how often does he expect to meet and who calls those meetings; do meetings require written work or an agenda in advance or not. You probably will be expected to be a bit more independet than you are used to but this is a common problem with students in your situation and unless he is fantasticaly culturally ignorant he will be aware of the very different educational styles. If I were you I might actually mention this directly and say that you feel you are going to need some guidance on when to be inependent and when it is sensible to get help/advic (this is really something we all struggle with).

I am also geographically constrained due to family and my topic is quite different from anyone else in the dept. My supervisor asked if I would consider shifting it slightly but I said no - that was not my interest. He believes very much that students must have a topic they are really interested and motivated in (especially since we get so little actual supervision....). How much pressure are you under? Is it that they don't feel confident supervising your preferred area? How big is the gap between your area and theirs? Is there any compromise solution and so you have a project of your own outlined to sell to them enthusiastically? Personally I could not work on someone else's project so I see your problem. Then again, if my supervisor had given me an ultimatum and it was that or nothing, I would have done it.

Ah, ribbish, that explains it ;-)

I'm sure you'd be considered for a PhD but since you have ''a very broad knowledge of molecular biology'' including some lab experience I am very surprised that you really think you could get by on a regular 4 hours lab work/day. I can't see how that would work since experiments have to run for X many hours and you need to be able to tend to them regularly. Especially this field which usually involves living systems of some sort.

Could they not do a direct bank transfer when it's sorted out, instead of a cheque - especially given the circumstances. I used to get cheques (different funding body) and one year it was paid into someone else's account and it took 3 months to get someone to give me my money!! I was beside myself, so i feel your pain. They made a transfer as I'd waited so long but now all the payments are made directly, thank goodness.:-s

A 2.1 without a masters is definitely enough to get a funded PhD place in biology (but not in most arts/humanities subjects). I know a ton of people who have done that, and at good universities too. Depts are used to writing references for years after students leave so don't worry about that. The gap though, may be problematic ,and I second the suggestion of working in a similar environment - some sort of techinical support, or maybe even some voluntary work if you could fit that in, to show a real interest and committment to the field. A lot depends on your area of interest as competition and funding varies a lot.

I just knew you were going to say that! Having a 3 yr-old that won't poo in the potty is more stressful than writing up..... I wonder which will be achieved first...? :p

I would ask your sup what is expected. Mine prefers students to worl in the dept although many people disappear on fieldwork or writing up. I go in maybe 2-3 days a month although it clusters irregularly. I work a lot from home as I only have childcare 3 days/week abd home seems the most sensible place to keep all my stuff. I do feel the need to show my face around the dpet though and intend to try and get in one day/week this term. Everyone seems to start latish and work very late.

I see my supervisor not quite every term. There is no prep or written feedback - it's very informal and never very long - although it's a bit longer now I am writing up and he reads drafts at the meeting. I do feel rather adrift and would have preferred a bit more interest and involvement. I've got used to it. I call for a meeting and sometimes it takes months to actually achieve this aim. I do it when I have specific issues or something to read. If you find yourself in this kind of situation do try to set regular meetings even if they are not frequent. I have also gone to other academics for specific advice/feedback (my sup has always encocouged that).

I have a 3 yr-old. She was born at the end of my second year. I took two years out but the overall aim was to make the last part part-time. In my second year out, I had 2 days/week nursery to work, and in this last year, 3 days/week. You definitely need good childcare. I organised my time like this because it was too complicated to change my funding arrangements - easer to just be officially out for 2 years then officially full-time for one year. I also work Saturdays and dh is taking some days off this term to help me get finished. A lot also depends on how well your child sleeps. Dd sleeps very well now - but not until she was 1. I originally intended to differ for one year, but then took another to get caught up. My supervisor was fine with it and very encorouging about my having a baby. He has never implied for a second that I might not manage - even though frankly, sometimes I get very tired (but then i am somewhat ancient which doesn't help ;-) )

Teafortwo - how is your 3 year old getting on? I am in potty-training hell. They say they don't go to school in nappies but there's always a first time....