Leave the whole lot aside for one or two days and then come back to work on it, then you'll be able to spot some errors which you didn't notice before and can sometimes come up with new ideas/alternative solutions. I just wonder if those who work indefatigueably will never drain their gift? I need some sort of spur-of-the-moment gift to continually work for over 5 or 6 hours.....

Please note that the British Federation of women graduates funds women in the final year of studying for a PhD. So PinkNeuron, you are not eligible as a new starter, but I'm sure you'll get something and achieve what you want, sooner or later!

I wish I could win a lottery.....

Forgot to add that good things are always worth waiting for. Do you agree? Say Yeh.......

theanniversary21, better to ask for leave yourself rather than they ask you to leave. Under the latter circumstance, you don't have any excuses at all to your future employers or new uni. That's from worse to worst.

MichaelA, I have the same apprehension as you. It is pretty bad that both your undergrad and PhD supervisors are within the same uni, otherwise you don't have to mention the 8-month experience at all and put in some part-time work experience on your CV for this period. It is also not possible to request your undergrad tutor not to mention why you've decided to quit. Well, you could just explain that the funding opportunities/prospects in your old uni are not good without mentioning your supervisor. You really can't hide it, so speak about it in an objective way. Even if you got accepted by another uni, that is just a start of another torment--the academic world is small, and you'll have to face your old supervisor on some occasions and probably he's the referee of an academic journal or a selector of a funding trust/association/council, then the real vexing problem will occur. I totally understand this coz this is just my big big apprehension. Sigh....

I am in a predicament as such as well. The only concern is that will I be blacklisted by the new uni in funding application? The admission bit should be fine as long as you can provide a manageable research proposal, but when it comes to funding, if I don't mention the void experience with the old uni, will they be able to know that from some shared sources and eject me in that sense? Does anybody know if University of London have a shared source to exchange such info re dropout, progress of Mphil/PhDs? I am paranoid and shivering in my shoes when I think about it. I know the funding application is competitive, but it would be too depressing if they make you unsuccessful for this particular reason that you've dropped out from your previous uni and you're not committing yourself to your old project, so you'll not able to do the same to the new one????

Dear all, I've been keeping on wondering what qualities the scholarship winners have. Do I lack those qualities? Not really. I think it is just a matter of luck. I have to relegate it to luck, it is like drawing a lottery. Can anybody offer me some insights re what are the funding winners like?

Oh cowgirl, although I'm two years younger than you are, I've been fully aware of the age concerns, and from what people have warned me, yes, a secure career and a family come as the top priority, and probably do it later part-time, as kind of extra-career pursuit?

O.stoll, I agree with you to some extent. I used to think in this way several month ago, but the reality is, we need keep ourselves going, live a decent, quality life, and then confidence and sense of success will come out of it, not the other way round....

Yes, actually I've been told the same and kept on hesitating whether to carry it on or withdraw forthwith....I don't know where this qualification will lead me to, coz things keep on changing and I won't be able to predict if the subject will secure a lectureship/research associate or not. I don't want to reel back in a position such as marketing assistant which I used to be as an undergrad, with a title of 'Dr'.

Sorry to cut in, cowgirl and Goods. I've been wondering if a PhD can really enhance our earning power? I've seen some BAs,BScs and LLBs earning over 40,000 pounds a year while lecturers (not professors)are normally paid below this level. Anyway ,it's up to ourselves to decide what we want, a real interest in the research subject would lead you to a career in academia, otherwise a PhD title wouldn't make much difference in other walks of life? Maybe I'm too pessimistic and short-sighted?

hi dizue, I am thinking of taking a GRE test as well coz I think the UK academic world simply does not favour overseas students, unless you are rich enough to pay the full fee. Any ideas on how to enroll for the exam? Maybe we can swap GRE test materials as well.

Yeh, dizue, even for international students with a first class, we seem to only get an ORS fee-waiver. Funding for overseas students is extremely hard in the UK. Better to do it in the US with a brilliant master's degree in your case although it is not necessary at all for the US PhD application. Also talk to potential supervisors and see what they suggest.

Jpoku, talk to your head of department and hand in a report showing what you've been doing, get an Mphil and then quit it forthwith. I initially submitted a general research proposal (without specific region/places identified for fieldwork) and the supervisor misled me to the region he is interested in, obviously for ease of supervision. I decided not to pursue and he was quite discontented and coersive. Anyway, it is my own right to choose a topic, not a privilege. You should be decisive, otherwise there will be a lot of hassle in the next 2 years. You are wasting your youth and energy, in vain.