Wow, just think, you'll be done by the end of June and have the summer to relax and prepare for the viva - such a massive incentive - I'd give anything right now to be in your shoes and sooooo close :-) Keep going!!!! Oh, and I'd also be really interested in your topic, another 'historian' here - I'm 19thC ;-)

I'll be watching the England games and will have to watch spain too due to hubby :-) I hate football with a passion but do like the world cup for some insane reason!

Oh that is the most brilliant news!!!!! Massive congratulations Dr MumPhDStudent xxxxxxxxxxxxxx I'm really looking forward to hearing your viva story - it helps the rest of us out so much - and just great news that you're through (up)
Now have that lovely weekend off chilling with your little one and your bump - you can bring your new baby into the world as a Dr lol - excellent news 8-)

Just got back from work and logged on to see if there's any news yet, but if the viva was at 1.30 I'm guessing you're probably still in there and might even be finished - thinking of you MumPhDStudent :-)

A second PhD????? *sits in a darkened room rocking and humming quietly to herself* - errr NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO8-)

Lol, I can see the appeal in a way if money was no object and time not an issue - say I'd won the lottery or something and was intent of a form of self harming.... but just the thought of starting again right now is enough to put me in a mental institution! I love researching, would love to publish and make a life in academia, but not sure that the stress of the PhD would be the way I'd want to go. Just think, 2 vivas........ shudder.

On reflection I think that a 2nd PhD would only be an option if I was reincarnated ;-)

It is so incredibly difficult to say - I got AHRC funding for my MA, but although I have a first class BA and a distinction at MA I was unsuccessful in obtaining AHRC funding for my PhD due to my research being slightly too quantatitive for AHRC but too qualitative for ESRC lol. I'm very fortunate in that I was awarded a dept scholarship that covers my fees and another scholarship that gives me a small bursary (less than half what I'd get from the AHRC) so AHRC isn't everything - there are other options, tons of them but you have to do your homework and search for them. Ask in your dept what their funding situation is, but also bear in mind that funding application deadlines are very early - they are well passed for this coming academic year. It will also depend on the size of the block grant for your proposed dept, how many AHRC funded places are available and also, to be perfectly frank, who else puts in a proposal!
It really is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions. I also know several people in my dept who are all self funding - some part time and working, some somehow surviving full time - but its hard, really hard. If its what you want and you can afford it its worth it I think, but it all depends on your personal situation. What is certain though is that within the humanities funded PhDs are very very hard to come by, its a different world in the sciences.

Massive congratulations Dr Squiggles and Dr Yellowtreble - really really pleased for you both - fantastic news!!!!

Best of luck for tomorrow MumPhDStudent (up) I'm sure that I'll log back on tomorrow evening to see you a Dr too 8-)

I haven't been through this yet, but I would say to you that you haven't done badly - they are talking about your thesis being ready for a book publication after these corrections and that they enjoyed your work - that's not bad, that's having done well, but that they just want to see that little bit more.
I can totally understand how you are feeling, I too would be completely gutted, but you aren't alone, as has been said, others here have been through this and are now Drs and you will be too - please don't put yourself and your work down, it sounds like its really really good, just could be that bit better if you include these suggestions.
Please get clarification asap to put your mind at rest - it must be awful to have to do yet more - but these 3 years are far from wasted, another little bit and you would be ready to be published!

Lol, the curse of the cabbie! They do tend to freak you out a bit.... I mean, people I know and love can get away with 'darling' (males) but cabbies.... NO!!!!!!! Sounds like yours was a bit personal too, at least you're here in one piece and he was just a typical cabbie and not a psycho nut job, that is a good reason to be cheerful!

Lol, my mind has been taken over by history ;-) How are you bearing up? You do realise childbirth will be a piece of cake after this, just try and hang onto little one during the viva or it will be one for the examiners to remember ;-)

I do really feel for you, I'm still 2nd year so a long way off for me yet, but even now just the thought has me in a panic, but it will be ok. If I've learnt anything from hanging out here with these guys its that it seems that the viva is never as bad as they thought it would be, they've done so well and are now Drs and on Friday evening you will be too - just think, a whole weekend chilling while the rest of us continue with the grind :-)

Lol Bug at the cavity ;-) I just remembered, there are times that I do hate this - most notably with cabbies and market tradesmen when they call you darlin' in that cockney way that half of them do - grrrrr - then I do feel the urge to say, I'm NOT your darling, just give me my apples (or similar).

Lol, its not something that bothers me much, but I know it does bother some people - my ex hated people he didn't know calling him 'mate' - although he'd never say anything. I'm used to being called love, honey etc, it really doesn't phase me at all and I don't see it as patronising, I'd actually far prefer that to be called 'miss' or whatever lol. My friends and I use 'hon' a lot (sorry Sneaks) but its just a term, a word, a friendly one at that :-) I wouldn't say it to someone I didn't know lmao - and I had to laugh at calling the barman darling ;-) although its probably something I'd have done after a night out! My grandparents are from the north east and it always makes me laugh when they call me pet or lamb.... it used to confuse me terribly as a child lol lol lol, I'm from the south east and we don't use it, far more hons and sweeties down here :-)

Clooney is God!!!! Jepsonclough you'll have to fight me for him :p Ahhhhh, I remember the joyous days of ER - I'd so happily have thrown myself under a bus just to end up in the ER with him treating me.... that would have been a real treat! And no, he's not 'really' old - if he's 49 he's 9 years older than me lol - but 20 something is so sweet, just out of nappies ;-) he he he, it used to bother me sitting in a BA class with people who were born the year I left school lmao!

Hi, I'd also say its very unlikely you'd fail - I was in the situation too where I had to submit my MA dissertation in the Sept and start the PhD in the October and was worried, my sup told me that if they didn't think you could do it from what they'd seen of you then they wouldn't offer you the place. The last thing they want is to put a student onto a PhD course and then have to pull it from under them - its a totally different animal to the masters. They have faith in you so have some in yourself :-)
I didn't get my MA results until after the first board and paper which I got signed off with no trouble, you'll be much the same (not sure if your uni has 6 monthly boards) but by the time you get your masters result you'll have done a couple of months of PhD work, I'm sure you'll do just fine and then no matter what the masters came back with you'd be ok :-) DON'T WORRY, concentrate on your work for now, enjoy writing your dissertation and look forward to your PhD :-)

Fabulous!!!!!! 8-) I'm liking the massacre of the OP - is there no way that these idiots can be stopped from posting on our forum? I tend to find it mildy offensive and partronising, then amusing, but always infuriating..... sigh.... i think the OP missed the point, or maybe I did my dissertations wrong - 1st class at BA, Distinction at MA, now 2/3 through a PhD and still no better job, big car or big house.... ahhh well ;-)