I know you don't want to discuss this but doing a PhD just because one is available when your heart is elsewhere would be a disaster. Job prospects outside of academia with a PhD are mixed. I have a friend who is now doing very well in pharmacuticals thanks to his scientific PhD. Can't really comment on engineering PhDs. I know that there are a shortage of engineers suggesting that job prospects are good for engineers regardless of a PhD.

I'd chase the supervisor about it (rather than wait for them to contact you) - show them your enthusiastic!

Which begs the question, is anybody here affected by the industrial action (or indeed taking part?)

Yes, fluidity is an issue for me, particularly on a separate Lit review I have to do. I thought this would be easy but it is proving quite tricky. In fact assembling the literature is quite straightforward. It's producing a flowing document that is the tricky bit. My supervisor, who to his credit is pushing me so that I learn the skills for a PhD, is very particular about the way I am using articles and my structure. Any top tips for producing a well structured Lit Review?

I guess the question is, am I doomed to 3 years of a supervisor who queries every choice of word, every comma, full stop, quotation and this is just for 12,000 words. Do they go any easier on 100,000 words?

I was polishing off the undergraduate dissertation this weekend ready for the deadline today. Suffice to say, went to the supervisor this morning begging for a extension. Imagine what my time keeping will be like when I start the PhD in the Autumn. 4 year PhD here we come!

Well, as a finalising undergraduate who has to submit his dissertation on Monday, has been working feverishly on it all week and is feeling tired and jaded, I'm off home to bed within the hour where I shall attempt a good night's sleep and then a final push to get this darn thing in on Monday. Arrrgggh!

Yes. I had a long, quiet wait too - to the point where I thought the silence was a bad sign. Fortunately, it was worth the wait.

Does your sup sit on the panel?

Sorry to be a pessimist but I'm 32, and sometimes when I'm off my guard I still think I'm 22. Then I wonder where the last 10 years went! But I'm doing something about it now, roll on the Autumn when I start my PhD!

.....I have to say, had I not gone through this process, there's no way I would have got the funding. Because of this conversation (and subsequent conversations) my supervisor went to the funding panel meeting and fought for funding for me (and I don't have a masters, just a degree). Good luck.

Email the supervisor first to ask if it would be okay to talk to them about the topic, explaining a little about yourself. Make the email personal. They routinely get bog standard emails from students so showing them that you've thought about their topic is an advantage. If they don't reply within a couple of days then phone them anyway and ask if now is a good time to talk, if not, then when.

Think of some questions but also try to read a relevant review paper (perhaps one of the supervisor's) so you appear knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

This should get you off first base with them. You could also say that you really want to prepare a research proposal. You've read article X but are there are any other articles you recommend to get started. Obviously, you need to make sufficient effort on the proposal to impress them. Depending on how things go you could even ask them to comment on it before you submit it......

To be honest, 4 unrelenting months of misery sounds more fundamental than than the usual downers people have at some stages. If your heart's not in it anymore then stop.

Zara. I'm 32 and about to start my PhD in the autumn so don't worry about age. All I can say is, think hard about this. In fact, get yourself a blank notepad and just write everything that comes to mind. Paper therapy is surprisingly therapeutic and has the added benefit of crystalling your thoughts. It should help you decide.

What I wouldn't you to do is give up and then in a few years time wonder what might have been if you'd perservered. But only you know your mind. Good luck.

I would guess that a good proposal, personal statement and first class dissertation may give you a shot against those with slightly better results. Personally, I would be pretty naffed-off if a university sifted its applications purely on degree class/Masters class alone.

Some unis don't pay too much attention to a First but instead prioritise the dissertation as an indicator of a candidate's research potential. It is possible to get through with a 2:1 although I freely admit that you are at disadvantage unless you can impress them with other things.

PhDaspirant

It's not mandatory to phone them. But I was advised to by my referees (independently, I might add) as a way to make yourself known to them as a person rather than a name on an application form.

Whilst qualifications are the primary determinant, you need to think what can I do to stand out from the rest. Getting a supervisor on your side is a big help. Be bold but be don't be brash!