Pal, you really don't have anything to worry about regarding your lab skills, and don't think all your MSc training was a waste! Perhaps your supervisor is under time pressure to get this experiment done, which might explain their attitude. You'll soon find that 20% of your PhD will be mistakes (if you don't end up thinking the whole thing is!). And it is very improbably that your supervisor has never made a mistake either. Has she terminated your 'contract', or does she still want you to work there, but on something else?

1st year was fits and starts for me - lots intially, then it slowed down after Christmas, and went crazy over the summer with my first year report. Second year is pretty solid, then things go crazy in your third year (and beyond!). The more you find out, the more work it leads to.

Don't worry too much about not having a transcript of your final year results.

Are you from the UK, EU or overseas? That sounds like an overseas student fee, but some Universities and some courses (especially business) charge more.

I can't imagine the EPSRC would pay for him to do a 3 year course and the University would make your friend do masters modules, so I'm guessing he is on a 1+3. I know NERC have changed now to 'Doctoral Training Grants'. Are they all 1+3? I haven't paid much attention to how they work because it doesn't affect me.

Personally, I think that it would be very useful. It is amazing how quickly your writing style and critical thinking skills develop and mature. I don't know how relevant his previous and current masters are to the PhD, but it can only help. But yes it takes time, and I must admit I did a PhD because I couldn't stand any more exams! But I wish I'd done a masters now.

Remember, that 2 years of masters courses is standard for a lot of international PhD programmes.

And just think how many letters your friend will have after his name...

Bong.

I mean the definition 'To cause to sound with a deep ringing noise'. Not 'A water pipe, used often in smoking narcotic substances'. Neither the Coastman, nor www.postgraduateforum.com condone the use of illegal substances.

Depends if your University has seperate Colleges etc on top of the academic department, that's an extra layer of beaurocracy right there...

You need to take your worries to a Graduate Secretary or Tutor. If your supervisor has done this before then I'm sure they're aware of it. Can you write funding applications with someone on your degree committee?

Blade

Band

I guess if they want you to hand everything in then you have to. But similar to other suggestions, I'd write a summary report and stick that on the front. Because from a load of garbled material they might not be able to see exactly where you're heading. Fleshing out your thesis outline with paragraphs under each section might help?

Johnny Vegas.

BARN

I can see why you' want to get started already, but I found that I couldn't really get going until I'd really discussed my PhD with my supervisor. And even when you do discuss it and have a plan, the first month or two is still quite aimless reading. And this would be the case even if you came up with the project, or it is well defined.

So maybe get your potential supervisor to suggest some reading material, or topics to start thinking about. In the first few mopnths we agreed to set mini-essays every two weeks, starting out broad but narrowing down after a while. Obviously, you don't want to bug them so much they're fed up with you before you even start! You'll find that PhD supervisors are very busy people!

Oh, and bear in mind that a lot of what you read and write now, or at the start of your PhD you probably won't end up using. But it gets your head in the field I suppose.

Yep, expect to refine your research questions a number of times, you're just looking to get something to base them on right now.