1. Don't know. I assume competitive. Don't know anyone that has one.

2. Don't know. There might be priority to certain countries? I assume different grading systems are taken into account.

My advice is apply anyway, yes it takes time but you won't get anything if you don't apply for anything.

Don't you have to be a UK/EU student to qualify for the PhD loan? Bear in mind the cost of international fees and living expenses - £25 is barely enough to cover 1 year study. How will you fund the rest?

Not in London, no. But still in an expensive city.

My fear (it's starting to be like this at my uni but I fear elsewhere is more like this): https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2018/feb/23/lecturing-in-a-uk-university-is-starting-to-feel-like-working-in-a-business

For me the potential cons of a new environment are an important question. I think about what I value in my current job (flexibility, autonomy, office space, no commute) and I query whether these are found elsewhere. Since these are the things I value most, am I willing to trade these for better career growth? For me, no.

You should be ok with a 2.2 since it's in a masters already. Sometimes masters require 2.1 at u/g as well.

If you want funding you will have to take out a government loan for a masters - I'm not sure whether you can do this since you already have a masters.

Speak to the admin teams of the prospective departments you are applying to.

Everyone's thesis is different. You need to look at examples in your field - you can find these online or in your university library.

I doubt distance learning or not makes any difference either. There's generally no requirement to come into the university. There may be "mandatory" training courses but often no one really knows whether students attend or not.

I will say that personally I would not like to work full time and work on the PhD during my spare time, because that's basically 20 hours a week of spare time you need to find and that's not easy, plus you miss out a lot on not being embedded into a department, or office, or research group. It can be difficult to succeed in a PhD in isolation.

I also wouldn't put too my credence in how supervisors respond to emails - academics have peeks and troughs in their work loads and you may be catching them in busy/less busy weeks.

Also bear in mind sometimes second supervisors do nothing at all - they can be just appointed as a second point of contact, which is often a requirement. I wouldn't factor this into my decision either. Ask for the emeritus to be a second supervisor - this is allowed at my uni.

I'd go for option 2 in your position on the basis of the information you have provided.

I will answer for the UK. US and Germany are different.

1. Yes
2. No, normally just a cover letter and CV
3. Most UK ones probably, but you need to research to see which is best and which supervisors
4. I don't know, probably
5. No, find a PhD in the area you want to work in - it's harder to switch later (but not impossible)

PS - you will need a funding source; there will be very few funded PhDs open to you

Dunham is from Germany I think. You could primate message him if he doesn't reply to this.

Fair enough Chaotic, but the OP did say they were looking in the STEM area.

Where are you applying to? Most UK PhDs in the area will be advertised ones, like on findaphd.com. It's unusual to write your own proposal unless you have your own funding.

Yes you've got a good chance. Make some applications.

You want this https://www.slc.co.uk/ or links through this https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study, not that random website you've quoted.