I think your plan to present your work in the structure you prefer sounds like a good one. If you explain it to them like you have written here, and show them the literature to back up your ideas, it should make a lot of sense and I can't see why they would have a problem with it, especially if they are attentive and efficient as you said. Just be honest, direct and diplomatic and I think you will be fine.

welcome :)

There is now a categories section?? Has that always been there???

I've actually started writing my thesis document so at least I'm making some progress in that.

My supervisors have asked me to complete another 9 month project now, so there's no way I'm going to be submitting for another year though.

Still haven't found any extra funding, and I'm waiting to hear the outcome from some other sources but seems very unlikely that I'll get it.

I am just trying to do as much tutoring online that I can and when I get to back to the UK I will be trying to do as much work at the uni as I can, and look for a part time job I guess.

I'd be worried if a supervisor doesn't contact you directly. It's probably an indication of future supervision.

I would go to the other interview anyway, you've got nothing to lose by doing that. I wouldn't mention you have another offer, just say you've been to another interview, as you don't want to prejudice the outcome in any way.

As a side note, my two supervisors have over 15 students and they still manage to give me excellent supervision. It depends on the person.

I'm guessing you're in the US.

You need to be honest with your supervisory panel and at the same time they need to be honest with you. How much longer do you want? What are your goals to achieve during that time? How will you know when you are done?

I agree with HazyJane, it seems you should have more than enough thesis material working so many hours. Are you sure that it's not just your own expectations that you need more work, and actually your committee think you are fine?

I like the format of this forum. It's one of the many reasons I use it. There aren't enough posts for categories anyway. The studentroom has a really annoying structure.

Glad to help :)

I actually just looked over my PhD application cover letter and it is terrible! I have no idea why they accepted my application haha. It's crazy how far people develop in 3 years of a PhD ;)

I like your try, try again approach and ability to withstand criticism. This is a good start!

Here is my opinion on your cover letter. Bear in mind there is really no right way to do this.

I think this line could be improved: 'I know a PhD could be the right place for me. I just need a chance' because that sounds like you are not sure whether a PhD is right for you and you need someone to give you a chance because you are risky candidate. You don't want to say that.

I also think some reorganization could be beneficial.

You want to open the cover letter with a sentence on what you are applying for so that they know straight away what your email is about.

Then tell them about you, your degree and your research, and then you could suggest how this links to their research and the project, rather than having that at the end.

Then you could say about your interpersonal skills and that you are passionate about doing research etc.

You might also want to mention you have IELTS level xx etc (if you do) or something about your level of English.

Marcus, every PhD student feels like they don't know enough. Many academics still feel they don't know enough. Look up 'impostor syndrome'.

Can you talk to your friends and colleagues and see what they think about you to try to get some honest opinions?

Only you can know whether you truly have the ability to do the PhD or not though. Think about it and make the right decision for you, not because of what your friends and family think.

If you do quit, you won't have to pay back the stipend money, so don't worry about that.

Well done on getting the scholarship. Seriously, don't worry about what your friends and family think. Do what's right for you. They'll probably come round to the idea in the end anyway.

Yes I agree with what you have said wowsers.

And I wouldn't hesitate to go on sick leave in a job I didn't care about to work on my PhD because of this.

You can't compare UK and Italian grades because 90% in Italy isn't the same as a 90% in the UK (common in one and probably impossible in the other).

Ah I see, that explains it, I was wondering why you would ask for more information about the project if they were already advertising it! I think if someone asked my PIs for more info on an advertised project they would just send the most recent publication or something, but I guess every PI is different and maybe some do have more specific information.

If I were you, I would just send your CV and cover letter as requested, unless you are really interested in knowing more information.

Good luck with it!

Hello,

Yes you can go straight into a PhD from a BSc. You are better off looking for funded projects for EU students on findaphd.com rather than just emailing professors. If UK PIs have funding they usually advertise rather than accepting random application from unfunded students (although I do know several UK PhD students that got their PhDs this way).

Regarding your intro email, I think you should make it more formal and stick to why you want to do a PhD, why that particular one and what skills and knowledge you can bring to the project. It's probably better not to mention that you find research 'hard and stressful' or that you don't know much about the English system.

They won't necessarily have much more information about the project, because they will expect you to have an idea of direction as well. I wouldn't ask too many questions about start date etc at this stage and it should say on the site that you found the project whether it is funded or not.