Well done.. what are you all gonna be doing?

I think I understand what you mean.. I am happy with my life and I love what I do.. but sometimes I do think that there is so much more to life.. I have friends off travelling the world and doing exciting things.. Whereas I'm 25, still a student with a not so healthy bank balance and still living in shared rented accomodation.. But I think its probably just a case of 'the grass is always greener...'

I can see a place for them if you are on a boat, in the garden or perhaps on the beach.. but as an everyday fashion item... mmm no.. they are terrible hehe

Haha too true shani!

Well done

I am sure we have had this sort of discussion on here before and it has been met with similar responses I agree with Golfpro and H. There is funding available for international students but the UK and the EU can't support everyone, its hard enough getting funding if you are a home student. It would be nice is we lived in a perfect world where money flowed freely between nations.. but we don't.. Would a UK/EU student get funding if they applied to your country? Its all very one way.

When I was applying for studentships I didn't approach another country for funding.. partly because it didn't cross my mind and secondly why should I expect another country to fund me when I have done nothing to contribute to that country.

Another thing to appreciate with regards to UK/EU funding is that the students eligible are most likely to stay within the UK or EU on finishing their PhD and thus continue to contibute to the UK/EU research community, so its almost like an investment.

I wear the wrap around ones they are Howie Style lab coats.. they are used in microbiology to give better coverage of your normal clothes.. They usually have elasticated cuffs aswell for extra protection.

In microbiology (my field) there are quite a few studentships available which cover a stipend, tuition fees and bench fees, therefore you aren't required to have funding.. Alot of these are funded by the BBSRC and you just need to fulfill their candidate requirements i.e be an EU student, have a 2i in a biological science and not be a mass murderer (more info on requirements on bbsrc.ac.uk)

One thing with these studentships is that the project has already been predefined and so you will be working on a set piece of work which is slots into the work of the research group.

I wouldn't worry too much about your background.. I bet alot of the interviewers will be from comparable backgrounds.. Its never affected me in the past.. I come from Yorkshire, I certainly have no airs and graces and my accent is like something off emmerdale so I wouldn't worry too much about that.. The most important thing really is your academic merit.. You could be as posh as anything and still be as thick as pigsh*t lol.

Really sorry to hear that.. I doubt that there is anything anyone can really say that will make you feel better as something like this is extremely personal and the upset takes time to subside.. What I would suggest if work is not your priority and you are struggling to get anything done then take some time out, visit some family or friends and get a change of scene and be surrounded by people in an attempt to refocus again.

Welcome back and congrats

If you are a fulltime student be it BSc, MSc or PhD you are exempt from council tax.. You usually just need to get a letter from your uni confirming you are a student to give to the local council

Well I came just in time to win!!

I wouldn't worry.. I was out of academia for 2 years before I started my PhD and my undergrad degree didn't cover half as much of the stuff I actually do now. As long as you know the basics you'll be fine :o) My only advice is if you don't know something or don't remember how to do something then just ask, its much better to potentially look a bit daft than to mess things up lol.

is that not Phrenology r.academic?