Many thanks for these helpful replies. In my field it is the norm to be sole author and there are no charges for publishing. If I thought I would benefit from feedback from my former supervisor, I would share a draft, but sadly Im not sure I would find it helpful. I found the relationship pretty difficult and I'm not keen to enter into dialogue with them again. Thanks for your advice - it's helped me to decide how to proceed.

I completed my funded PhD last year. I'm now working outside academia, which is great btw. I would like to publish at least one article on PhD findings in a peer reviewed journal. Do I need to contact my former university or supervisor (we've not kept in touch) if the article is accepted for publication? Or is it sufficient to state where I undertook the PhD in the author bio section of the article?

Hi

Many thanks for your replies. I find this helpful advice. I will apply for the job I have seen and continue to look for jobs in academic and non-academic environments to see what comes up. It's useful to think that this is not a final decision and that it doesn't rule out moving between sectors in the future.

I'm sure this kind of question has been asked here before! I'm in the final year of my PhD and up until now felt pretty sure that I wanted to enter academia. I have really enjoyed my PhD (well most of the time)! Alongside working on my thesis I have undertaken teaching, published journal articles, and been involved in other research projects. Paving the way for my future career, or so I thought. I started looking for jobs recently and spotted a non-academic role which appealed to me. It is a research role, it is permanent and full-time, and relates to a field in which I have previously worked and enjoyed. I have applied for it, but whilst I'm waiting to hear, I'm asking myself which route is best for me: academia or non-academia, and how do I decide? Any tips or advice will be gratefully received.

Interesting to read this Tudor_Queen as I'm in a similar position. Although I'm slightly further into the process, (around 9 months in) my data collection has also been delayed for one reason or another. So now I'm in limbo land and I identify with feeling bored. I'm trying to develop my literature review, but without an impending deadline some days I'm struggling to motivate myself. I've also spent some time reading around data analysis methods so I feel a bit more prepared for when the time comes. I haven't shared this information with my supervisors or asked for anything additional. I'm just trying to ride it out.

Yes - really! I applied for an advertised project at the uni where I did my MA. The topic of my MA research fitted well with the proposed project, plus I had good references, which I think helped. It is possible! I wouldn't assume all other candidates will have firsts, or that you can't compete with them. After all your mark was so close to a first anyway. Go for it, and be confident!

I agree with pd. I got a mid 2:1 and my PhD is panning out very well. If a 2:1 were not acceptable for a PhD, the university would stipulate that in their entry requirements.

Hi, I'm in the first year of my PhD and I'm no expert on this.I'm not sure I can answers your questions directly around the difference between PhD/MPhil as I always thought it came down to a contribution of knowledge, whereas your horror stories appear to suggest otherwise.

However, I have come across a few of people who have either been unable to complete their PhD, got an MPhil or major revisions. It seems to me one thing common to all these cases is that the students did not follow the advice of their supervisors, even when it was strong advice. So that would be my tip.

In addition, to raising the issue on this forum, maybe you could discuss your current concerns with your supervisors. They may be able to reassure you or give you some useful advice.

Go for it! My proposal was around 1200 words long, but as others have said check the uni guidelines or ring the admissions department/doctoral college. Also, is there a named supervisor or academic member of staff you could discuss your application with before submitting?

I'm doing my PhD after 10 years working in the field, and the experience really helps. I had to complete a Masters though, before applying for the PhD.

Hi, I had a very similar experience. I got distinctions throughout my MA then ended up with 66% for my dissertation and I was gutted. And then I got a fully funded PhD place! I think far more important than a few percentage marks on your dissertation, is whether you and your chosen topic area 'click' with the PhD supervisors, and that you write a strong application for the doctorate.

I was so upset by my MA dissertation mark, but I seem to be progressing fine through the PhD.

69/68% is really good by the way, and I think most supervisors will take a rounded look at your application and won't just focus on whether you happened to get a distinction. It will take a bit of time, but you will move past this disappointment and have future successes.

Thanks for your reply. That would be ideal for me, but unfortunately there aren't any designated work spaces for doctoral students on my campus.

Hi

I'm doing a PhD in Social Sciences and I tend to study at home or in the library. I meet up my supervisors every eight weeks. There aren't many full time postgrads in my department, but a couple of us do meet up every other week or so. The upshot is I feel socially isolated. I attend some of the uni events and public lectures plus I'm a student representative on university committees. The union is very inactive - so not much happening there. I have some existing friends from pre-PhD, but I'd really like to broaden my social circle. Any ideas?

I would like to make two short trips to Norway as part of my PhD and I'm looking for funding to cover travel/sustenance expenses which I estimate to be around £1000. My PhD is in Teacher Education and I'm based in the UK. Any ideas on organisations that I could apply to fund these two trips?