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Hi guys,

Was wondering how hard is it to get into the University of Birmingham for a self-funded PhD?

Anyone from Birmingham who can tell me more about the uni, competition, hard or easy to get into?

Thx

Hi AriaJolie,

I assume your an international student. I am too and had my interview over the phone.

When the phone rings and you sound nervous, just tell them that your application is very important to you thats why your nervous. That will appreciate that.
Be prepared and have answers to questions like why do you want to do a PhD? what was the hardest part of your MSc thesis? how was your supervisor? do you have the skills to do a phd etc?

MH

Thanks, I have sent you one back.

I would like to get others opinions on doing different degrees at the same university.

Is that something you would do because the qualification is what is required in the end and what do future employers generally think about this?

Thx

nobody?

Dear All,

I need some advice and hope you guys can help.

After I completed my MSc at in 2008, I was accepted by a university in Scotland in 2009 for a PhD. I started being very keen and 10 months after I left because of very good reasons. It started getting bullied at work by few of my colleagues from the very first month. At first I took that as a joke but after a while it started getting worse. I was working with research fellows and was the youngest and the only new face in my department. I raised this issue but it was not taken seriously. I tried to join the PhD groups but they had formed their own groups and getting to know people was not easy either. I did get to know a few students who came from different parts of England, but they left before Christmas to find PhD position.
When I started my PhD, I was told to work on a project (different than my proposed) and we didn't had the funding for that project but my supervisor assured me that we would get the funding and not to worry. Me bringing in the funding was a bonus for the university.
The only thing that gave me satisfaction was my work and the study itself because that is what I was passionate about. In late February, I was told that we did not get the funding for the project and they wanted me to work on another project. From late February to May things got so bad that I had to arrange meetings with my supervisors, the head of graduate school, and advisors regarding bullying and excluding me from the work environment. Making friends in CPD courses was difficult because of different students in different classes. To attend CPD classes, I had to travel to another campus from where I was based. I started getting depressed because the person who bullied me the most was my supervisors friend and had desk next to mine. This person was also very negative in general. I asked the university to move me to another building where I may work well but this was ignored in the beginning. Then I had a chat with my family and explained it all to them and I decided to leave the PhD there.
When I went to the registry and explained the circumstances, they wanted me to explore all the channels (something I previously did) and how it could be handled. Few days after I contacted the registry, I started getting polite emails asking me to return to my PhD. I decided not to because I thought if it gets worse in the future and I end up not getting my PhD, I would have waisted 3 years and all the money.

So I terminated my PhD and decided to find a job in London until I can find another PhD project because I am still passionate about doing research. I still have the funding, and if I do not get a position within 6 months then I risk losing or will lose all the funding available.

I have a few universities in mind but want to make the right decision. Any suggestions and comments are welcome.

Thanks

Well done, you deserve it:) all your hard work paid off.

Congratulations.... well deserved! (up)

I so agree.... I have been doing teaching myself and the students nowadays have becme arrogant and rude. The groups I have been teaching, don't ask sometimes some of them are a real nightmare. Lack of discipline, these people has not done a decent days work in their lives and I get the feeling that deep down they have this 'fxxx you to everything'

We are in the same boat Eska

Dear Phoebe,

I can understand your frustration especially when you have just done an undergrad degree and went straight to a PhD position.

Did they tell you what you need to improve and have you been told what to do? Just beware that if your supervisor criticise your work and don't give you any directs then you should confront the person and ask what are your obligations to me. Instead of criticising your work, they should critique it to begin with.

Remember, quitting is a habit hard to quit. Have you thought about doing a masters?

Congrats Dr. Lara8-)

I am starting soon too. Am meeting my supervisor tomorrow so im also nervous.

Few things to consider.

1) Tell them why PhD is important to you.
2) How your MA/MSc was and how well it prepared you for research.
3) What you aim to accomplish during your PhD and everything else will come naturally.

I did mine in 30 min when I wrote one.

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