another quick question - are one-year research posts especially common (in the social sciences)?

yes, it's very normal! the nerves show that you're also excited about it and that you want to make a good start. just remember, everyone (even the big bad profs) will have gone through the same thing, and - unless they're nasty people - will most likely empathise with you because they know exactly what it's like to start a PhD...

just wait until you're preparing for your viva - now that's where the real nerves kick in!

WJ_Gibson - dare i say it, the reason that i can't really wait an extra year is that my partner is a few years older than me and wants kids before she's too old!

but anyway, thanks for the advice, that is what i feared... i am a geographer, which makes traveling seem a little more acceptable in the eyes of departments, but with such intense competition it may be risky i agree.

Hi Folks,

I have a question for those like myself who are looking for jobs in the UK in september.

I'm interested in applying to a two-year research fellowship, funded by a university (rather than a grant awarding body e.g. ESRC, NERC, MRC, etc).

The problem i have is that my partner and i have grand plans to get hitched and go traveling for a year after i've worked for a year. this means that i would be cutting my fellowship short by a half, meaning that i would be going into the post (if i get it, of course!) knowing that i wouldn't be able to complete the whole research project.

my question, then: how hard is it to leave a research fellowship? is it just like any other job, where you give a month's notice and try to tidy up the loose ends before you leave?

and is it fair to the university for me to do less research than they expected me to do when they offered me the post? will they even be bothered? will they give me a bad reference for leaving early?

this is a really difficult subject for me, because traveling is a great dream of mine, and me and my partner have been planning it for years, but i also don't want to scupper my future academic career by pissing off a load of colleagues and messing up my very first job in academia. please help!!