Hi there one and all,

As anitcipated, sound and useful feeback from the PhD oracles. I will take your input along in my deliberations. I notice that the majority have put in a good word for IOE but, must admit, I was going in for Birmingham because of the multicultural landscape (I'm a thorougbred multiculturalist/interculturalist both personally and academically). I am researching the creationist surge in multicultural/faith schools in the UK from an educational perspective and its challenge in regards to the teaching of evolution and will interrogate the appropriateness of Religious Education as a forum for addressing this controversy. Thanks again folks.

I have applied to 16 UK universities for a PhD in Education commencing October, 2009 and the first three - Uni of Birmingham, Uni of Southampton and the Institute of Education (Uni of London) have all responded in the affirmative. This places me in a dilemma as the deadlines are 3 months from now for these three. Some of the other answers pending include Exeter, Nottingham and Oxford. I thought I'd consult the PhD oracles whose earlier responses were helpful. Thanks in advance.

Greatly appreciated 404. I didnt know it would go that fast but suspect that now since one of them - Nottigham - seems to waste no time. They have sent an online reference to my supervisors within a couple of days of submitting the application. As you say, if they call me for an interview, and I am accepted, how much time do I have to accept or reject the offer? I am hoping to come into Oxford or Warwick but I guess I ought to be prudent and not be over ambitious eh?

Sorry for that. I am hoping to apply as a self-financing, overseas, Ph. d student 

I have applied to the following unis in the UK - Oxford, Warwick, Lancaster and Nottingham - and was just wondering how long they take before offering or declining a conditional offer. I am still working on my M.Phil in Education and won't be finished before June 2009. What, in general, should I be aware of otherwise in practical terms (funding etc) and do I jump on the first offer? How much room is there for manoeuvre? Thanks in advance.

Appreciate your time and answers. As a self-financing overseas student, the annual fee is a whopping 9000 UK pounds at Ph.D level - the penalty for Norway turning down EU membership twice (1972 and 1994). Needless to say, I want full value for my money which explains the desire to come into a good university in the UK.

Having scored an A in every exam in my Masters in International Education (Norway), I became adventurous and aspired to enrol in some of the top UK universities until I was confronted with a myriad of additional requirements and muffled 'advice' about trying the less prestigious unis first.

Apparently, Pierre Bourdieu's Cultural Capital theory of the perpetuation of inequality through the reproduction of the knowledge, tastes and values of the plutocray is well and alive in the UK unlike egalitarian Scandinavia. Nevertheless, my question is, does it really matter in the long run? Anyone heard of a Roehampton University? Its apparently quite new. Is that a disadvantage? What about a GRE exam that these elite unis require? Thanks in advance.