:-( Didn't get it...again. As usual there were outstanding candidates that applied. I now consider myself non-outstanding !

I've got yet another PhD interview....I am dreading it - not the actual interview but how I will feel if I get knocked back again. Anyway, they want me to do a 5 minute presentation with the title 'my previous research' - very vague and really stumped already! Which research should I focus on? One study in particular, my favourite study, my preferred methods - ahhhhh! I Any help please ???

I am sure this had probably cropped up somewhere before but couldn't find anything,

I have been searching for a suitable PhD with funding. I have found a few and applied but some of them seem to be ongoing research projects, not new ones. I was just worried that I might apply, get an interview and the PhD, but that they may just want someone to do a job for the cheap and call it a PhD. In this case, I may not get the support I need and may not end up finishing it. Is there anyway to ensure the Institution is not doing this, say questions to ask at interview or things to be wary of?
Thanks for any help. Been searching for ages now :-(

Just to let everyone who is interested know; I received my feedback and am still not happy with it but have accepted that I just wasn't good enough...positive feedback; my presentation was good and flowed well, I interviewed well and they were impressed with my overall research experience.
negative feedback; other candidates had more experience in their chosen research field (e.g I have limited service user experience..which is one of the things I wanted to gain from doing the PhD!), my answer as to why I chose focus groups in a recent project rather than interviews was superficial (I just told the truth....we didn't have enough time to interview 20 widespread participants and the topic was not of a sensitive nature) so I think thats crap. Part of the PhD was to involve training in psychometrics but apparently my description of what was involved was not deep enough. Oh well, still a bit fed up, maybe I am just a sore loser ! Thanks all for your input, it really helped :-)

:-(

I got an email today telling me I had been unsuccessful. Really not happy, the email said there had been outstanding candidates but what is outstanding? I have a BSc (2:1), MSc (Distinction) and 2 years research experience under my belt so I can't help thinking that it may have been my interview skills ! Does anyone think if I ask for feedback they will tell me?? Thanks

Yes, I agree with those replies. Just wondered what other people thought. Many thanks for the input, I'll just keep my fingers crossed ! :-)

Hi,
I had an interview for a competition funded PhD yesterday. I thought the interview went ok although I think i came across as nervous during a presentation I had to do for the first ten minutes. Anyway, the lead interviewer on the panel said that they would not be making a decision until mid-May as to which projects will be given the funding. I had spoken to the potential supervisor on the telephone prior to the interview and she was on the panel also... I was just wondering if I should follow up with an email to the supervisor or maybe leave it? I really don't want to appear overbearing or pushy, especially since I was told when the decision would be made. What do people think?? The supervisor knows how keen I am from when we spoke on the telephone.
Many thanks:-)

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Hi,
I am a fully funded, part-time PhD student (luckilly, funded by the Faculty in which I work) and have submitted my proposal which has recently been externally reviewed and accepted. Having read the comments on the reviews and spoken to my colleagues, I have had a complete change of heart with regard to the subject area I intended to research. Because I believe I am lucky to be fully funded and employed by the University I am really apprehensive about changing my mind and approaching my supervisors to tell them this. What will be the procedure if I have changed my mind now that I have registered and submitted a proposal? I still want to do my PhD but feel like I am messing people around with my change of mind and I am scared the Faculty will withdraw the agreed funding, even though I am prepared to begin from scratch with a new proposal in my new, chosen subject area. Any comments/advice welcomed, thanks.

I have got my eye on a fully funded PhD but before I apply for it, I wondered if anyone knew how I would stand financially ?
I am a single parent of two, currently in full time employment as a researcher at a Uni. At the moment I receive my tax credits and a tiny bit of help towards my rent as well as my salary.
I have been looking for a fully funded PhD for some time and would love to go for it but i am scared of being much worse off financially.
Thank you