So I have finally (unofficially) been accepted onto a PhD programme!

I received an email last Thursday from one of the individuals on the panel, offering me a place on the programme and asking me to reply with my decision.

I confirmed acceptance, but haven't heard anything since. Just wondering how long it normally takes universities to start sending you official offers, contracts etc? Want to make sure they can't suddenly take my offer away!

On a side note, would welcome any posts (positive or negative) from people completing a PhD with a long term health condition :)

Congrats Alanine!

Are you starting in October? If so, you might not hear anything else until Sept. After my informal offer of a place, I had to log on to the uni system to accept it 2 weeks later, and then I didn't hear anything for another 2 to 3 months, which was in Sept, before I started in Oct.

Hi Alanine

I found that after accepting my informal offer, everything went very quiet for a while. I eventually chased it up, as I was working and had to give a month's notice, and I wasn't happy to do that until I had something in writing from the university! I think this is quite normal - the academic staff do the recruitment and the admin side doesn't happen until later. Well done on your offer!

Congratulations :). I was also offered a place on a PhD programme a little over a week ago and it has been quiet since, but when I did chase it up they said they were preparing my contract. I know how you feel as I've been having the same worries thinking they might take the offer away, but then I suppose that academic departments have so many other things to do aside from this! Hopefully you should receive something written in the post soon, though, or at least an email to update you on the next stage. If not, it wouldn't harm to chase it up, as at least it shows that you are proactive!