======= Date Modified 20 Aug 2011 11:32:35 =======
Hi all,
I was recently successful in a PhD interview and was offered a fully funded studentship starting this year (hurrah!). It's a really interesting project, and i am very excited about it.. still can't quite believe that i got it to be honest. Thing is, I have an interview next week for another project at a different Uni, if successful I would definately choose it over the current one as it is a topic that I am more passionate about (I would specify topics, but i'm a bit paranoid about supervisors trawling sites like this and finding out it's me!).
The first uni has emailed me asking to confirm that i accept the studentship, and i had no choice but to accept, but what i want to know is if i can change my mind? I haven't signed anything, just emailed saying that i'd like to take the studentship. I guess I may never be able to get a job at that uni again if i turn it down for another project last minute, i'll have a black mark by my name!!
what makes it worse is that i studied at the first Uni before and am on first name terms with all the supervisors, i'd feel absolutely dreadful for turning round and telling them they have to find someone else!
Of course this is assuming i actually get offered this second one, it'd be a bit jammy to get two phd offers in the space of two weeks!!
Anyways sorry for the rant, like i said i wasn't expecting to get the place, so i am pretty nervous about the whole phd thing anyway!
Help!!
:p

T xxxxx

This has happened with me when I took up a phD. I accepted a big fellowship from a US uni and signed stuff and then dropped out 1 month before the start of the programme to take an almost negligible pay offer from a UK uni. The decision was totally worth it but the US uni was far from pleased! You should do what is best for you - others being chuffed or pissed is a bit secondary IMO

You're not under contractual obligation to pursue the first option - it's more an issue of diplomacy and respect.

Arguably it would have been best if you could have stalled the first decision to avoid this scenario. It might have been perfectly fine to say you needed time to think. If the second option pans out and you go for that instead then contact the first place asap. It's hard to know how they will react but it doesn't automatically mean a black mark forever, particularly if you are very careful in how you approach the matter.

As a general point it's worth thinking through the consequences of this kind of thing for other people - it may now be too late for the first place to re-advertise for this year. There was a funded PhD place in my department that vanished cos the person who accepted it just didn't turn up and by the time they got in touch to say they weren't coming the timeline of the grant made it no longer possible to have a PhD student start.

I've realised my last post sounded a bit harsh. I should add that you should definitely pursue the option that is better for you, because you need to choose an opportunity that is good and a topic that inspires. The pay off is just that you might have to accept upsetting some people. But that's life.

Thanks for your quick replies, and no you were not being harsh, i know it's really poor form to decline last minute! Like I said, it's unlikely that i'll even be faced with this choice so I won't worry too much!
Thanks again, hope I can impart some useful advice/ reassurances in the future :)
Txxx

Hey Templeton! In all honestly you will annoy a few people if you turn it down after already accepting it, but they'll get over it, and they'll have seen it all before. You should really choose the project that you feel most enthusiastic about, since you'll be living and breathing it for the next 3-4 years, and can determine (to some degree) the field you continue to work in afterwards. Some folk on here manage to get through a PhD by treating it as a job and not having any interest in the subject matter at all, but certainly for a lot of us enthusiasm and determination is what gets us through, so the more of those you have, the better! Well done on the first PhD offer, and good luck with your next interview! KB

I definitely think that you should go with the offer which you think is better which seems the second one if you get it. The selection for a PhD position is a process and not only one candidate is selected. There are usually 2-3 candidates who are put as reserves and would be taken if the chosen candidate does not take up the project. It is usually the way to go, and there is no harm in declining an offer and you can let them know the reason. I am sure the department will understand and I don't think there is a question of any black mark or like that. I hope you get the second one as it is the one which you want and will stick with it for the next 3 years! All the Best